By Lisakhanya Tali
When I think about the time I first read and enjoyed a book, I go back to 2017, when I had just started Grade 7 at a new school, Victoria Girls Primary School. I remember Mrs Abrahams – may her soul rest in peace – my English teacher that year, her perfume strong yet delicate, leaving a wonderful scent where she once was. She used to persuade us to read more, sharing her passion for literature beyond the classroom by taking us every week to the school’s library, where we could take a book out for two weeks or read a book of our choice. The fiction area, which was popular amongst the students, didn’t thrill me; I was convinced that reading for enjoyment wasn’t my thing. Mrs Abrahams, ever the patient and sweet human she was, reassured me, explaining how I haven’t explored many genres and, therefore, haven’t found one I truly enjoy.
As time went on, we eventually started learning about folklore, classics, and historical fiction in English. I can’t describe exactly what these topics evoked, but I remember my obsession with this specific genre. Reading about classical literature, folklore, and historical fiction made me excited. It helped my imagination and let me fully immerse myself in literature. I remember having a sense of joy within me when I used to climb the stairs, making my way towards our small library, excited to travel back to the historical age filled with folklore, classics, and fiction, not understanding whether it was passion or just excitement from finally discovering a genre I enjoyed like the other students. I fondly recall sitting in the small library chairs beside the dusty windows, immersed in the world of folklore classics. Mrs. Abrahams, with her unwavering enthusiasm, would guide me through her collection of books and, when the school library didn’t have what I was looking for, she’d help me search the internet for rare gems of folklore. Her passion for literature was contagious, and she broadened my understanding of folklore, fiction, and classical literature, including mythology, by recommending extra readings on ancient civilisations like Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Her dedication not only expanded my literary horizons but also ignited a lifelong love of stories and history.
My fascination for this genre continued into high school, where I was introduced to books like Macbeth and The Crucible about the Salem witch trials. These are just two of the many books we read in high school literature, which made me realise I would continue with literature in the future because of the love I had eventually formed with reading. Spending my time in the school library reading the books we were given in English and searching for more folklore online, my interest in reading peaked. Unfortunately for me, I was not into any other genre. For the longest time, I had limited myself to historical fiction, classics, and folklore, which didn’t help my reading capabilities and knowledge of literature. Eventually, I got bored with the idea of reading and forgot about it, putting me back to square one.
It wasn’t until my first year of university that I finally left my comfort zone and interacted with a series of genres I never thought I would find interesting. Growing up, my experience eventually evolved. I was able to find interest in a variety of genres, which included African literature, post-modernism, trauma, and many more. Exploring these new genres was both exciting and empowering for me, as they allowed me to connect deeply with my identity as a Black African woman. For the first time, I truly grasped the meaning of ‘reading for you, about you’. I felt a profound connection to books written by African female authors, whose stories reflected my own experiences and culture. I often sought out additional texts on the history of women’s literature in Africa, eager to understand the powerful narrative that has shaped my identity and the cultural rise of women in my community.
My studies in English literature here at Rhodes from 2023 to 2025 played a huge role in helping me explore different genres and elevating my love for reading. One of the first books we read in English 1 was Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga, which explored femininity and patriarchy in African society. The themes of Nervous Conditions were everlasting in my mind, and since then, I have been passionate about reading genres connected with African literature, feminism, and a little trauma. My knowledge of different genres was expanding, and my understanding of how genres evolve grew deeper. This fuelled my excitement, as I looked forward to discovering more as I continued to grow and progress through my Journalism and English modules.
Whenever I am reminded of my journey with reading, I always think about Mrs Abrahams; her dedication to nurturing my intellectual growth through books is the reason I am here today. I often think about her whenever I get excited over a text or novel I am currently reading. I wish more than ever that she could see what an excellent student I’ve become and how much of a passionate bookworm she has helped me become. In moments of reflection, I often have a feeling of disappointment within myself that I almost gave up in high school, and I have a sense of pride for my current status and how I have grown so much with my reading.
