Through storytelling, community and representation, Waheeda Joosab is creating spaces where South African Muslim women can preserve their experiences, share their lessons and ensure their voices are heard for generations to come.
Stories have always been at the heart of how communities connect. Long before social media feeds and viral videos, people shared their experiences through conversations, letters and books.
For many South African Muslim women, Barfi has become a space where those experiences are gathered, preserved and shared. Speaking about the anthology, Waheeda explained that the success of the first volume inspired the creation of Barfi Volume 2. The collection brings together heartfelt anecdotes from women whose stories reflect the realities, challenges and joys of everyday life.
These are not stories written by celebrities or public figures. They are stories written by ordinary women whose experiences are often deeply relatable. Together, they create a collection that readers can see themselves in. These are books that capture the stories of a generation while offering lessons in resilience, hope and reflection.
SMread: Vulnerability is strength, says clinical psychologist
Creating space for every voice
The anthology features contributions from women with different backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives. Some stories are joyful and uplifting. Others explore more difficult realities. Together, they create a rich portrait of the Muslim female experience in South Africa.
Many contributors chose to share their stories anonymously. Topics such as widowhood, divorce, miscarriage and personal hardship can be deeply sensitive, and anonymity provides a safe space for writers to tell their stories honestly.
For Waheeda, the focus is about the wisdom, lessons and reflections contained within each story. By creating a platform where women feel comfortable sharing their experiences, the anthology allows important conversations to take place while preserving dignity and privacy.
The publishing conversation
As an award-winning author herself, Waheeda also spoke candidly about the realities of publishing. Many aspiring writers worry about whether their work will sell or be accepted by readers. These concerns often discourage talented individuals from sharing their stories.
She noted that increasing numbers of authors are choosing the self-publishing route because it allows greater creative and financial control.
Writers can oversee every stage of the process and retain a larger share of the proceeds from book sales.
Traditional publishing, meanwhile, may offer professional support and established distribution channels, but often requires authors to surrender some control over their projects.
Neither path is necessarily better than the other. Instead, each writer must decide which option best aligns with their goals, resources and circumstances.
SMread: Activist warns ruling could set precedent against future boycott campaigns
The eggshell theory
Waheeda shared a snippet from a story featured in Barfi Volume 2 titled Eggshell Theory. The story centres on a simple breakfast conversation between a father and child. After warning that there may be an eggshell in the scrambled eggs, the father later points out that the child became so focused on finding the shell that they forgot to enjoy the meal itself.
How often do people spend so much time worrying about what could go wrong that they fail to appreciate what is already good in front of them?
It is the kind of reflection that captures the spirit of the anthology. Everyday moments become opportunities for deeper understanding and personal growth.
More than a book launch
The launch of Barfi Volume 2 is about far more than introducing a new book. Events planned across South Africa will bring women together through storytelling, wellness and community engagement. The launch programme includes collaborations with women-owned businesses, wellness practitioners and creatives, creating an experience that extends beyond literature.
Attendees can expect opportunities for reflection, connection and self-care through activities designed to foster both personal wellbeing and community building.
These gatherings recognise an important reality of modern life. Many people long for meaningful connection but struggle to find the time and spaces where it can happen.
By combining books, wellness and community, the launch seeks to create exactly that space. Barfi Volume 2 is a celebration of storytelling and the women brave enough to share their experiences.
Through AMWASA, Waheeda Joosab continues to create opportunities for Muslim women to write, publish and preserve stories that might otherwise remain untold. In doing so, she is helping to build a literary legacy that reflects the diversity, strength and resilience of South African Muslim women.
In a world that often moves too quickly, books like Barfi remind us to pause, listen and learn from one another. Because every story matters. And sometimes, the stories that seem the most ordinary are the ones that leave the greatest impact.
Find out more about the book launch here:
