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WOMAN ZONE STORIES

WOMAN ZONE STORIES

By WOMAN ZONE

Welcome to WOMAN ZONE – connecting women through their stories.

Woman Zone is a Cape Town based organisation designed to bring together women of all different backgrounds and cultures, to get to know and understand one another by sharing stories. We have several podcast series WOMAN ZONE STORIES; FINDING HERSELF: shared journeys; the new MEET THE AUTHOR: women writers and their work and special collection ARTSCAPE@50 - CONVERSATIONS. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Feedback on info@womanzonect.co.za. Happy Listening!
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MEET THE AUTHOR: Lynn Joffe

WOMAN ZONE STORIES Oct 05, 2021

00:00
23:36
MEET THE AUTHOR: Margie Orford

MEET THE AUTHOR: Margie Orford

Not technically a WZ Book Club Guest Author of the Month, but a very special guest author at the 2024 Books on the Bay Festival in Simon's Town, writer Margie Orford very honestly shared what went into Love and Fury, her memoir.

Mar 23, 202440:25
DAISY TALKS #1: Your Body

DAISY TALKS #1: Your Body

The first of the WOMAN ZONE six-part DAISY TALK series for young women learners from the Cape Flats and in partnership with ISeeU, was held at Artscape. The speaker was Dr Mpume Zenda, gynaecologist, obstetrician, sexologist, author of Mommy, My Body's Changing and founder of We See You health and information consultancy. Listen here to find out more.

Coming up next in the monthly series, in April, is Your Money with speakers Yolisa Molefe and Ethel Hamman.

Mar 17, 202431:13
MEET THE AUTHOR: Nadine Dirks
Mar 10, 202443:41
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The Gathering Bag - Part 1

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The Gathering Bag - Part 1

The Gathering Bag: Remembering the heroines of traditional San stories is curated by Sue Hollingsworth and Marlene Sullivan Winburg. It brings together ten traditional narratives originally told in the !xun language and retold by storytellers from around the world. In Part 1 professional storyteller Sue Hollingsworth explains. The book published by Manyeka Arts Trust is available through Takealot, Amazon and at !Khwa ttu

Feb 23, 202429:35
MEET THE AUTHOR: Fatima Kara

MEET THE AUTHOR: Fatima Kara

The Train House on Lobengula Street, is Zimbabwean born writer Fatima Kara's first novel. Featuring some strong women and set in an Indian community in what was then Rhodesia, it comes directly from Fatima's own experience, her memory and her heart. It's published by Envelope and distributed by Blue Weaver.

Feb 11, 202426:34
MEET THE AUTHOR: Cherry Armstrong - Cancer, navigating the journey

MEET THE AUTHOR: Cherry Armstrong - Cancer, navigating the journey

A gentle book about an ungentle, and all too common, disease. Cancer, navigating the journey by palliative care specialist Cherry Armstrong and published by Quivertree, brings you everything you need to know if cancer comes your way.

Dec 17, 202332:59
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The 'Celebrate Body & Soul' party
Dec 10, 202315:40
MEET THE AUTHOR: Unathi Kapa - 'Whawha Was Here'

MEET THE AUTHOR: Unathi Kapa - 'Whawha Was Here'

More than just a search for her own real identity, Unathi Kapa’s thought-provoking, self-published memoir will throw light for many on what it’s like growing up not knowing who ‘your people’ are.

Dec 03, 202336:30
MEET THE AUTHOR: Dr Beryl Botman - Still Love Remains

MEET THE AUTHOR: Dr Beryl Botman - Still Love Remains

When Dr Beryl Botman's husband, Professor Russell Botman died in 2014, she write through her grief in a book called With(out)You. At the launch of her second book Still Love Remains, she spoke to Beryl Eichenberger about her writing journey.

Nov 25, 202344:39
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Helen Moffett - the delights and dilemmas of being an editor

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Helen Moffett - the delights and dilemmas of being an editor

She's a writer, a poet, a teacher and academic, but it's as an editor that Helen Moffett has made an extraordinary and extensive mark in literary circles working on more writers manuscripts than most of us have had hot dinners. Listen here as she shares her secrets.

