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Born Free: Mein Leben im Südafrika nach der Apartheid
Als Malaika Wa Azania 1991 in Soweto zur Welt kommt, liegt der Wandel in der Luft. Ihre Mutter und ihre Großmutter haben noch wie so viele unter der Apartheid gelitten, aber jetzt, jetzt bricht eine neue Ära an. Nelson Mandela ist gerade aus dem Gefängnis frei, und nie wieder sollen die Schwarzen in Südafrika Fremde in ihrer eigenen Heimat sein.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2014
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204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 30, 2016
Good book.
I enjoyed the first half of the book very much. Because it is really a memoir. From her childhood in the townships and moving from place to place, that was very insightful and personal. And that is why people read memoirs.
The second half was not as exciting. It becomes too narcissistic at some point: I wanted to go left and they wanted to go right. I had beef with X and so I couldn't affiliate with Y. It's at some point even juvenile.
Having said that, I think it reflects very well the anger and frustration the younger generation have in countries where the party that 'freed' the nation from racist political systems has fallen into the trap of becoming imperialist as well. And that anger and frustration is not always easy to articulate. What exactly is her thesis? Where is she going with all this ANC-isnt-not-good-enough-for-me-stuff? Only towards the end that became evident.
Would love for it to have footnotes with translation of some of the songs and expression that are not in English.
I enjoyed the first half of the book very much. Because it is really a memoir. From her childhood in the townships and moving from place to place, that was very insightful and personal. And that is why people read memoirs.
The second half was not as exciting. It becomes too narcissistic at some point: I wanted to go left and they wanted to go right. I had beef with X and so I couldn't affiliate with Y. It's at some point even juvenile.
Having said that, I think it reflects very well the anger and frustration the younger generation have in countries where the party that 'freed' the nation from racist political systems has fallen into the trap of becoming imperialist as well. And that anger and frustration is not always easy to articulate. What exactly is her thesis? Where is she going with all this ANC-isnt-not-good-enough-for-me-stuff? Only towards the end that became evident.
Would love for it to have footnotes with translation of some of the songs and expression that are not in English.
September 20, 2019
I hate to give a book a low rating, but I was really disappointed with this read. As someone who has been studying post-apartheid South Africa and leading a study abroad program in Cape Town since 2016, I was really hoping to gain the perspective of the born free generation. Unfortunately, what I got was a memoir of an incredibly bright and articulate young woman discussing the first two decades of her life with little constructive reflection on South Africa or the ANC.
Much of my issue with the book stems from its title. Onthe one hand, it is honest about being a memoir. On the other hand, it promises to be one that provides “reflections” on S.A. Moreover, the narration of the book is ostensibly directed at the ANC, yet I’m not quite sure who the target audience of the book is supposed to be. I do know that anyone with basic knowledge of post-apartheid South Africa will already know much of what is in the pages of this book: the country is still racially segregated, with racial segregation interwoven with economic class. Townships are still ever-present and devastatingly poor and violent places. But that’s about it. I was hoping to learn teh born free generation’s views about the BBE initiatives, the TRC, gender, and so forth. Instead, the author states her main complaint upfront: “...[T]he system that had given oxygen to the apartheid government continues to be in existence, to define the face of the republic. That system is capitalism.” (p. 5). To be sure, I do not disagree, but the problems wrought by capitalism are hardly unique to South Africa. What emerges, then, is a book that - aside from discussions of township life - hardly touches on the promise of its premise. That for me is unfortunate. But perhaps Azania isn’t writing for me (an American), in which case my review might need to be taken in that context.
Much of my issue with the book stems from its title. Onthe one hand, it is honest about being a memoir. On the other hand, it promises to be one that provides “reflections” on S.A. Moreover, the narration of the book is ostensibly directed at the ANC, yet I’m not quite sure who the target audience of the book is supposed to be. I do know that anyone with basic knowledge of post-apartheid South Africa will already know much of what is in the pages of this book: the country is still racially segregated, with racial segregation interwoven with economic class. Townships are still ever-present and devastatingly poor and violent places. But that’s about it. I was hoping to learn teh born free generation’s views about the BBE initiatives, the TRC, gender, and so forth. Instead, the author states her main complaint upfront: “...[T]he system that had given oxygen to the apartheid government continues to be in existence, to define the face of the republic. That system is capitalism.” (p. 5). To be sure, I do not disagree, but the problems wrought by capitalism are hardly unique to South Africa. What emerges, then, is a book that - aside from discussions of township life - hardly touches on the promise of its premise. That for me is unfortunate. But perhaps Azania isn’t writing for me (an American), in which case my review might need to be taken in that context.
