'Writing Around The Wicket': Niren Tolsi reflects on race, class and the history of South African cricket
Tolsi looks at the deeper social and political sides of the game, asking important questions about identity, land, race, and power.
Niren Tolsi, author of 'Writing Around the Wicket: Race, Class and History in South African Cricket' and Clarence Ford
CapeTalk's Clarence Ford interviews author Niren Tolsi.
Listen below:
Cricket in South Africa has long been both a unifying force and a source of division.
Writing Around The Wicket: Race, Class, and History in South African Cricket brings together a collection of Niren Tolsi’s articles, published across various newspapers from 1998 to 2022.
In this collection, Tolsi looks at the deeper social and political sides of the game, asking important questions about identity, land, race, and power.
His work follows in the tradition of Trinidadian philosopher C. L. R. James, who challenged old ideas and looked at cricket as more than just a sport.
Tolsi says that cricket has a rich history intertwined with literature, reflection, and politics – giving him the space to explore ideas around nationalism, rainbow nationalism, national identity, and who gets to represent South Africa on the sports field.
"That narrow lack of imagination still perpetuates today and we need to respond to it."
- Niren Tolsi, author
On Thursday 15 May, Niren Tolsi's collection will be launched at Clarke's Bookshop at 6pm.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.