Nov 17, 202326:25
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Jennifer Makumbi - Ugandan writer and storyteller

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Jennifer Makumbi - Ugandan writer and storyteller

Taking African storytelling to another level Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi has written two epic, award-winning novels, The First Woman and Kintu as well as a cross-cultural collection of short stories, Manchester Happened. Here she talks about her origins and thinking as a storyteller.

Nov 17, 202301:08:22
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The Legacy of WEAVE

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The Legacy of WEAVE

Members of WEAVE, the Women’s Education and Voice Expression collective founded 26 years ago, got together for a reunion to talk about their journeys, individually and as a group, and about their ‘herstorical’ publication ink@boilingpoint: a selection of 21st century black women’s writing from the southern tip of Africa. Listen here to share the inspiration.

Oct 25, 202301:37:58
MEET THE AUTHOR: Tessa Dooms & Lynsey Chutel - Coloured

MEET THE AUTHOR: Tessa Dooms & Lynsey Chutel - Coloured

How Classification Became Culture is the sub-title of Tessa and Lynsey's book Coloured (Jonathan Ball). It asks many questions, amongst them What does it mean to be Coloured? It also provides many thought-provoking answers. In conversation with writer Nadia Kamies they shared just some of the thinking behind the book.

Oct 16, 202346:05
MEET THE AUTHOR: Chantal Stewart - The Veil of Maya

MEET THE AUTHOR: Chantal Stewart - The Veil of Maya

Award winning author of The Veil of Maya, doctor/writer Chantal Stewart shares the back story to her writing and her debut novel with Beryl Eichenberger .

Sep 11, 202317:60
MEET THE AUTHOR: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah - The Sex Lives of African Women

MEET THE AUTHOR: Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah - The Sex Lives of African Women

A book that was a long time in the making, The Sex Lives of African Women is about so many more things than sex - like culture, religion, patriarchy, abuse - to name a few. It's also about self-discovery, freedom and healing. Author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah shares the inside stories of over 30 women

Sep 08, 202337:16
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Dr Sindiwe Magona @ 80

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Dr Sindiwe Magona @ 80

As an official Living Legend there could be no better person to celebrate than writer Sindiwe Magona. To close the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival 2023, her lively 80th birthday event featured friends, family, lots of fun and the presentation of a special tribute book Sindiwe's Gift.

Aug 29, 202301:07:46
FINDING HERSELF: Vintage Margaret Newman

FINDING HERSELF: Vintage Margaret Newman

At 93, Paarl-born Margaret Newman's brain is as fresh as a daisy. Here she shares her secret and gives a glimpse into a life well-lived despite the challenges that only South Africa could offer.

Aug 25, 202332:15
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: Karen Lazar 'W is for Witness'

ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: Karen Lazar 'W is for Witness'

The Woman Zone Book Club guest author of the month during the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival, was Karen Lazar author of 'W is for Witness'. Following a stroke, Karen is also disabled. She shares thoughts on that and on writing with Beryl Eichenberger...

Aug 14, 202324:25
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: She Had a Name 365

ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: She Had a Name 365

An installation in the Marble Foyer at Artscape as part of the Women's Humanity Festival, contains uncomfortable statistics. It's called She Had a Name 365 - performance artist Carin Bester explains...

Aug 11, 202323:20
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: The FMR Woman Zone Show

ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: The FMR Woman Zone Show

Every year as part of the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival, Fine Music Radio give Woman Zone an hour of airtime to showcase some of the women featured in the Festival. Presented by Theresa Smith and produced by Beryl Eichenberger, this year guests included: Marlene le Roux CEO of Artscape, Fatima Dike playwright, Acting Judge Rehana Parker, Hayley Philander founder of IseeU mentoring programme and poet Lebo Diverse. Listen here!

Aug 10, 202357:52
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: Knit & Natter rocks!

ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: Knit & Natter rocks!

Knit & Natter is a Woman Zone 'Everywoman' project. And on Sunday August 6th, as part of the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival it sure attracted a lot of women...listen in here!

Aug 07, 202319:35
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: Fatima Dike - A Life in Theatre

ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS II: Fatima Dike - A Life in Theatre

The first black woman in South Africa to have had a play published and performed, there is much to celebrate about Fatima Dike. At 75, she is one of the Artscape Women's Humanity Festival icons, hear her as she shares just some of her story.

