HELD: Portrait of the Black Family

by Lulama Mali

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2026

Reviews

[Clotilde]

Beautiful and personal account of Mali and her family in three generations. Rooted in the political system of apartheid, and explained through love, memory and loss. I particularly appreciated the input on music and its role in resistance. A must read ❤️

[Nella]

This book felt like a hug from my family from Gugulethu, I remembered my grandparents. It felt like a hug from the past but also bandages being ripped off. Its depth, it’s painful, its fluffy, its hip hop, its love ❤️

[Maeve Bayley]

Captivating. A story that needed telling. A raw, honest account of Cape Town, of life, of family, of survival, of music, and of love. Thank you, Lulama, for sharing this with us.