Description
The death of Winnie Madikizela Mandela on 2 April this year unleashed a hailstorm of opinion. On one side, the media and public cast her legacy in the shadow of her sanctified ex-husband: Winnie was history's loser, damaged goods; Nelson Mandela was whole and pure. A younger generation — in particular women — took a different view, and a battle of ideas began to reframe Winnie's career and reclaim her identity as an extraordinary woman and fierce political activist. Sisonke Msimang, an acclaimed author and public commentator, wasted little time in entering the fray. When the dust settled, what emerged was this short but razor-sharp book, a critical reflection on Winnie's turbulent yet remarkable life. Msimang situates her political career and legacy in the contemporary context, exploring what she means today in social and political terms by examining different aspects of her iconic persona. The Resurrection of Winnie Mandela is an astute examination of one of South Africa's most controversial political figures — the rise and fall — and rise again — of a woman who not only battled the apartheid regime but also the patriarchal character of the struggle itself. In telling Winnie's story, Msimang shows that activism matters and that the meaning of women's lives can be reclaimed.