Abundant international commentary exists on the symbolic value and meanings of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s agency. Much of this written material tends to mythologise her to a variety of sometimes divergent (political) ends. Against this backdrop, the scarcity of perspectives which are influenced by womanist/feminist and other progressive critical perspectives is notable. I am soliciting analytic and creative pieces for an anthology on Madikizela-Mandela. The book project aims to bring together a compilation of refreshing perspectives on her for the first time. The following are guidelines for individual contributions:

• Writing Winnie Mandela – biographies and critiques of existing representations of her in literary and other texts;
• Interviews and interview analyses;
• New or previously published journalistic pieces;
• Madikizela-Mandela’s influence on contestatory youth culture(s);

Analyses of Winne Mandela’s relationships to:

• constructions of Black femininities
• performances of courage
• political motherhood;
• Comparative readings with other activists;
• Visual and scripted womanist pieces which relate directly to Winnie Mandela

Abstract proposals deadline: 09 August 2004.

Please send abstracts and questions to the contact address below.