Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I'm Mike - this is Riff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
In this video, I officially launch Read the Beloved Country, my new reading project exploring South African literature, its history, and the books shaped by its history, apartheid, censorship, and resistance. Living in South Africa, I want to read the great works I’ve missed and take you along on a journey through fiction, non-fiction, banned books, and literary voices that helped define a nation.
I begin with a clear, accessible overview of South African history, from the cradle of humankind through colonialism, apartheid, resistance, and democracy. This context is essential for understanding South African novels, biographies, and political writing — especially works that were banned, censored, or suppressed by the apartheid state.
A major focus of this introduction is apartheid-era censorship: how the state controlled literature, banned authors, silenced publishers, and attempted to police imagination itself. I explore the role of the Publications Control Board, the Suppression of Communism Act, and why thousands of books — including classics and international authors — were prohibited.
I also discuss André Brink’s groundbreaking novel Kennis van die Aand (Looking on Darkness), the first Afrikaans novel to be banned — a seismic moment in South African literary history. This book marks the beginning of my personal reading journey in the series.
Future videos will include:
- Deep dives into South African novels
- Discussions of banned books
- Shelf tours and reading plans
- Literary analysis from an enthusiastic reader (not an academic)
If you’re interested in books, history, apartheid, censorship, or South African culture, consider subscribing and turning on notifications. This is a long-term passion project, and I’d love to have you along for the journey.
Welcome to Read the Beloved Country and thank you for accompanying me on this journey.
TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction & Launch of "Read the Beloved Country"
03:14 A Very Brief Introduction to South Africa's story
09:20 1960s: The Apartheid regime's use of literary censorship
12:55 1970s: A Seismic shift: André Brink's "Looking On Darkness"
14:36 1980s: Resistance, Unrest and the first cracks in the machine
16:28 1990s: Political change drives the end of censorship
17:20 New Constitution secures Freedom of Expression
17:40 How Apartheid Censorship defined SA's literary canon
18:44 What’s Next in the Series
19:24 Final Thoughts & Thanks
And for the aqlmighty algorithm:
#SouthAfricanLiterature
#BannedBooks
#ApartheidHistory
#BookTube
#ReadTheBelovedCountry
I'm Mike - this is Riff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
In this video, I officially launch Read the Beloved Country, my new reading project exploring South African literature, its history, and the books shaped by its history, apartheid, censorship, and resistance. Living in South Africa, I want to read the great works I’ve missed and take you along on a journey through fiction, non-fiction, banned books, and literary voices that helped define a nation.
I begin with a clear, accessible overview of South African history, from the cradle of humankind through colonialism, apartheid, resistance, and democracy. This context is essential for understanding South African novels, biographies, and political writing — especially works that were banned, censored, or suppressed by the apartheid state.
A major focus of this introduction is apartheid-era censorship: how the state controlled literature, banned authors, silenced publishers, and attempted to police imagination itself. I explore the role of the Publications Control Board, the Suppression of Communism Act, and why thousands of books — including classics and international authors — were prohibited.
I also discuss André Brink’s groundbreaking novel Kennis van die Aand (Looking on Darkness), the first Afrikaans novel to be banned — a seismic moment in South African literary history. This book marks the beginning of my personal reading journey in the series.
Future videos will include:
- Deep dives into South African novels
- Discussions of banned books
- Shelf tours and reading plans
- Literary analysis from an enthusiastic reader (not an academic)
If you’re interested in books, history, apartheid, censorship, or South African culture, consider subscribing and turning on notifications. This is a long-term passion project, and I’d love to have you along for the journey.
Welcome to Read the Beloved Country and thank you for accompanying me on this journey.
TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction & Launch of "Read the Beloved Country"
03:14 A Very Brief Introduction to South Africa's story
09:20 1960s: The Apartheid regime's use of literary censorship
12:55 1970s: A Seismic shift: André Brink's "Looking On Darkness"
14:36 1980s: Resistance, Unrest and the first cracks in the machine
16:28 1990s: Political change drives the end of censorship
17:20 New Constitution secures Freedom of Expression
17:40 How Apartheid Censorship defined SA's literary canon
18:44 What’s Next in the Series
19:24 Final Thoughts & Thanks
And for the aqlmighty algorithm:
#SouthAfricanLiterature
#BannedBooks
#ApartheidHistory
#BookTube
#ReadTheBelovedCountry
