Athambile Masola is a teacher, writer and poet. She is a lecturer in the Historical Studies Department at the University of Cape Town. She has published a collection of poems in isiXhosa titled Ilifa (2021, Uhlanga Press), which won the Humanities and Social Science (HSS) Award in 2022. She is the co-author of the children’s history book series, Imbokodo: Women who shape us (Jacana Media, 2022), with Dr Xolisa Guzula. Her latest book is a collaboration with Makhosazana Xaba, a collection of Noni Jabavu’s columns from 1977, A Stranger at Home (Tafelberg, 2023).
Xolisa Guzula is a senior lecturer in Applied Language and Literacy Studies at the University of Cape Town. She specialises in multilingual and multiliteracies education, teaching children to speak, read and write in two or more languages. She is one of the founders of a network of reading clubs – Vulindlela Reading Club, Nal’ibali Reading Clubs and the Stars of Today Literacy Club. She has written several children’s books, including co-authoring the Imbokodo: Women who shape us series with Dr Athambile Masola. She has translated many children’s books from English to isiXhosa including books by award-winning authors Astrid Lindgren, Niky Daly, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni, Refiloe Moahloli and Nicholas Maritz. She won an IBBY/Exclusive Books Award for best translation of The Elders at the Door to Iinkonde eMnyango by Shayle and Maryanne Bester. Her translation of Wendy Hartmann’s book, The Singing Stone/Ilitye Eliculayo made the international honour list of IBBY 100 recommended books. Recently, she released her translation of Sello Duiker’s book The Hidden Star into Inkwenkwezi efihlakeleyo. Xolisa is a member of Bua-lit Language and Literacy Collective (www.bua-lit.org.za), focusing on social justice in language and literacy education. She is Chair of the Western Cape Committee of the Literacy Association of South Africa (LITASA).