Eastern Cape writer, playwright, and director Unathi Ndlelantle Ngada has achieved another milestone in her writing career with her latest book, What the Walls Remember, becoming her 14th Amazon bestseller. The 29-page short story, published on September 26, follows a love affair between two people from different backgrounds that eventually turns deadly. Ngada's notable works include 'A South Afri(K)an Psycho', 'Utopia', 'Shame(Less): A Play', 'Complete Stories', and 'Skin: Anima Vestra'.
The story centers on Nozuko, a woman from a township who has worked hard to build a better life for herself but still dreams of what she calls “The Cape Town Dream”. Working as a receptionist at a Cape Town law firm, Nozuko becomes involved with Michael van Rensburg, the wealthy and married director of the firm. Michael makes promises of a better life and takes her on lavish trips, convincing her that he will eventually leave his wife, Helena.
However, the relationship takes a darker turn when Michael is mysteriously found dead in his car, leaving four suspects behind. Ngada said she wanted to explore how people behave within relationships, particularly the things that can remain hidden. She cited her interest in the reality TV show Marriage at First Sight, which shows how couples fight over small things on camera, and wondered how they behave behind the camera.
The title of the book was inspired by the anime Attack on Titan, which uses walls as a metaphor. In the anime, people live within three enormous walls separating different districts, while huge creatures lie dormant within them. When the walls are eventually broken, the creatures are awakened and begin a destructive march. Ngada said the idea of what could be hidden within walls appealed to her when developing the story.
Ngada also wanted readers to pay attention to the small details in the story rather than simply looking for an obvious explanation. She said she wrote even the tiniest of things that a character like Nozuko would do, which, from a bird’s-eye view, is normal when, in fact, she’s cheating on her husband. Ngada hoped that the book wouldn’t be used as a manual on how to spot a cheating spouse.
Despite the story’s subject matter, Ngada said the message she wanted to leave readers with was about commitment. “When you love someone, love them unconditionally. Every bad situation your spouse is in, for example, having financial trouble, should not compel you to make the permanent decision of finding ‘love’ elsewhere from a temporary situation,” she said. Ngada said the book could be read by anyone, though married readers might want to approach it with some caution.
Ngada began writing the story while completing her PhD after receiving news that she had been appointed a research fellow at the University of Ghent. The latest bestseller adds to a growing list of milestones in her writing career. Ngada holds an MA in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Drama from Rhodes University, as well as a BA in Drama from the University of Pretoria and a TEFL/TESOL certificate from the East London Language Institute.
Key points
- Ngada's book, What the Walls Remember, explores themes of infidelity and relationships.
- The book is Ngada's 14th Amazon bestseller.
- Ngada's writing career includes notable works such as 'A South Afri(K)an Psycho' and 'Utopia'.
