The African imaginary celebrates culture born and raised on the continent. Our library, other than living online, is an actual space (300 books and counting).
Nadia Davids is a multi award-winning South African writer, theatre-maker and scholar, now based in California. She was awarded the 2024 Caine Prize for African Writing for her short story, Bridling, which has been adapted for stage and stars another friend of The African imaginary, Buhle Ngaba. (Catch her performance at Woordfees in Stellenbosch in October, directed by Jay Pather.) Davids has served as President of PEN South Africa. Watch this space for her next book, Cape Fever, which rolls out worldwide from December.
Until then, here are her 5 favourites:
1.New Daughters of Africa edited by Margaret Busby
2.The Spirit of District Six by Cloete Breytenbach
3.The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
4.So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
5.The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona
