Water and Lights, by Zama Madinana

A debut poetry chapbook by Zama Madinana that weaves love and hard-edged social commentary, turning a critical eye on corruption, inequality and poverty in South Africa nearly three decades after apartheid's end. Madinana writes about water shortages, load-shedding, unemployment and youth struggles in Black townships, driven by his frustration at seeing money meant to uplift communities "stolen by politicians." The collection took third prize in the 2021 Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Award.