جيلنا

by Zubeida Jaffer, زبيدة جعفر, ربيع وهبه (Translator)

Our generation the astoundingly accomplished debut memoir of Zubeida Jaffer, journalist, activist and mother. It burst onto the South African Literary scene in 2003 with a refreshing insight into the struggle against apartheid, told from the perspective of a young mother. Zubeida played an important role in the resistance movement in the Western Cape, from the early nineteen eighties; later she was a key organiser in the formation of the United Democratic Front. This account spans twenty-one years from 1980 to 2001, covering her initial detention, up to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings, at which she testified. The genius of the book lies in its intimacy.

Genres: South Africa

389 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Shirene Rosenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book covers an important era in South Africa’s history. The book starts off with much promise. It provides the potential of a perspective on on a generation of south africans and the impact of post traumatic stress disorder or the neglect thereof on a generation of anti-apartheid activists. The memoir however does not provide a panned perspective but does deliver voyeuristic snappshot.

[Hecate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, intimate and yet wide-angled vision of an activist's life. Speaks with dignity of topics from teething to torture, prayer rituals to divorce, children's birthday parties to the TRC. Essential reading for all interested in SA history of the last 3 decades. Jaffer's insistence of the value of women's lives is esp compelling. One quibble is poor production -- font is almost unreadable.