Bullshit: 50 Fibs That Made South Africa by Jonathan Ancer

Loading player...
Thanks for listening to this episode of Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. 

Today’s podcast features the Jonathan Ancer and his latest book Bullshit: 50 Fibs That Made South Africa.

An outrageous miscellany of lies, myths, untruths, fibs and fabrications that tell the woeful history of South Africa. Aimed at offending and entertaining everyone in equal measure, this will have South Africans sniggering and spluttering into their porridge. It will also pique their curiosity.

The lies come thick and fast, like a burst sewerage pipe. Way, way back the Europeans ‘discovered’ southern Africa and found a land that was largely uninhabited. Um, no. On the other hand, Africa was a paradise before the settlers pulled in. Not quite!

Back in the darkest of ages (the 1970s!), citizens were told that there were Satanic messages if you played The Beatles songs backwards. During the civil war in Angola, there were no South African troops in that country. National icon Hansie Cronje was a paragon of virtue and integrity … until he wasn’t. President Nelson Mandela told us that we, as a nation, were ‘special’. Turns out we aren’t.

Jonathan Ancer has written, after consulting with historians and barflies, a fascinating and witty collection of the lies we’ve been told – and the lies we tell ourselves.

In this episode, Jonathan is in conversation with Rebecca Davis, Senior Journalist at the Daily Maverick and author.

Enjoy!
22 Apr 2024 English South Africa Books · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

The Dark Prince by Pieter du Toit

In this episode of Pagecast, Bongani Bingwa interviews Pieter du Toit about his latest book, The Dark Prince, an unflinching portrait of Paul Mashatile’s controversial rise through the ANC ranks to the doorstep of the presidency. About the book: Having survived scandal, controversy and the Zuma years, Paul Mashatile has…
1 Dec 39 min

Fabrics of Love by Lebo Mazibuko

In this episode of Pagecast, Sindeka Mandoyi interviews Lebo Mazibuko about her latest novel, Fabrics of Love. This family saga is told through the lens of the third generation of women who surround Lemohang Ntoi, the head of the family, as he struggles to hold onto life as he knew…
24 Nov 26 min

My jaar van vrees en vryheid deur Marita van der Vyver

In hierdie episode van Pagecast is Mia Spies in gesprek met Marita van der Vyver oor haar nuutste boek, My jaar van vrees en vryheid. Marita van der Vyver is een van die mees geliefde skrywers in Afrikaans en is bekend vir haar romans en kinderboeke wat lesers al oor…
17 Nov 33 min

Bare Bones: Cold Cases from True Crime South Africa by Nicole Engelbrecht

In this episode of Pagecast, Anthony Molyneaux is in conversation with Nicole Engelbrecht about her new book, Bare Bones. Nicole Engelbrecht is the creator and host of one of SA’s biggest podcasts, True Crime South Africa, and is the author of Samurai Sword Murder: The Morne Harmse Story. Anthony Molyneaux…
10 Nov 37 min

After the Fires by Nozipho Tshabalala

In this episode of Pagecast, Rorisang Tshabalala interviews Nozipho Tshabalala about her book, After the Fires: Unlocking the Power of Letting Go. More about the book: When the flames of life’s challenges have swept through you, who do you become from the ashes? Nozipho Tshabalala is a high-performing, excellence-driven, successful…
3 Nov 40 min