20/07/2026
YELF Book Club | July Meeting Reflection
On Saturday, the YELF Book Club met at Almara Hub, Kaduna, to discuss Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.
Although the evening rain affected attendance, five members joined us. Three had completed the book, and we began the session by listening to excerpts from the opening chapter on Audible before I presented a summary of the book.
The discussion was rich, thoughtful, and challenging.
Identity and the Legacy of Colonialism
Trevor Noah's story reminded us that identity is not always natural or neutral—it is often shaped by power. Born to a Swiss father and a Xhosa mother, apartheid denied him full belonging to either community, forcing him into the category of "mixed."
This led us to reflect on how colonial systems deliberately created and deepened divisions among African communities. We drew parallels between the tensions involving the Zulu and Xhosa in South Africa and ethnic rivalries in Nigeria. For some participants, it was eye-opening to realise that ethnic divisions are not uniquely Nigerian but are part of a wider colonial legacy across Africa.
Strong Woman or Feminist?
Trevor's mother sparked one of the most engaging conversations of the evening.
Was she simply a strong, determined woman, or should she be understood as a feminist? Members reflected on her bold decisions—leaving home, working independently, living in a white neighbourhood during apartheid, and choosing to have a child despite laws that criminalised in*******al relationships.
Some argued that these choices were pragmatic responses to an oppressive social system and reflected a mother's determination to create better opportunities for her son. Others questioned whether her decisions represented an aspiration toward whiteness or whether they were acts of resistance against an unjust society.
The group ultimately agreed that she was an exceptionally strong woman who fiercely protected her right to raise her child on her own terms.
Structures of Oppression
Our conversation concluded by examining how apartheid's oppressive structures continue to shape South Africa today. We discussed how decades of institutionalised division, violence, and ethnic manipulation have left lasting scars, helping us better understand contemporary issues such as xenophobia and tensions within black African communities.
Books do more than tell stories—they help us understand history, question assumptions, and see ourselves and our societies differently.
Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to join us.
We look forward to welcoming even more readers at our next YELF Book Club meeting. Happy reading!
