FreeRiddim | the south african uber poetry, arts and culture portal


seven days of shubnum khan The writer that is Shubnum comes as a result of working tirelessly, not effortlessly. A love of words is not enough to accomplish what she continues to do. A lifetime of reading and writing, editing and polishing has cultivated a skill for words that can be traced back to the remnants of unfinished fictions, blog posts and poetry that she has poured herself into in the past. This is the same poetry that is the garnish to each chapter in her book. “The beauty of poetry is that so much is said in so little. I love that. I would definitely suggest an exercise in poetry writing for someone wanting to write fiction. It helps the words just free flow in a very un-restrictive format as compared to writing fiction. I feel it unclogs and pulls out the main points which you can then unravel for a longer piece if you like.” - each sentence is a stirring of the pot and each chapter a carefully and lovingly served dish - And so she mixes her fiction with a pinch and at times a pound of poetry. The outcome is a novel that takes the reader through three generations of Muslim women, their hidden pasts and cloaked realities. Shubnum expresses herself with grace and flair that some would attribute to a woman’s touch. Although she disagrees with the notion that her novel is based on religion, there is no denying its foundations for the breeding of her characters. Islam is a way of life. The weaving of it in her daily life is not a challenge, it is second nature. Being raised in a particular way that is rooted in one's spirituality has made Shubnum the woman she is today. This is reflected not only in the way she dresses and behaves, but also the way in which she makes her choices and approaches life. It does not hinder her, it liberates her. And much like anyone who has a love for their art, Shubnum brings great pleasure with her words. Each word is a dash of seasoning, each sentence a stirring of the pot and each chapter a carefully and lovingly served dish. ©
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words by nathi xinwa