Literature Corner: Inheritance by Dr Athambile Masola

In this episode of The Best of 702 Weekend Breakfast, host(s) welcome Dr. Athambile Masola to discuss her new poetry collection, *Inheritance*, a self-translation of her earlier work *Ilifa*, originally written in Isikosa. Masola reflects on the complex, creative process of translating poetry between Isikosa and English, emphasizing that translation is not a word-for-word exercise but a form of 'versioning'—where each language version gains and loses meaning, yet retains the poem’s spirit. She shares how revisiting her own poems during translation felt like reconnecting with an old friend, deepening her appreciation for her work. Themes in *Inheritance* include identity, love, intimacy, and the everyday, with poems like 'Spoonning' and 'Coconut' capturing hybrid cultural experiences and personal growth. Masola also discusses her love for all literary forms—poetry, nonfiction, children’s books—each offering unique creative freedom. The book, published by Thattis Books and distributed internationally, is being launched in Cape Town and Johannesburg, marking it as both a re-release and a new literary event.