DELICATE SHORT STORIES DELIGHT

MOHALE Mashigo may just be one of South Africa’s most underrated writers. Either that or I’m late to the party when it comes to her poetic prowess.

The award-winning singer-songwriter and former radio presenter first made her foray into novels with The

Yearning, longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award 2018.

Her latest offering, Intruders, is a collection of short stories which she dedicates to “delicate and invisible boys; lost souls with praying mothers; and those who raise themselves in a world that doesn’t care whether they live or die”.

It’s an ode to a country ravaged by fear, anger and suspicion. It’s a love song for a nation that’s hanging on by a thread. And what makes each story unique in its own way is her ability to address Africa as an integral character.

But these are no ordinary short stories. Each takes place in the future, but Mashigo is quick to add that she finds the term “Afrofuturism” distasteful.

Instead, she writes that our needs, when it comes to imagining futures, are different from elsewhere.

My favourite short story, UntitledI, tells of two sisters, Bonolo and Kamo, and how they deal with the fallout of the sky literally falling in. While the world is heading for annihilation, one sister takes the lead, the other follows.

I found myself drawn to the sisters’ plight and how one’s nurturing nature leads to the ultimate sacrifice. It’s something that most of us can relate to – the strong bond that exists between siblings.

Mashigo is an exceptional storyteller. Her love for her country is further enthused by her take on cultural myths and legends. It’s obvious that her vast knowledge on the matter is one that’s been thoroughly researched.

But I also feel that her stories have ambiguous meanings, and if we dig a little deeper, it could be a reflection of the current collective psyche of the country.

This book would make a lovely gift for a young adult or a child struggling to identify with their culture.

Hopefully it will give them a sense of belonging and inclusion.