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Collective Amnesia by Koleka Putuma uHlanga, Cape Town, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-620-73507-0. 114 pp
Collective Amnesia is undoubtably the breakout poetry collection of 2017. The release of the poem 'water', followed by the launch of this collection rippled across not only South Africa, but throughout the continent and abroad. Within eight months of the release date, Putuma had sold over 5 000 copies and had live performances of Collective Amnesia on at least three different continents. An incredible feat for poetry. An even more incredible feat for a young black female poet.
Aptly titled, Putuma's collection is a multi-textured, unapologetic cutting into the black queer girl's experience, divided into three sections - things that have been remembered (inherited memory), things that should be forgotten (buried memory), things that will never leave [our] skins (postmemory). In this collection, Putuma is not afraid of calling a thing a thing.
"A genocide that can still be found in the township."
['Apartheid']
This collection stands out not only for its rise into mainstream popularity, but also the courage with which it is written. For Putuma there are no holds barred. Recurring themes are living in Cape Town, the structural violence inflicted on black bodies, as well as the very real danger on black...