Walala Wasala

"Walala Wasala" which means “You snooze, you loose” is an anthology from the East Rand of Gauteng, South Africa, showcasing the writing of youth writers, prisoners, and members of the Afrika Reads Forum. The poems are written in English and in various African languages of the East Rand.

"This publication reveals to the wider audience that East Rand, Ekurhuleni (especially Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus) is not a region of endless horror, madness, hopelessness and darkness as portrayed by the media: but a place of light, poetry and beauty and a place of people with a depth of vision and love for the country."

Contributors to this book include youth, prisoners, parents and other adults of the East Rand community who address the human condition - love, hatred, bloodletting, hope, AIDS, life, death, education, and other themes.

The anthology arose from the writing workshops of the Community Life Network (CLN), a non-profit organisation that contributes towards community development in the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa. The organisation aims to empower the community with writing skills and heal them from conflict.