September 24, 2021
In general, I think the book expresses well the frustration and disappointment of young black South Africans. It made me very sad to read about the author’s life experience and it makes me even sadder because I know that such life experience is not uncommon.
I also think the author shows growth in her thinking throughout her very short life (she was 22 at the time of publishing). Her “red” leanings and referring to certain people as “comrades” made me cringe, though. I come from a country affected by communism and I know how it works (or rather doesn’t) in practice. Capitalism isn’t a South African problem and I doubt communism is ever the solution.
The author’s also quite critical of pretty much everyone (including people fighting for the same cause), which isn’t a bad thing per sé, but I think it takes the reader’s attention away from her main points. That’s made worse by the fact that the book is quite fragmented, with each chapter taking the reader somewhere else. It’s particularly true in part two, where nothing seems to be discussed in detail. I’d be just curious to learn more about her opinions on things she mentions and these she doesn’t mention, but this book is very short.
I’m curious to read her next book, written years after this one.
I also think the author shows growth in her thinking throughout her very short life (she was 22 at the time of publishing). Her “red” leanings and referring to certain people as “comrades” made me cringe, though. I come from a country affected by communism and I know how it works (or rather doesn’t) in practice. Capitalism isn’t a South African problem and I doubt communism is ever the solution.
The author’s also quite critical of pretty much everyone (including people fighting for the same cause), which isn’t a bad thing per sé, but I think it takes the reader’s attention away from her main points. That’s made worse by the fact that the book is quite fragmented, with each chapter taking the reader somewhere else. It’s particularly true in part two, where nothing seems to be discussed in detail. I’d be just curious to learn more about her opinions on things she mentions and these she doesn’t mention, but this book is very short.
I’m curious to read her next book, written years after this one.
August 30, 2014
I loved this book. Most young adults in SA can identify with Malaika. We're all eager to be one with the Struggle, but most of us will never see the fruits.
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April 19, 2024Memoirs Of A Born Free by Malaika Wa Azania: A Review
I had picked up the book yesterday and hoped to finish it within a few hours but then had other matters to attend to - adulting problems - you know - bookish bazwanane.
The book is essentially a political coming of age memoir that is representative & reflective of the social experiment of the born-frees that come with the transition of the nation from apartheid to democracy. Malaika herself was actually not born in '94 but in 91 - a period known as the 'dawn of democracy" that spans from the late 80s to 1994 so in that sense that too make me a born-free that wasn't free since I was also born into (rural) poverty. In the book we follow the transformational story of a young girl from humble beginnings having lived in a shack & being shamed for living in one by other kids to going to a former Middle C school in the bohemian suburb that is Melvile & being a top leaner & all that because of her sharp mind & love for reading.
If I may digress - the story of Malaika is the success story of the South African dream of a born-free generation where the fault lies not in one's circumstances but in oneself if one fails to rise the top. I know there's a problem with that narrative but then that's a matter for another book review.
The book was penned as a letter to the ANC - a party of Malika's activist mother's affiliation & this makes her an ANC kid but then a kid that has come of age and now woke & rebellious - something that she inherited from her political mother who had a fall out with the movement. Malika starts the story with her family history that many of us could relate to, & takes us through the honeymoon period of the Mandela magic defining moment. We also follow her activism around various civic organizations & her communications role as a founding member of the EFF.
The book left me awestruck with the cerebral charm of Malika, the fire of her thought & the bewitching power of her wit. Here, dear reader, we are talking about a young, intellectually gifted & radical black. Her superb intellectualism is a testament to the transformational power of the love for books. She's well-read & articulate with a biting intellect.
I had picked up the book yesterday and hoped to finish it within a few hours but then had other matters to attend to - adulting problems - you know - bookish bazwanane.
