A historical novel by University of Pretoria Fellow Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang has made Brittle Paper’s 100 Notable African Books of 2022 list. The book, The Daughters of Nandi, is a fictional account of the life and times of King Shaka’s mother, the unforgettable Queen Nandi of the Mhlongo people.

Other notable books featured on the top 100 list include Sue Nyathi’s An Angel’s Demise, Fred Khumalo’s Two Tons of Fun, Niq Mhlongo’s For You I’d Steal a Goat and NoViolet Bulawayo’s Booker Prize shortlisted novel, Glory.

“I’m deeply grateful for the support I’ve received from the literary community and from the University of Pretoria’s humanities faculty and Future Africa Institute,” Dr Mazibuko Msimang said.

Dr Mazibuko Msimang, who is currently writing a biography on musical legend Dolly Rathebe, has enjoyed renewed critical acclaim celebrating her body of work over the past 30 years.

On 7 November she was awarded the South African Literary Awards Chairperson’s Award. In March, she launched The Daughters of Nandi at the Time of the Writer Festival in Durban, where she gave the keynote address. She has just returned from the Aké Arts and Book Festival in Lagos where she met 2021 Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, who gave a powerful address on his life as a celebrated writer and on the rise of Africa’s historical fiction. The headline writer at the festival was Véronique Tadjo, an award-winning writer and academic. 

“The University of Pretoria extends its hearty congratulations to Dr Mazibuko Msimang for flying the Tuks flag high,” said UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe.