Een andere tongval

by Antjie Krog, R. Dorsman (Translator)

Hoe moet je veranderen? Wat kan er uit het verleden behouden worden en waar moet je echt opnieuw beginnen? En hoe doe je dat zonder mensen kapot te maken? In Een andere tongval gaat Antjie Krog op zoek. Allereerst in Kroonstad, haar geboorteplaats. Daar ziet ze niet alleen hoe de gemeenteraad van een township probeert om te gaan met alledaagse problemen als elektriciteit en riolering, maar duikt ze ook in haar persoonlijke geschiedenis. Antjie Krog vertelt over haar ouders, over haar verleden, over de veranderingen die zij met haar familie heeft doorgemaakt – en ook over de veranderingen die het land heeft doorgemaakt, van de dichters tot de politici. Dit alles levert een fascinerend zelfportret op van een unieke schrijver en dichter en tevens een indrukwekkende monografie van een van de interessantste landen ter wereld. Krog is lyrisch en analytisch, hoopvol maar compromisloos, humoristisch en ontroerend.

Genres: Africa, South Africa, Nonfiction, History, Biography

431 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Krog grew up on a farm, attending primary and secondary school in Kroonstad. In 1973 she earned a BA (Hons) degree in English from the University of the Orange Free State, and an MA in Afrikaans from the University of Pretoria in 1976. With a teaching diploma from the University of South Africa (UNISA) she would lecture at a segregated teacher’s training college for black South Africans.

She is married to architect John Samuel and has four children: Andries, Susan, Philip, and Willem. In 2004 she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape.

Reviews

[Ray Durrheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Change of Tongue has a 19th century ichthyological illustration of a ‘flat fish’ on the cover. Why? I recall that the Afrikaans word for sole is ‘tongvis’, so surmise there must be a connection. Antjie Krog is a skilled Afrikaans poet (though she writes her prose in English), and her choices of words and images frequently surprise and enchant. Deep into the book I learn that a sole starts life as a ‘normal’ symmetrical fish, but undergoes an amazing transformation, one eye migrating across the axis of symmetry and the entire anatomy adapting to life on the ocean floor. This becomes a metaphor for the transformation that white South Africans must undergo if we are to thrive in a post-apartheid world.

Krog weaves the threads of multiple stories into a coherent tapestry: a farm child living on the banks of the Valsch River on the outskirts of the Free State town of Kroonstad, a sensitive teenager becoming aware of the injustices of apartheid while finding her voice as a poet, as a teacher in a township school, a journalist covering the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a member of a poetic caravan travelling from Dakar to Timbuctou, and a translator struggling to find the right words to translate Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. What word do you use to translate ‘African’ when ‘Afrikaner’ has already been appropriated?

I am just a few years younger than Krog (she was born in 1952) and have experienced much the same history. I was enthralled by her stories and insights, which triggered many memories and provoked me to reflect on my attitudes and actions. In many ways it is a prophetic book. Published in 2003, prior to the blossoming of State capture and the lost Zuma years, we see the realisation of many of Krog’s hopes and fears.

[Ayleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very interesting read. It's not my usual kind of book as i prefer self development books. This, however, was very refreshing as it opened me up to an Afrikaner's perspectives of the injustices of the Apartheid. Additionally, I found he poetry quite interesting and introspoective passages very personal. Antjie is not afraid to ask herself difficult questions neither is she ashamed of any of herself. It's a really good read.

[Jaco Barnard-Naudé · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Change of Tongue is the sequel to the famous Country of My Skull. Begging to Be Black follows it. As tempting as it is to compare the books in the trilogy, I think the three are, ultimately, individually incomparable. For reasons unknown, I didn't read this book when it was published. But sometimes a book finds you when you need to read it. This is the way it was for me with A Change of Tongue. I simply adored this book. It is hysterically funny by turns and horrifically haunting at others. It is a portrait of South Africa - past and present - like no other. Krog is a master of the kind of writing that relentlessly lifts the curtain on the politics of the personal. But this is not what makes the writing singular. Many writers have been brilliantly capable of such an illustration. What makes Krog's writing so unique is the way in which she exposes, with the same relentlessness, the personal nature of the political: the way in which political action, political choices and political risk and danger touches the body, moves it and changes it - or not. A Change of Tongue is not only a book that all politicians should read, it is a book that all of us who concern ourselves with and are concerned by South Africa, at this moment, cannot afford to ignore.

[Amanda Brinkmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book speaks to the South Africa of the past - excavates and surfaces memories and reminders that are not comfortable - it counts as one of the best, interesting and fascinating novels I have read. The story will find resonance with readers globally - the story is all too familiar - racism, judgement, inequality - juxtoposed with humanity, tolerance and the will to risk to improve the life of another. Poignant, sometimes disturbing.

This is on my to re-read list.

[Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books on South Africa. Explores the New South Africa in all it complexity and contradictions. Antie Krog is a a poet and a good writer and storyteller.

I reread it in 2020 (12 years later) and still love it. And it's reflections on whiteness feel very relevant for white Americans at this time.

[Rob Whitlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Change of Tongue is a challenging, thought provoking, fascinating read. Having spent some time in Kroonstad as an army conscript during the last years of the apartheid government and having been a young adult during first years of our democratic government this book made me realise that there is a long way to go but that we have done a good part of this never ending journey already.

[Tiah]

A stunning and brave exploration to the complex social fabric of modern South Africa and the definition of being "African."

[Hans Buijze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat kan antije Krog schrijven! Met mededogen en een milde blik, zichzelf kwetsbaar opstellend, genuanceerd en precies, ontroerend en humoristisch, laat Antije Krog ons de eerste jaren na de afschaffing van de apartheid meebeleven. Vooral de autobiografische stukjes in het boek zijn juweeltjes van schrijfkunst. Ik heb intens genoten van dit boek.

[Wil Van der heide · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Het schot weerklinkt / het Nieuwe Zuid-Afrika. De Zwarten zijn blij / De blanken zijn blij - district Kroonstad / Afrikaans en Sesotho.”
- zeldzame bundel van Sankie Mthembin -
“Wij uit het huis van Phalo / Wij zullen ons vastklampen aan de Pleiaden / Wij zullen de ster hebben / de enige die de jaren van mannelijkheid telt.”

[Sean de la Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Change of Tongue is a complex and brave work exploring the social fabric of modern South Africa and seeks to define what being African truly means. Krog has most definitely matured in her style and approach since writing Country of My Skull. What I found most fascinating was her fearlessness in tackling racism head on - subjects you generally considered taboo are approached openly and in a fair manner. What comes into the light is healed! All very artfully done.

Part 5 of the book dealing with her African poetry trip to Timbuktu is a must read to appreciate our uniqueness as South Africans and gain insight into some of the challenges faced in the far north African countries. I loved this quote: Fo no one, in the North or the South, can escape the cold fact that we are a single humanity. What was also refreshing was her honesty and openness in why she has chosen to write her current and future works in English as opposed to Afrikaans, her mother tongue.

I would venture that this book is required reading for all who are proud to call themselves South African. With this level of authorship, Krog must be in line for a Nobel in the foreseeable future.

[Annalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me many different perspectives on the problems and challenges facing post-apartheid South Africa. Antjie Krog says herself that she has a talent for telling a story and she certainly proves it here. For years I've been putting off reading it and then I braced myself for a hard slog. To my great surprise it was very easy to read; often heartbreakingly sad but at times so funny that I laughed out loud. Antjie Krog interweaves much of her autobiography into the book. Having read some essays by Antjie's mother (Dot Serfortein), I enjoyed getting to know her better, too.

[Zara Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began reading this immediately after finishing the fantastic 'Country of My Skull' by the same author, because I wanted to read more by her. This book is different in a lot of ways, but still a fantastic and engaging read. It mixes fictional short stories together with more clearly autobiographical sections, and gives more of a personal perspective to the situation. Again, a really, really recommended read to understand more of South Africa's history, and to read truly beautiful writing.

[Rainier Rademan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping transformative tale of Krog's wanderings and experiences of the truth throughout her childhood, and as a budding author for the SABC. This book will leave the reader questioning every sentence as to its meaning, and many chapters will leave the reader captivated long after the book has been closed. A gripping story of change and acceptance, tolerance and forgiveness, but also of loss and love.

[AeRi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in years. The perfect combination of literary intelligence with knowledgeable subject matter; an incredible work of non-fiction which reads like a novel.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing short essays about life and identity in post-apartheid South Africa.

[Mitta Xinindlu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still reading this one. I'm enjoying it. It's fun to read.

[Megan Doney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another masterwork by Krog.

[Tamere]

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