Joanne Joseph is joined by acclaimed Somali novelist, Nuruddin Farah to delve into his latest offering "North of Dawn". In this intimate interview, he shares about the guilt he had to deal with after his sister died in a similar manner to one of his characters in "Hiding in Plain sight". He felt that his writings were a premonition of his sister's death. Even though both these books are centered around terrorism, in the North of Dawn an uncommon story is told. This novel looks ate the life of the family of the terrorist, how they have to deal with the shame of their child taking away innocent lives and yet having to mourn the loss of a son. It explores the themes of forgiveness and recovery after such a violent act.

Journeys with Joanne Joseph

North of Dawn by Nuruddin Farah

New York Times bestselling author, Fiona Barton, has brought out a new crime fiction thriller called "The Suspect". This novel moves away from her previous English settling to the throbbing streets of Thailand, where two British eighteen-year-old girls go missing during their gap year. This time, Barton's familiar protagonist, journalist Kate Waters is thrust directly into the epicentre of the plot, as a family member of hers is drawn into the investigation. Barton's made more brave choices in this novel than she previously has. Joanne Joseph had a conversation with her, not just about the development of this latest book, but the evolution of crime fiction in recent times and the distinctly feminist turn it's taken.

Fiona Barton’s 'The Suspect' – a gripping thriller with a deeply personal twist

In the first installment of “The survivors” series, Joanne sits down with Nicci Diamond Levenstein who along with her brother were the first complaints in the Sidney Frankel sexual assault case. The group of complainants became known as the Frankel 8. They never had the opportunity to confront him about the abuse but their case led to the ConCourt ruling that removed the 20 year prescription rule that prevented the prosecution of sexual assault cases where the incident of abuse occurred over 20 years ago.

The Survivors: Surviving Sidney Frankel

For the month of February, Joanne took a journey with various couples to explore their love stories. In this episode, Terry- Ann and Dumisa Mathabathe share their love story. What began as a match-fixing exercise by Dumisa, trying to fix Terry-Ann up with a friend, ended with him falling in love with her. Together they overcame societal prejudices to realize a magical romance.

Remarkable Love: Terry-Ann and Dumisa Mathabathe love story

For the month of February, Joanne takes a journey with various couples to explore their love stories. In this episode, anti- Apartheid activist Jay Naidoo and award-winning writer & journalist, Lucie Pagé share their love story with Joanne Joseph. Their relationship with their mothers is what drew them closer together, having met after the launch of the ANC Youth league in 1990. What they thought was just a seven-day love affair, ended up being a lifetime of love.

Remarkable Love: The Jay Naidoo and Lucie Pagé Love story

Medical doctor, Dr Mavhungu Nelwamondo is the firebrand behind Modern Traditions.  She uses South African indigenous food as part of a strategy to combat contemporary lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Her vegan food range includes a decadent chocolate ice cream and a gluten-free sorghum flour bread topped with marula nut butter.

Healing with indigenous African Superfoods

In the chronic turmoil of modern Zimbabwe, Abednego and Agnes Mlambo’s teenage son, Bukhosi, has gone missing, and the Mlambos fear the worst. Their enigmatic lodger, Zamani, seems to be their last, best hope for finding him. Since Bukhosi’s disappearance, Zamani has been preternaturally helpful: hanging missing posters in downtown Bulawayo, handing out fliers to passers-by, and joining in family prayer vigils with a flamboyant local pastor. But it looks as though there may be more to Zamani’s efforts. Zimbabwean-born writer, Novuyo Tshuma’s debut novel, House of Stone, is a surprising and harrowing journey through the country’s history, exorcising the violent demons of the past that continue to haunt the country today.

House of Stones by Novuyo Tshuma

We're having a bit of fun this week, and what better way to do that, than with books? They make great gifts, particularly for children, in a country where we're trying to cultivate a much stronger reading culture. We invited some members of the Roedean Literary Quiz team in to review a few books for us. This group of girls is 12-years-old and they're widely-read, so much so that they compete against other schools in a yearly international quiz on books.  Penguin publishing house was kind enough to supply us with books for this review.

Roedean Upper Junior School Kids Literacy Quiz Team review holiday reads

In a conversation inspired by Wits University’s decision to do away with gender prefixes in the University’s communication to students. Joanne Joseph sits down with three transgender boys and their mothers to speak on how the current education policies infringe on the gender expression.

Born in the wrong body: Transgender Teens

Khutso Ngoaseng the Manager for the Science Data Processor team at the SKA tells Joanne Joseph about how his dream to be a part of a team that works in the laboratories on MARS has led him to being a part of the SKA team .

A dream to reach Mars

Bryan Massingale a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University in New York sits down with Joanne to share about the similarities in the racial dynamics of South Africa and the US. In this conversation he tackles the question about land expropriation. Father Bryan was in South African presenting the Winter Living Theology lecture series on 'Racism and the Demands of Discipleship'.

Racial dynamics in SA similar to the US

Miss South Africa Top 5 finalist for 2016, Sharon-Rose Khumalo shares her journey with Androgen insensitivity syndrome. Androgen insensitivity syndrome means that she is genetically male however her physical traits are female. Sharon Khumalo sat down with Joanne Joseph to share her journey in taking over the narrative around her body.

The Rose of Mamelodi Intersex beauty queen

Former Methodist bishop and rights campaigner, Rev Prof Peter Storey has brought out a deeply meaningful and beautifully-written autobiography entitled, “I Beg to Differ.” In it, he covers his early years and personal life, his warm marriage and fatherhood, and the difficulties that arose out of being a priest who preached human rights from the pulpit, at the peak of apartheid.

Struggle Storey I Beg To Differ

William Segodisho has officially come out, claiming rape at the hands of a Catholic priest in Johannesburg in the 1980s. Joanne Joseph unravels William’s memories of that time and explores his anger at the events, he says, have ruined his life. Please note: the following podcast contains sexually explicit content, which may be triggering.

Stain on the cloth: William Segodisho’s sex abuse allegations against the Catholic Church

Joanne speaks to award-winning stage performer and playwright, Matthew Ribnick whose works like THE CHILLI BOY, HOOT and MONKEY NUTS, have utilised live theatre to bridge the race, gender and class divide, using humour, following former Hot 91-point9 DJ, Sasha Martinengo calling Malema a monkey on air yesterday.  

Learning tolerance among races and culture through theatre.

Complementing her popular Afternoon Drive radio show on 702, Joanne presents a series of specially produced audio experiences revealing previously unexplored elements behind prominent news stories.

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Journeys with Joanne Joseph

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