South African Personalities Write Letters to Their 16½-year-old Selves in From Me to Me

by Amy on Aug 1st, 2012

If you could send a letter to yourself aged 16½, what would you say in it?

From Me To Me: Letters to my 16½-year-old-self is a collection of just such letters written by some of South Africa’s best-loved and ordinary personalities to their younger selves and published with photographs of them as teenagers.

From Me To Me is for the teenager wondering what life is all about, someone looking back on their youth, or seeking unpretentious wisdom, or just a chance to meet some of your favourite personalities, before the fame.

Excerpts from some of the letters

“Make sure you have fun, no matter what you do. And, regardless of what your friends may tell you, hard work can be fun, too.” – Alan Knott-Craig

“You are still mourning the untimely passing of your mother and brother. You curse God and wonder why such unrelenting calamity has befallen you.” – Bob Mabena

“You love your dad, but I have to ask whether you’ve told your mommy lately that you love her?”
– Elana Afrika

“I know you are socially awkward, plagued by a nagging feeling of being unloved and ugly.”
– Thulisile Madonsela

“Most people and institutions don’t embrace non-conformity. It makes them feel uncomfortable, but don’t let them suppress your true nature.” – Jodi Bieber

“While we’re being honest – you’re a beautiful, graceful and quirky girl, and you have an individual sense of style, but I’m not so sure about your peroxided hair. It may be one of the things you’ll live to regret.”
– Bonnie Henna

“To this day, I still rehearse and play saxophone for at least an hour every day because I want to be the best I can be.” – Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse

Contributors

Elana Afrika • Loyiso Bala • Melanie Bala • Lauren Beukes • Jodi Bieber • Elvis Blue • Rehad Desai • Nkulee Dube • Christian Gabriel Du Toit • Saskia Falken • Nicky Greenwall • William Gumede • Vanessa Haywood • Bonnie Henna • Jonathan Jansen • Rhoda Kadalie • Katy Katopodis • Malcolm Klûk • Alan Knott-Craig • Sarah Lotz • Bob Mabena • Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse • Thulisile Madonsela • Sindiwe Magona • Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu • Moky Makura • Vanessa Marawa • Louise Marsland • Lindiwe Mazibuko • Ayanda Mbanga • Uyanda Mbuli • Osiame Molefe • Ravi Naidoo • Zama Ndlovu • Nkensani Nkosi • Neo Ntsoma • Margie Orford • Samantha Page • McIntosh Polela • Hanli Prinsloo • ProVerb • Reuben Riffel • Gus Silber • Elinor Sisulu • Doreen Southwood • Lee Swan • Redi Tlhabi • Jann Turner • Jason Xenopoulos

About the editor

The book is compiled and edited by Samantha Page. Page is currently the editor of O, The Oprah Magazine, and it is under her leadership that the magazine celebrated its 10th anniversary in April 2012.

Preview the book

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