Our Ghosts Were Once People - Stories On Death And Dying

Loading player...
Death is a fact of life, but the experience of grief is unique to each of us. This poignant and thought-provoking anthology gives us portraits of grief as seen through the eyes of writers and poets.
The contributions range from the deeply personal: a poet chronicles her relationship with her troubled, abusive father, a World War II survivor – to the political: an investigator from the Missing Persons Task Team draws us into the ongoing search for the remains of activists who were murdered by the apartheid state between 1960 and 1994 – to the philosophical: a writer ponders the ethics of killing small animals.

Perhaps grief never truly ends but these stories transform the pain of death into something beautiful so that we can find ways to live with loss.

Featuring contributions by Sisonke Msimang, Mary Watson, Karin Schimke, Hedley Twiddle, Ishtiyaq Shukri, Dawn Garisch, Shubnum Khan, Malika Ndlovu, Toni Stuart, Stacy Hardy and more.
6 Dec 2021 English South Africa Books · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

The Dark Prince by Pieter du Toit

In this episode of Pagecast, Bongani Bingwa interviews Pieter du Toit about his latest book, The Dark Prince, an unflinching portrait of Paul Mashatile’s controversial rise through the ANC ranks to the doorstep of the presidency. About the book: Having survived scandal, controversy and the Zuma years, Paul Mashatile has…
1 Dec 39 min

Fabrics of Love by Lebo Mazibuko

In this episode of Pagecast, Sindeka Mandoyi interviews Lebo Mazibuko about her latest novel, Fabrics of Love. This family saga is told through the lens of the third generation of women who surround Lemohang Ntoi, the head of the family, as he struggles to hold onto life as he knew…
24 Nov 26 min

My jaar van vrees en vryheid deur Marita van der Vyver

In hierdie episode van Pagecast is Mia Spies in gesprek met Marita van der Vyver oor haar nuutste boek, My jaar van vrees en vryheid. Marita van der Vyver is een van die mees geliefde skrywers in Afrikaans en is bekend vir haar romans en kinderboeke wat lesers al oor…
17 Nov 33 min

Bare Bones: Cold Cases from True Crime South Africa by Nicole Engelbrecht

In this episode of Pagecast, Anthony Molyneaux is in conversation with Nicole Engelbrecht about her new book, Bare Bones. Nicole Engelbrecht is the creator and host of one of SA’s biggest podcasts, True Crime South Africa, and is the author of Samurai Sword Murder: The Morne Harmse Story. Anthony Molyneaux…
10 Nov 37 min

After the Fires by Nozipho Tshabalala

In this episode of Pagecast, Rorisang Tshabalala interviews Nozipho Tshabalala about her book, After the Fires: Unlocking the Power of Letting Go. More about the book: When the flames of life’s challenges have swept through you, who do you become from the ashes? Nozipho Tshabalala is a high-performing, excellence-driven, successful…
3 Nov 40 min