The book is essentially a political coming of age memoir that is representative & reflective of the social experiment of the born-frees that come with the transition of the nation from apartheid to democracy. Malaika herself was actually not born in '94 but in 91 - a period known as the 'dawn of democracy" that spans from the late 80s to 1994 so in that sense that too make me a born-free that wasn't free since I was also born into (rural) poverty. In the book we follow the transformational story of a young girl from humble beginnings having lived in a shack & being shamed for living in one by other kids to going to a former Middle C school in the bohemian suburb that is Melvile & being a top leaner & all that because of her sharp mind & love for reading.
If I may digress - the story of Malaika is the success story of the South African dream of a born-free generation where the fault lies not in one's circumstances but in oneself if one fails to rise the top. I know there's a problem with that narrative but then that's a matter for another book review.
The book was penned as a letter to the ANC - a party of Malika's activist mother's affiliation & this makes her an ANC kid but then a kid that has come of age and now woke & rebellious - something that she inherited from her political mother who had a fall out with the movement. Malika starts the story with her family history that many of us could relate to, & takes us through the honeymoon period of the Mandela magic defining moment. We also follow her activism around various civic organizations & her communications role as a founding member of the EFF.
The book left me awestruck with the cerebral charm of Malika, the fire of her thought & the bewitching power of her wit. Here, dear reader, we are talking about a young, intellectually gifted & radical black. Her superb intellectualism is a testament to the transformational power of the love for books. She's well-read & articulate with a biting intellect.
January 2, 2019
Malaika wa Azania's "Memoirs of a Born Free" (originally published in South Africa in 2014) is part-memoir and part-political treatise. The U.S. edition, published in mid-2018 includes a helpful and further enlightening Introduction penned by the author with four years of hindsight. The "Born Free" of the title refers to the author and her contemporaries, South Africans born after the fall of Apartheid.
The memoir portion of the book details a family history from (Maternal) Grandmother to Mother to Daughter (the author). Organized as a letter to the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party of post-Apartheid South Africa - the author both praises and more pointedly criticizes the ANC, it's leadership, it's triumphs and it's many failures, failures which principally adversely-affected and affect South Africa's ever-burgeoning poor and marginalized.
For a U.S. reader, "Memoirs" devolves into a Who's-Who of movers and provocateurs of South Africa's Pan-African and Black Empowerment movements, with a blur of names known to few if any uninitiated in South African politics in the decade from the early-2000's to 2013.
The memoir portion of the book details a family history from (Maternal) Grandmother to Mother to Daughter (the author). Organized as a letter to the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party of post-Apartheid South Africa - the author both praises and more pointedly criticizes the ANC, it's leadership, it's triumphs and it's many failures, failures which principally adversely-affected and affect South Africa's ever-burgeoning poor and marginalized.
For a U.S. reader, "Memoirs" devolves into a Who's-Who of movers and provocateurs of South Africa's Pan-African and Black Empowerment movements, with a blur of names known to few if any uninitiated in South African politics in the decade from the early-2000's to 2013.
September 30, 2017
Südafrika wird oft als Beispiel angeführt, dafür, dass Afrika funktionieren kann. Doch dass dies nur eine europäisch-amerikanische Sicht ist, beweist uns die kämpferische Malaika in ihrem Brief an den ANC (dem Afrikanischen Nationalkongress). In "Born Free" erleben wir unverstellt, wie es in Südafrika wirklich aussieht.
Das Leben der ärmsten der Armen ist noch immer geprägt von Rassismus und alten Regeln, die man angeblich über Bord geworfen hat. Dabei erstaunte mich, dass die Apartheid noch gar nicht so lange her ist. Malaika ist ein paar Jahre jünger als ich und gehört zur ersten Generation der sogenannten "Born Free", also jener schwarzen Südafrikaner, die gleichberechtigt sind.
Doch die Schilderungen Malaikas stimmen einen traurig. Es kann doch nicht sein, dass hauptsächlich von Weissen besuchte Schulen staatliche Fördergelder bekommen, während die Schulen von hauptsächlich schwarzen Schülern kaum über die Runden kommen. Hier setzt Malaikas Kritik ein - es beginnt schon in der Kindheit, da die armen Schüler kaum die Möglichkeit haben, die Bildungslücken aufzuholen.
