Thabiso Mahlape Comes for Misogynists in the African Literary Community

All hail the queen of shade!

Thabiso Mahlape runs Blackbird Books, an imprint of Jacana Media. She publishes black writers and provides a platform for emergent voices in the South African literary scene.

Two weekends ago, Mahlape was at the Franschhoek Literary Festival where she participated in a Sunday panel about women in publishing.

Ahead of her panel, which was scheduled on Sunday, Mahlape took to twitter on Saturday to fire a few shots at everyone from festival organizers, to black misogynists, to people who discount her work as a publisher.

As she says, she is a 32 year old black woman with her own publishing imprint. She has no reason to put up with anybody’s bullshit.

Go Mahlape! It’s way too late in the day to make room for people who can’t stomach successful women—especially in a male-dominated industry like African publishing.

Scroll down to read the tweets.

So one of my problems with book festivals being headlined by non writers is them feeling like they own the space #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

I am also tired of black misogyny. You cannot tell my author in my presence that if he ever wants to move he must contact bla bla #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

I will swear at you. Write something of your own and take it to YOUR preferred fucking publisher #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

Or please get a gallery to exhibit your damn pictures. You know nothing about publishing stop pretending you do. #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

also taking this time to speak to all black males in publishing stop asking for help on my behalf I am NOT a damsel in distress #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

The black men that ask me when I am going to own my work? I DO. I just don’t go feeling like I NEED to tell you.

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

YOU will not discount my work by refusing to say @_BlackBirdBooks and insisting on calling me @JacanaMedia.

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

And THEN have the fucking nerve to ask me if I must swear? Of course I’ll fucking swear if think you can come at me with bullshit #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

I’m a 32 year old black woman, with my own publishing imprint. I am pioneering shit!that you haven’t pioneered shit hurts you? #flf2016

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

In any case, festival organisers there are enough people within Literary spaces to headline these things. Now ra tell wa bcz u give space

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

Also if you are not sure who I am sub tweeting. It’s the malome who is always sub tweeting the youth. Thanks bye!

— Oprah Morisson (@thabisobonita) May 14, 2016

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Post image by Thabiso Mahlape via Twitter @thabisobonita