Slaacast

In the eighth episode of Current Literary Affairs, Lisanne Snelders speaks with South African writer Ronelda S. Kamfer and professor of South African literature Margriet van der Waal. They discuss their relationship with the language Afrikaans given its complex historical perspective and Afrikaans' position in South Africa's literary landscape. Lisanne also talks with Ronelda about her poetry collection Chinatown and her recently published novel Compound, exploring themes like feminism and the complexity of patriarchal structures in her work. Ronelda S. Kamfer (Cape Town, 1981) is one of South Africa's foremost authors. She writes in Cape Afrikaans, a dialect blending English and street slang. Her debut poetry collection "Noudat Slapende Honde" (Now That Sleeping Dogs, 2008) paints a vivid picture of life in poverty. "Santenkraam" (2012) features verse stories about a fishing village displaced by a military base. "Mammie" (2017) is a raw yet affectionate tribute to her mother. "Chinatown" (2021) hits hard, w