The Literary Space of Black Women: Trauma, Memory, and Literary Activism in Selected Works of Koleka Putuma

Shun Man Emily Chow-Quesada*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

This article examines how Koleka Putuma, through her poetry, plays, and installations, illuminates the lived experiences of Black women in post-apartheid South Africa by interweaving themes of trauma, memory, and empowerment. By exploring her works, Collective Amnesia (2017), No Easter for Sunday Queers (2021), and Theatre of Beauty: Imvuselelo (2023), this study argues that Putuma’s artistic expressions disrupt conventional narratives, amplifying the voices of marginalised individuals over collective identities. Her literary activism not only exposes and addresses trauma but also offers a pathway to healing while persistently challenging the enduring impacts of colonialism and apartheid systems and their legacies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)211-227
Number of pages17
JournalCurrent Writing
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Jul 2024

User-Defined Keywords

  • Koleka
  • Post-apartheid
  • South Africa
  • empowerment
  • memory
  • postcolonialism
  • trauma

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