The Cheeky Natives

Send us a textI Do… Don’t I? is the eagerly awaited sequel to the The Thing with Zola.  In it there is a continuation of the love story between Zola and Mbali, traversing the unique location of Kigali and Johannesburg while navigating the complications of a long-distance relationship and the underlying question of commitment. Will they say I do? Zola's teenage sister adds to the drama as we encounter her in the midst of a cannon life event. Okuhle is not exempt from the drama of the book as she faces her own demons in love and family. Additionally, the elders in this book serve their own dramatic lessons in this book. We sat with Zibu Sithole to discuss her sophomore novel, writing black love and flawed characters.  In this conversation we discuss explored the themes of love, humour and family in the South African context. Support the showfollow us on social media @cheekynatives

Send us a textIn Only Big Bum Bum Matters Tomorrow, Damilare Kuku introduces a protagonist, Témì with big plans for a drastic change to her appearance in the form of a BBL. In her debut novel, Damilare examines familial relationships, beauty standards and the quest for desirability in modern day Nigeria. Témì is a young university student, grappling with her body image all while navigating loss and complex family dynamics including her older sister’s sudden disappearance prior. Her journey towards the BBL unravels a slew of other issues including the weight of physical beauty, the desire to be attractive and what it means to reach for unattainable beauty standards. The women in this book are deeply flawed but incredibly relatable, a testament to the authors skill. They live full and interesting lives while making challenging decisions in a life full of difficulties. Once again, Damilare disarms the reading by infusing humour in writing these challenging themes. Deeply observant and thought-provoking, Damilare scratches beyond the surface of what it means to be a woman striving for beauty and by extension a sense of self, in contemporary Nigeria. We sat down with Damilare Kuku to discuss self identification, beauty standards and the quest for beauty while navigating familial relationships Support the showfollow us on social media @cheekynatives

Send us a textIn a collection of 12 short stories, Damilare Kuku demonstrates the almost Sisyphean task that is navigating love, relationships and life in Lagos. Damilare deftly uses humour and wit to explore the difficult themes of love, loss, friendship and romance, often catching the reader unaware. As a testament to the universality of these stories, as reader you or someone you know may have encountered one of the mad men Damilare has written about. Of course the women are not exempt from the afflictions of humanity, many of them being difficult and somewhat exhausting in a node to the realities of the women we do know in our daily life. Most striking is the depiction of sex and agency displayed by these women particularly in the face of misogyny and patriarchy. Damilare draws the reader in, using both humour and sensitivity as she explores what it means to live and love in a place like Lagos. We sat down with Damilare to discuss her break out collection.  Support the showfollow us on social media @cheekynatives

Send us a textColoured as an ethnicity and racial demographic is intertwined with the creation of today’s South Africa. Yet often coloured communities are disdained as people with no clear heritage or culture – as not "black enough" or "white enough". Coloured by Tessa Dooms and Lynsey Ebony Chutel, challenges this notion and presents a different angle to that narrative. It delves into the history of coloured people as descendants of indigenous Africans and a people whose identity was shaped by colonisation, slavery and apartheid. Coloured as an ethnicity was again in the spotlight following Tyla’s brilliant rise to fame on both side of the Atlantic this year.  In South Africa, there has been a problematic discourse that disparages the Coloured identity as inherently lacking, in culture, heritage and ultimately place in our democracy. Tessa Dooms and Lynsey Ebony Chutel, challenge this prevailing idea  and bring forth a different way to view this incredibly varied and rich community.  In a powerful exposition, Tessa and Lynsey delve into the history of people shaped by colonisation, slavery and apartheid. Spurred by the death of  Nathaniel Julies, a young Coloured boy following a shooting by the police.  #ColouredLivesMatter began to circulate on social media in response to this violence. Tessa and Lynsey sought to address the cultural alienation that young Coloured people continue to experience in South Africa by looking deeply into the history of Coloured history, ancestry and political placement in South Africa.  In working through the conundrum of Coloured identity, it becomes clear that it cannot be distilled in racial classification.  We sat down with Tessa and Lynsey to discuss the complexities of Coloured identity beyond the tropes and stereotypes.  We spoke about the work of understanding the realities of Coloured identities, experiences and setting. Written as a mirror to both reader and subject matter, this book is a love letter to Coloured people.  Support the showfollow us on social media @cheekynatives