The death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on 2 April this year unleashed a hailstorm of opinion. On one side, Winnie’s legacy was under construction by the media and public in the shadow of her sanctified ex-husband, casting Winnie as history’s loser. Msimang – who in the last few years has reflected extensively on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela – stood on the side of a younger generation, particularly of black women, who sought to reclaim Ma Winnie’s identity as an extraordinary woman and fierce political activist.
Examining that early impulse, Msimang has written a succinct, razor-sharp book. It is a primer for young feminists, popular culture enthusiasts and those interested in the politics of memory, reconciliation and justice, and a book that is as much about a woman as it is about the country she left behind.
The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela is an astute examination of one of South Africa’s most controversial political figures. It charts the rise and fall – and rise, again – of a woman who not only battled the apartheid regime, but the patriarchal character of the society that moulded her. In telling Ma Winnie’s story, Sisonke Msimang demonstrates the vital link between reclaiming the lives of one complex woman, and activism aimed at restoring the dignity of all women.
About the author:
Sisonke Msimang divides her time between Perth, Australia, where she is head of oral storytelling at the Centre for Stories, and South Africa, where she continues to play an active role in public commentary and analysis. Msimang’s first book, Always Another Country, was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award for 2018
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