Set in East London, South Africa in the late 1990s, the protagonist Bokang Damane, typical of any teenager, is a dreamer, sketcher and a loner. Of course physical appearance can be deceiving; internally Bokang is dealing with heavy psychological and emotional issues.

From the ancient Egyptians times to Stellenbosch vineyards, for centuries alcohol has been a feature of human life and festivities. This inebriating concoction has also provided passage to other areas of the brain to provide temporary relief as an ‘escape’ from the pressures of society.

It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way is a relevant, insightful and timely debut novel prompting mankind to return to nature to make us whole again. As simple as it may sound, it is truly up to us to define how this world could be for future generations to come.

Breathless! This is how I felt after being spat out of the afternoon hustle and bustle of Johannesburg's pavements. Bridge Books on Commissioner Street was my destination, to attend Fred Khumalo’s book launch.

Mazibuko stunningly weaved Kasi symbolism that would have many readers identifying their family members, neighbours and nyaope boys asking for two rands.

Explicably Zwelethu was Mr Seroke’s nickname (p.64), inspired from his affiliation to the Pan African Congress (PAC) of Azania’s ‘rallying open palm salute’ Izwe lethu.

Yes, even in these lands native to their forebears, where the settler colonists and their errand runners imagine that a dubious peace can hold in the midst of unending Black misery, these eloquent and unflinching voices find their purpose and beauty through clear visions that scythe through carefully curated webs of lies.

My first impulse when I picked up Hauntings the Anthology was, “I hope I won’t be visiting another femicide/GBV trauma ward, as a Black woman who is cursed to have this history of events as their everyday lived experience”.