Aug 06, 202358:40
MEET THE AUTHOR: Nadia Kamies - Off-Centre and Out of Focus

MEET THE AUTHOR: Nadia Kamies - Off-Centre and Out of Focus

In her book, Off-Centre and Out of Focus (Fourthwall Books) Nadia Kamies reflects on what it was like Growing up 'Coloured' in South Africa, primarily through photography. She spoke to Theresa Smith at the Woman Zone Book Club.

Jul 09, 202332:15
FINDING HERSELF: Egonne Roth - author

FINDING HERSELF: Egonne Roth - author

Writing Searching for Papa’s Secrets in Hitler’s Berlin took its toll on author Egonne Roth. It uncovered for her how her father’s experiences shaped her life – but ultimately it also helped her find her own identity. She talks here to Beryl Eichenberger.

Jun 30, 202328:13
MEET THE AUTHOR: Melanie Verwoerd - Never Waste a Good Hysterectomy

MEET THE AUTHOR: Melanie Verwoerd - Never Waste a Good Hysterectomy

Many thousands of women, in South Africa and across the world, have hysterectomies every year. Often they come as a shock, as hers did for Melanie Verwoerd. But aside from the trauma, pain and rage that it caused her, this feisty writer and political analyst used hers to throw a light, not just on her own life, but on understanding the procedure that so many women suffer in silence. Listen here as she tells the story behind her book - and listen further to her own podcast of the same name filled with information and advice.

Jun 05, 202344:10
MEET THE AUTHOR: Louisa Zondo - Dearest MaRiky: A Mother's Journey through grief, trauma and healing

MEET THE AUTHOR: Louisa Zondo - Dearest MaRiky: A Mother's Journey through grief, trauma and healing

There is so much to be learned from this book. Not just how Louisa Zondo, lawyer and political actvist, coped with the suicide of her second born son, MaRiky, but what it means to reflect back on your life, your loves, your family, work, pain, parenting and healing. It begins with the expedition Louisa undertook to Mount Everest Base Camp soon after Riky died - it ends in hope, and her resolve to continue his legacy.

Jun 01, 202336:35
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Marina Cantacuzino on Forgiveness

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Marina Cantacuzino on Forgiveness

The Forgiveness Project was founded in 2004 by journalist Marina Cantacuzino. Nearly twenty years later she has synthesized many of the stories she has heard, and learnings that have come with them, into a book called simply Forgiveness - An Exploration (Simon and Shuster, distributed in South Africa by Jonathan Ball). On a visit to The Women's Library she shared the background.

May 24, 202335:30
MEET THE AUTHOR: Athambile Masola on Noni Jabavu

MEET THE AUTHOR: Athambile Masola on Noni Jabavu

She was described as 'a woman who couldn't be conventional if she tried', and Noni Jabavu (1919-2008) writer was certainly original. Born in SA and educated in the UK from the age of 13 she was also 'a woman of two worlds'. Amongst other things she wrote two books of memoir, but in 1977, she penned a series of columns for the Daily Dispatch. These have been co-ordinated and compiled into a book called A Stranger at Home (Tafelberg) by Makhosazana Xaba and Athambile Masola. Cape Town based Athambile shares the story.

May 14, 202341:40
MEET THE AUTHOR: three Cape Cultural Collective poets share words in 'Beyond Truth's Edge'

MEET THE AUTHOR: three Cape Cultural Collective poets share words in 'Beyond Truth's Edge'

The Cape Cultural Collective cover a number of performing arts, but poetry holds a special place. Three of the fifteen poets whose work is included in their second anthology, Beyond Truth's Edge, joined us at the Women's Library to share their words and their stories of becoming poets. They were Zenariah Barends, Afeea Omar and Diana Ferrus and you can listen to what they had to say right here...

Apr 21, 202340:49
MEET THE AUTHOR: Pumla Brook Thomae - The Rainbow Nation Cookery Guide

MEET THE AUTHOR: Pumla Brook Thomae - The Rainbow Nation Cookery Guide

As a proudly Xhosa woman herself, in helping to put together The Rainbow Nation Cookery Guide, TV celebrity cook Pumla Brook Thomae stretched her own knowledge range of other cultures kitchens enormously. The book was an initiative of The Rotary e-club of Greater Cape Town, but here project manager Pumla gives us the inside story.

