'Black people shouldn't be integrated into anything,' says Thando Mgqolozana

The conversation about decolonising South Africa's literary landscape has been ongoing due to the lack of demographic representation which mirrors society.

The conversation about decolonising South Africa's literary landscape has been ongoing due to the lack of demographic representation which mirrors society.

702/CapeTalk's Redi Tlhabi spoke to novelist, Thando Mgqolozana, about the inaugural Khayelitsha Book Fair as well as what inspired him to pursue this project.

Listen to the conversation below:

I see no reason for us to beg to be intergrated into this system. We need a new thing that is not framed by concepts of colonialism.

Thando Mgqolozana, novelist

Now that we have democracy, that has not changed. People are still excluded in the same way that they previously were by the system.

Thando Mgqolozana, novelist

The reason why I came to that decision is realisaing that change is not taking place, and where some change is taking place, it is not enough.

Thando Mgqolozana, novelist

I don't see why for the last seven years, we have been begging to be integrated into this space. It's like asking to be put nicely into a fire. We have to leave, we have to go.

Thando Mgqolozana, novelist

Decolonisation means you have to undo the whole thing, the whole framework of the system.

Thando Mgqolozana, novelist