L-R: Lynsey Ebony Chutel, Tessa Dooms
In a cover reveal of their labour of love, Chutel expressed how she has been asked "what are you" too many times. She further noted to be coloured in South Africa is to be assumed to be lost without culture; "what are we? So many stories." Hence, the objective of the book was to position the stories of ordinary people to be a conversation with history.
One of the talking points from Coloured is the need to talk about what different language and practices in Coloured communities mean to different people.
The much-anticipated book is published by Jonathan Ball Publishers and will be released from 8th September 2023, which also happens to be International Literacy Day.
The authors are also set to feature at this year’s edition of Open Book Festival in Cape Town on 9th and 10th September as they delve deeper into key conversations about their debut book.
About The Book
Coloured as an ethnicity and racial demographic is intertwined in the creation of the South Africa we have today. Yet often, Coloured communities are disdained as people with no clear heritage or culture — ‘not being Black enough or White enough.’
Coloured 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 the racial political hierarchy it created.
Although rooted in a difficult history, this book is also about the culture that Coloured communities have created for themselves through food, music, and shared lived experiences in communities such as Eldorado Park, Eersterus, and Wentworth. Coloured culture is an act of defiance and resilience.
Coloured is a reflection on, and celebration of Coloured identities as lived experiences. It is a call to Coloured communities to reclaim their identity and an invitation to understand the history and place of Coloured people in the making of South Africa’s future.
About The Authors
Lynsey Ebony Chutel: A report for New York Times’ Johannesburg bureau and an acclaimed journalist, whose work has appeared in various leading South African and international media outlets such as: AP, Quartz Africa to name a few. She holds a Master’s in Journalism from Colombia University as well as a Master’s in International Relations from University of Witswatersrand. In 2022, she was shortlisted for the Afritondo Short Story Prize.
Tessa Dooms: Sociologist, political analyst and development practitioner, whose work is expressed as a writer, thinker and talker and the Director of Rivonia Circle. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Concluding Thoughts
This collaboration looks exciting. It is truly hard to think of a better duo than Lynsey and Tessa to bring this book to life. But most importantly; such important stories are needed, better yet when told by Coloured writers; especially brilliant yet dynamic Coloured women; because of the nuances and layers they add to the story of their identity as lived experiences are unmatched. A mere perusal into the synopsis makes Coloured for a must read.
The timing could not be more perfect than releasing the book during September, which is Heritage Month in South Africa. There is a certain energy about this particular month. Apart from being heritage month, it’s also spring time, there is something in the air about this time of the year. As Lynsey expressed, she has been asked “what are you" countless times. And her answer to this question is “we are so many stories.” Meaning, there is just so much to unpack about Coloured identity, and this allows for more stories to be captured preserved and promoted in numerous forms like literature, film, poetry, television, oral. The avenues of expression are limitless, the storytellers just have to start telling those stories.
Like other identities, Coloureds are not monolithic, hence we should refrain from classifying them as such and hopefully ’Coloured: How A Classification Became Culture’ contributes towards that mindset change.
Sources: Lynsey Chutel & Tessa Dooms, Twitter | JonathanBall Publishers
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