Lizette Rabe with her new book “101 Remarkable South African Women” at the launch hosted by the department of journalism at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Britannie Hohls
Professor Lizette Rabe , author and first female chair of the department of journalism at Stellenbosch University, has released a new book, 101 Remarkable South African Women. In a “full circle moment” with chair Dr Marenet Jordaan, a student of Rabe’s 25 years ago, they talked about topics in the book. In this discussion, Rabe said that her aim was “giving the forgotten women a voice”.
The book took form through 101 different South African women’s life stories, both past and present. Rabe, a “born feminist”, said that the book is “not a feminist manifesto”, but rather was composed to reach a wide audience: both men and women alike. She said that the book is “pro human”, and questioned conventions over the decades. “Without women there won’t be humankind,”she said. “It’s about human rights.”
The 101 life stories vary from Sarah Baartman to Nadine Gordimer and Caster Semenya, with Rabe having employed both journalist and academic skills to complete the project.
Baartman, a Khoi woman born in 1789, had her human rights violated as she was “exhibited” in Britain, and then after four years was taken to France where she died in 1815. “Though she suffered through the harshest colonial forces, Baartman’s voice endures – a solemn, powerful reminder that every human being deserves dignity, respect and recognition,” wrote Rabe.
Rabe said she was grateful that she “was in a position to do the writing”, and to tell the story of South African women, both past and present, who have had an impact in the country.
Rabe said that she wanted to “do justice” to their stories. In order to curate the book, she used many academic sources, and placed emphasis on writing it in a way that “is credible and has substance”.
Lizette Rabe signs a copy of 101 South African women at the launch. PHOTO: Britannie Hohls
Mieke Gottsche, the store manager of Exclusive Books in Paarl, sold copies of the book at the launch. She said that 101 Remarkable South African Women “sheds light on women’s stories”. She added that especially with International Women’s Day having passed on 8 March, and her team being mainly women-led, they felt the book was a “natural fit” to have on this month’s recommended selection.
Gottsche said that it was “so heartening to see” how many people were present at the launch, and that she felt privileged to distribute a book that did justice to South African women.
The launch attracted a range of people. Amongst them was Claire Rilett, a master’s student in history at SU. Rilett heard about the launch through her book club, The Mother City Book Club, in Cape Town.
She said that it was refreshing, as an historian, to see that “there is a book that shows South African women who have also made a massive impact, whether it has been historically or if it is more modern day”. Rilett said that when people speak about figures who have made an impact, “women are so often left out of the historiography”.
Lizette Rabe being introduced at her book launch with many people from Stellenbosch and beyond in attendance.PHOTO: Britannie Hohls