Apr 17, 202338:51
FINDING HERSELF: Aviva Pelham - opera diva

FINDING HERSELF: Aviva Pelham - opera diva

Following the release of her book My Musical Odyssey, Aviva Pelham sat down with Woman Zone's Beryl Eichenberger to talk about her journey to becoming an extraordinarily versatile and internationally acclaimed singer. Whilst opera is her first love, she has also 'found herself' as an actress performing in musicals, as a director working with others, and as a passionate motivator and lecturer inspiring any number of aspirant and talented young singers.

Apr 08, 202331:20
MEET THE AUTHOR: Cape Cultural Collective anthology 'Beyond Truth's Edge'

MEET THE AUTHOR: Cape Cultural Collective anthology 'Beyond Truth's Edge'

The Cape Cultural Collective cover a number of performing arts, but poetry has a special place. Three of the fifteen poets whose work is included in their second anthology, Beyond Truth's Edge, joined us at our Women's Library at Artscape to share their words and stories about becoming poets. They were Zenariah Barends, Afeea Omar and Diana Ferrus - and you can listen to what they had to say, right here...

Mar 26, 202340:49
MEET THE AUTHOR: Anne Schlebusch

MEET THE AUTHOR: Anne Schlebusch

Although not technically a Woman Zone Book Club Guest Author of the Month, it was irresistible to put ANNE SCHLEBUSCH, author of Bloomer (Modjaji books) up on this site. At 70 (and a recent cancer survivor) her debut novel is fresh, fun and a bit mad. It features the lovable Maggie and her friends at the Hazyview Mansions Retirement Home, who collectively call themselves Invictus. We spoke to Anne at a Rosebank Writers event at Bertha House in Mowbray, Cape Town, and recorded it her so you can listen, and chuckle. 

Feb 27, 202337:05
MEET THE AUTHOR: Nadine Aisha Jassat & Blaq Pearl Janine Van Rooy
Feb 06, 202340:09
MEET THE AUTHOR: Dr Shahieda Jansen

MEET THE AUTHOR: Dr Shahieda Jansen

What began as an ’accidental’ group therapy session with a bunch of male students nearly 25 years ago turned, first into intense study of the mental health of men and boys, and finally into the book: Masculinity meets Humanity: An Adapted Model of Masculinised Psychotherapy (UNISA). Author and compassionate clinical psychologist, Shahieda Jansen shares the journey and just some of what she has learned along the way.

Jan 30, 202338:45
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Elbe Coetsee and Mogalakwena's Stitches in Time
Jan 21, 202319:00
FINDING HERSELF: Prue Leith - Cook

FINDING HERSELF: Prue Leith - Cook

In culinary circles Prue Leith - caterer, restaurateur, food guru and visionary - needs no introduction, but her memoir reveals her to be so much more. On a recent visit to South Africa to coincide with the relaunch of the memoir, I'll Try Anything Once, as well as the launch of Bliss on Toast, her latest cook book, she spoke to Nancy Richards for the Woman Zone Finding Herself series. 

Jan 05, 202332:13
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The Story of The African Worry Dolls

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: The Story of The African Worry Dolls

We all have worries, but the SOUPER TROOPERS of Cape Town have found a way to help you shed them - using their tiny African Worry Dolls. But what's the story - who and what are these little dolly artworks...and who are the Souper Troopers? Just before the Christmas break of 2022 when the production lines were buzzing, Nancy Richards went along to meet the team at their Humanity Hub in Woodstock...

Dec 26, 202219:50
FINDING HERSELF: Janet Pillai

FINDING HERSELF: Janet Pillai

Said to be one of the busiest women in Cape Town, Janet Pillai, founder & CEO of MLT Car Hire & Tours, amongst other things, has more recently gone 'jetsetting' - listen here as she describes her journey, and herself. 