Auch die Schilderung, als Malaika mit 18 ihr Studium begann und auf einer Party nur aufgrund ihrer Hautfarbe sehr schlecht behandelt wird - das ist erst ein paar Jahre her! Ich war oft entsetzt darüber, was diese junge Frau erleben musste. Und so wie ihr ergeht es vielen jungen Schwarzen.
"Born Free" ist ein sehr politisches Buch, in dem Namen auftauchen, die uns Westler kaum bekannt sind. Dennoch zeigt das Buch den Weg einer mutigen und vor allem wütenden Frau auf, die weiss, was sie will. Es braucht solche Persönlichkeiten wie Malaika Wa Azania, die Missstände offen ansprechen und es so schaffen, diese zum Besseren zu ändern.
Ja, Malaika ist wütend und dazu hat sie auch allen Grund. Zwar tappt sie dabei auch manchmal in die Vorurteilsfalle, aber man merkt auch, dass die Autorin immer erwachsener wird. Dennoch frage ich mich, was Malaika davon hält, dass dieses Buch auch von Weissen gelesen wird. Denn eigentlich wendet sich ihr Text vor allem an junge Schwarze.
Dieses Werk ist lesenswert für alle, die Südafrika jenseits des beliebten Touristenorts kennenlernen wollen. Für jene, die sich ein Bild davon machen möchten, wie es tatsächlich ist, in den Slums aufzuwachsen.
Südafrika ist auf einem guten Weg, wenn es Leute wie Malaika Wa Azania hat, die sich für echte Gleichberechtigung einsetzen und jenen eine Stimme geben, die nicht für sich sprechen können.
Das Leben der ärmsten der Armen ist noch immer geprägt von Rassismus und alten Regeln, die man angeblich über Bord geworfen hat. Dabei erstaunte mich, dass die Apartheid noch gar nicht so lange her ist. Malaika ist ein paar Jahre jünger als ich und gehört zur ersten Generation der sogenannten "Born Free", also jener schwarzen Südafrikaner, die gleichberechtigt sind.
Doch die Schilderungen Malaikas stimmen einen traurig. Es kann doch nicht sein, dass hauptsächlich von Weissen besuchte Schulen staatliche Fördergelder bekommen, während die Schulen von hauptsächlich schwarzen Schülern kaum über die Runden kommen. Hier setzt Malaikas Kritik ein - es beginnt schon in der Kindheit, da die armen Schüler kaum die Möglichkeit haben, die Bildungslücken aufzuholen.
Auch die Schilderung, als Malaika mit 18 ihr Studium begann und auf einer Party nur aufgrund ihrer Hautfarbe sehr schlecht behandelt wird - das ist erst ein paar Jahre her! Ich war oft entsetzt darüber, was diese junge Frau erleben musste. Und so wie ihr ergeht es vielen jungen Schwarzen.
"Born Free" ist ein sehr politisches Buch, in dem Namen auftauchen, die uns Westler kaum bekannt sind. Dennoch zeigt das Buch den Weg einer mutigen und vor allem wütenden Frau auf, die weiss, was sie will. Es braucht solche Persönlichkeiten wie Malaika Wa Azania, die Missstände offen ansprechen und es so schaffen, diese zum Besseren zu ändern.
Ja, Malaika ist wütend und dazu hat sie auch allen Grund. Zwar tappt sie dabei auch manchmal in die Vorurteilsfalle, aber man merkt auch, dass die Autorin immer erwachsener wird. Dennoch frage ich mich, was Malaika davon hält, dass dieses Buch auch von Weissen gelesen wird. Denn eigentlich wendet sich ihr Text vor allem an junge Schwarze.
Dieses Werk ist lesenswert für alle, die Südafrika jenseits des beliebten Touristenorts kennenlernen wollen. Für jene, die sich ein Bild davon machen möchten, wie es tatsächlich ist, in den Slums aufzuwachsen.
Südafrika ist auf einem guten Weg, wenn es Leute wie Malaika Wa Azania hat, die sich für echte Gleichberechtigung einsetzen und jenen eine Stimme geben, die nicht für sich sprechen können.
