Ancestory: Ancient Lessons for Modern Life

This is an essential read for anyone who is curious about – or maybe even suspicious of – African spirituality. Its invisible pull and teachings are expertly linked to South African and global history, and present the modern reader with nuggets that not only resonate but often reprimand (with care, of course). Difficult and urgent questions are demanded of the reader by Mkhize. Her razor-sharp insights, which are broad in their knowledge base but narrow in their specific lesson, often leave one lingering on a chapter for days on end – having to come back, reread, ingest, discuss before truly moving on. She extends much grace to the modern reader’s largely extractive and isolated inherited environment but calls for increased accountability all the same. This is the kind of book you need to work through slowly, especially if you are to meet her questions, your people and yourself honestly.