A powerful new children’s book has been released, tackling the historic method of discrimination practiced during apartheid South Africa. There’s a Pencil in My Hair written by businesswoman and trichologist, Kuda Mupawose (pictured) is a 60-page book that explores themes of identity, resilience, and innovation.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Mupawose’s son, Curtley Mupawose. It tells the story of a young girl named Nia who is transformed from an outcast to a household name. Nia’s journey begins when her kingdom is invaded and a new king rules with an iron fist, segregating people according to their hair texture. Nia, with her afro-hair, fails the “pencil test” and is banished from the kingdom.
Banished and faced with uncertainty in the woods, Nia meets a guardian of ancient African wisdom who looks after her and restores her pride through a storytelling journey of identity and hair-growing product-making tutorials. With newfound wisdom and confidence, Nia returns to the village with an impressive thick crown of hair on her head and goes on to cement a success story. Her achievements impress the king who goes on to honor her. Her journey continues as she travels far and wide collecting ingredients and creating a line of African hair growth products that transform her community.
“This book is dedicated to the resilient ones who have endured the injustice of the pencil test. I hope to provoke meaningful discussions on racial discrimination and identity struggles, ultimately fostering greater understanding and unity,” Mupawose said in a statement.
The book is easy to read, suitable for children, and has colorful illustrations that make it a must-read for children. The “pencil test,” crafted following the Population Registration Act of 1950, was used to determine racial identity in South Africa during the apartheid era, distinguishing whites from coloreds and blacks.
It worked in tandem with other laws such as the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (1949) which made it illegal for a white person to marry a person of another race as well as the Immorality Amendment Act (1950) which banned intercourse between whites and persons from other races.
The book starts with a foreword by Thandi Miranda and Solomon Guramatunhu, an advocate for the preservation of natural hair.
Standard Style reporter Khumbulani Muleya (KM) caught up with Curtley Mupawose (CM). Below are excerpts from the interview.
KM: Congratulations on illustrating your mother’s book. What was it like working with her on this project and how long did it take?
CM: Thank you for the flowers. I just did my best. It was challenging working for her because this was a different side to her that I wasn’t used to but made me more aware of how different other clients can be.
KM: How does it feel to be part of a project that aims to foster greater understanding and unity among young readers?
CM: Just being able to leave a mark in the world in a genuine way not money-driven but educational is more than I can ask for.
KM: Was there a challenge while illustrating the book, if so how did you overcome it?
CM: Like trying to convey a message through a song or movie, finding inspiration wasn’t hard because the world’s history alone is tragic but there are rays of light that shine throughout. It just takes a bit to bring it to the surface. Pinterest was helpful but I mainly used history books.
KM: Thank you for your time.
CM: Cheers thanks for having me.