June 2, 2019
A bold and insightful narration of the journey through the lense of three generations of their varied and similar struggles of a system they were born into. I resonated with duplicity of the author's journey in navigating a world they are born to versus the world they must participate in. This is not just a black South African tale. It is also a struggle of an african child born n this continent.
December 10, 2021
There needs to be communication between the people who liberated us from apartheid and the generation having to Cary the torch forward. I wish for people of the liberating generation to read this, especially the ones who are stuck in the bitterness part of the journey. Life must go on. UTata Nelson Mandela did mention there will be many more hills to climb and that takes courage, understanding and acceptance of certain things.
February 14, 2022
Informative!
This was very informative. A lot of people think South Africa's problems ended when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. This is an eye opening, very well-written book on how that is not the case.
This was very informative. A lot of people think South Africa's problems ended when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. This is an eye opening, very well-written book on how that is not the case.
February 6, 2025
Such an interesting book and super well written. I didn’t know much about South Africa but this memoir and history really dove into it (specifically post apartheid). Also super moving and inspiring to get even more involved in activism!
October 20, 2023
Interessant, über die Realität in Südafrika. Inspirierend und wachrüttelnd.
November 23, 2014
It's quite something for a 22 year-old to publish her memoirs. It's really a story about a girl growing up in Soweto and coming to grips with our complicated past. Life is not straight and simple and it gets a lot more difficult if you're born into tumultous times of change and transformation. I like the insight it gives into connections, that are very far away to me even if they are just an few miles away. That's part of apartheids heritage. Malaika also shows how multifacetted and layered society is across the racial barier lines - its not just about them/us. It is much more intricate and intertwined and still disconnected than I would have ever imagined. Looking forward very much to hear more of this bright young "free born" and hope that she'll not give up, but continue to make a positive difference in our young democracy.
February 12, 2015
It is quite a sobering book. Wriiten as a letter to the ANC Malaika tells of her childhood growing up in the township, in porverty. Looking at her journey we still have a long way to go as a country to get to the point where black people in the township can all live in dignity and not have to struggle for decent living spaces, not have to struggle for decent education (with labs and libraries). This books shows how passionate Malaika is about the country and the continent. She has done much more as a 22 year old politically than most. She simply refuses to be uninvolved, she simply cannot do this as she holds strong opinions on various issues.
Interesting to read her journey, but it is the journey of so many in SA.
Interesting to read her journey, but it is the journey of so many in SA.
October 6, 2018
What a brilliant mind. This was super interesting to read and is essential in understanding more of South Africa. I enjoyed the first part immensely and could hardly put the book down. She lost me a bit in the second part with all the politics of within the political organisations and the feuds. As someone not necessarily familiar with the workings of the ANC it was sometimes hard to follow the significance of these developments. But nevertheless is was extremely insightful. I'm so jealous of her Brain capacity, she wrote this at 22 yo :o
Reread in 2018:
It was cool to notice that in the meantime I had learned a lot more about the political landscape of South Africa and therefore also enjoyed and understood the second part more! Still in awe, still grateful that I read this.
Reread in 2018:
It was cool to notice that in the meantime I had learned a lot more about the political landscape of South Africa and therefore also enjoyed and understood the second part more! Still in awe, still grateful that I read this.
October 4, 2015
The author is a member of the "born free" generation in South Africa - those who were born since independence in 1994. She writes this book as a letter to the ANC, the liberator political party and current ruling party in South Africa. This book is a passionate recording of her disillusionment and disappointment, while also chronicling her experiences growing up and her awakening of her political consciousness. This is a very powerful and important book. I am inspired by her vision and work, as well as her voice's contribution to the discussion regarding post-Apartheid South Africa.
June 12, 2016
A compelling read which I think gives important insight into youth politics in South Africa in recent years. It could have used some tighter editing, and the writing sometimes came off as a bit pompous and self-important, but overall worth reading.
February 28, 2022
5 Stars.
It feels unethical to rate a lived experiences. Especially one that is home. But it was eye-opening and a reminder why I'm leery of our county's political happenings. Mostly it was disheartening.
It feels unethical to rate a lived experiences. Especially one that is home. But it was eye-opening and a reminder why I'm leery of our county's political happenings. Mostly it was disheartening.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews