Book extract

Far from the madding spotlight

In 'A Rare Gift to The Struggle: Ma Vesta and the Everyday Politics of Liberation', Maria Suriano uncovers the life of Vesta Smith, a remarkable yet overlooked figure in South African history. This edited extract traces Ma Vesta’s everyday acts of defiance as she carved out her role as an organic intellectual, community worker and bridge-builder between generations, ideologies and communities

30 March 2025 - 00:00
By Maria Suriano

In 'A Rare Gift to The Struggle: Ma Vesta and the Everyday Politics of Liberation, Maria Suriano uncovers the life of Vesta Smith, a remarkable yet overlooked figure in South African history. This edited extract traces Ma Vesta’s everyday acts of defiance as she carved out her role as an organic intellectual, community worker and bridge-builder between generations, ideologies and communities

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