Despite the Bruises

About this book

Despite the Bruises by Maliya Mzyece Sililo is a collection of short stories centred on the lives, challenges and resilience of girls and women in Zambia and Africa. Sililo has explained that the collection grew from questions about whether the girl child is wanted, appreciated and heard, and about the roles society assigns to her in both traditional and modern settings. The stories explore these concerns through fiction, allowing readers to encounter different situations rather than receiving a single abstract argument. At the centre of the collection is the idea that, despite the 'bruises' imposed by difficult circumstances, girls and women continue to demonstrate beauty, strength and fortitude. The book is relevant to adult readers, students, educators and discussion groups interested in gender, culture and African social realities. Despite the Bruises received recognition at Zambia's Ngoma Awards and remains one of Sililo's best-known works.