Dec 10, 202223:14
MEET THE AUTHOR: Nancy Richards

MEET THE AUTHOR: Nancy Richards

To close the WZ Book Club year of 2022, we went down to the sea, to Beach Blanc Cafe next to the lighthouse on Woodbridge Island  to hear the story of The Skipper's Daughter by Woman Zone founder Nancy Richards and published by Karavan Press. Nancy was in conversation with artist Kim Gurney author herself of a book called Panya Routes. Listen here for some salty tales! 

Dec 08, 202224:49
MEET THE AUTHOR: Penny Haw

MEET THE AUTHOR: Penny Haw

Due for release any day now, The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw (Sourcebooks) is a real must for anyone who loves animals and the stories of unsung women from the past - because Aleen Isabel Cust on whom this book is based was the woman who defied her family and society to become Britain and Ireland's first woman veterinary surgeon. Amazing. Hear how Penny came across this extraordinarily determined woman - and her take on living the dream. 

Dec 06, 202232:06
MEET THE AUTHOR: Nondwe Mpuma
Oct 25, 202236:34
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Qarnita and Shoki at The Cape Flats Book Festival

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Qarnita and Shoki at The Cape Flats Book Festival

'Strong female characters' was the topic up for discussion at the 2nd Cape Flats Book Festival held recently in Mitchell's Plain, with strong female writers, Qarnita Loxton, author of the series: Being Kari, Being Lily, Being Shelley and Being Dianne and Resoketswe Manenzhe whose debut novel is called Scatterlings. Nancy Richards spoke to them and you can listen in on the conversation here - but be sure to attend the Festival in person next year to hear a whole lot more. 

Oct 18, 202235:43
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Isisele Senyathi - A Home for African Women's History

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: Isisele Senyathi - A Home for African Women's History

A joint project between Ilitha Labantu, CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology), AWIF (African Women Independent Forum) and UN Women, Isisele Senyathi, translated as Reservoir of Knowledge has been conceived as a hub for African women's history and stories. A three-day conference was held at CPUT's Bellville Campus, where Woman Zone went along to listen in on the thinking, the stories - and the powerful singing. 

Oct 05, 202231:32
MEET THE AUTHOR: Sara-Jayne Makwala-King

MEET THE AUTHOR: Sara-Jayne Makwala-King

Her strong, assertive radio voice with it's undertone of humour,  belies the tough passage Sara-Jayne Makwala King has had in life. Like her first book, Killing Karoline, her second book Mad Bad Love (mf books), pulls no punches on the trauma she's had to work through. In this case, discovering that the things we love can nearly kill us. She speaks here to journalist Theresa Smith

Sep 25, 202229:29
WOMAN ZONE STORIES: I MISS DADDY Alicia and Matthew English

WOMAN ZONE STORIES: I MISS DADDY Alicia and Matthew English

Tragedy struck when Noel English, 45yr old father of two from Mitchell's Plain, died of COVID 19 in January 2021. A phoenix from the ashes however, was the book I Miss Daddy written by his son Matthew and wife Alicia. Despite her crushing grief, it also prompted Alicia to launch an initiative called The Olive Exchange - listen here to find out more... 

Sep 14, 202219:54
MEET THE AUTHOR: Margie Orford

MEET THE AUTHOR: Margie Orford

It's been a while coming, but Margie Orford's new book The Eye of the Beholder (Jonathan Ball) is strong stuff. In his cover shout, bestseller crime writer Ian Rankin calls it 'As powerful as it is elegant - grips like a vice.' He's not wrong. But Margie has many tales to tell about her journey with this title, and as a writer in general.  

Sep 11, 202240:18
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS: #7 Louisa Treger

ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS: #7 Louisa Treger

London based writer Louisa Treger was in South Africa recently to launch her latest book, Madwoman (Bloomsbury). It tells the extraordinary, and shocking, story of American journalist, Nelly Bly who back in the late 1880's had herself admitted to a New York asylum for 'mad women' - so she could both write about it and expose the appalling conditions. At our Women's Library, Louisa was in conversation with writer- publisher Karina Szczurek.

Aug 25, 202237:24
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS: #6 Dr Anne Biccard
Aug 23, 202232:23
ARTSCAPE CONVERSATIONS: #5 Gertrude Fester
Aug 20, 202242:46