Kalk Bay Books pre-publicity for Whisper not

Posted by Andy in Talks, Whisper not

Mthokozisi Radebe, Elaine Maane and Jean-Claude Puati Bazola at Kalk Bay Books.

On 2 March 2011, Elaine Maane and Whisper not authors, Mthokozisi Radebe and Jean-Claude Puati Bazola spoke at Cape Town Pride’s Book Affair at Kalk Bay Books to publicise the launch of the Whisper not series on 4 May 2011.

After Elaine introduced Openly Positive and the Whisper not series, Mthokozisi spoke about his upbringing in Ntuzuma in KwaZulu-Natal, and how he came to terms with coming out around his sexuality and disclosing his HIV status as a young man:

“I had questions from my family around my sexuality and this forced me to show up and admit to being attracted to men. When I learned that I was living with HIV, I felt I had the responsibility to let my family know that this is what I was facing. I believe I’m living with HIV because I have lessons to learn that I wouldn’t give a cent to learn otherwise.”  

Mthokozisi read a humorous extract from his short story, Yet I rise, where he dialogues with his mother and responds to her queries about his lifestyle and the prospects of having grandchildren.

Elaine introduces the Whisper not series and our authors, Mthokozisi and Jean–Claude.

Jean-Claude Puati Bazola shared how he grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and eventually felt a need to leave the DRC because of lack of acceptance for his sexuality:

“I chose to write my story to break free from the box that society expected me to conform to because of my sexuality. I hope to help other people to become strong or become compassionate about others perceived as different.” 

From his short story, Sculptures of time, Jean-Claude read his touching poem, Stranger, in French and English, where he opens up about feeling an outsider both at home and in his life in South Africa as an asylum-seeker also living with HIV. Jean-Claude’s La sculpture des temps will be launched simultaneously with Whisper not.