Jamela E Robertson

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Reclaiming identity. Redefining worth.
Rising beyond the lie.

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You were never too much.
You were just shaped to shrink in spaces that feared your truth.

Jamela Robertson
about the book

not woman enough?

Not Woman Enough? is a deeply personal and emotional memoir, which recounts Jamela’s life journey, marked by resilience, tragedy and self-empowerment. Presented in a provocative, infuriating and sometimes hilarious manner, Jamela narrates her journey to womanhood, with key standout themes that include issues of identity and self-worth, racism and discrimination, resilience and perseverance, family and relationships, loss and grief, cultural identity and tradition, empowerment and transformation, as well as hope and redemption. Through these themes, Not Woman Enough? offers a poignant exploration of the human spirit, resilience and a journey towards self-empowerment. ​

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about the author

speaker, storyteller

Jamela was born in the 1960s in South Africa. In this book she narrates her story of growing up under circumstances of lack, but with a big desire to change destiny against all odds, believing that education would be the key. Therefore, she spent much of her life in the pursuit of education, albeit to no avail.

In the early 1990s, she moved to England, where she continued to strive for an education until she obtained a degree with honours in psychology and sociology at Coventry University.

more about me
  • Author of Not Woman Enough?
  • Empowerment Speaker
  • Community Builder
  • Champion for Women & Girls
what readers are saying
I read the book overnight, I couldn’t stop reading and each chapter compelled me to proceed to the next. This was the effect of the author’s narration of her story. She took me with her, as if I was part of her experiences. With an authentic voice, the author shares a deeply personal and painful story of pain and resilience, revealing her vulnerability, yet with unyielding hope. The book gave me strength.
Noki Mhlungu
Noki Mhlungu
Not Woman Enough? is unlike any novel I've read: not only a well written depiction of one woman's vast life experiences, it provides a ground-breaking and insightful look into life under South African apartheid, offering details and a perspective often missed in educational and historical records. This book will change your view of life and open your eyes to what life has been for many others.
Nxalati Robertson
Nxalati Robertson
The novel is a very engaging read, mainly because the author has a powerful way of narrating her story, with emotional openness and an authentic tone. She blends her personal experiences with cultural context and universal themes, which ensures that readers are both moved and compelled to keep reading. The use of anecdotes, dialogue and honest reflection makes the book accessible and resonant for a wide audience. Her universal reflections on issues such as identity, belonging, self-worth and resilience are relatable, inviting readers to engage with her story on multiple levels, rendering the reading both emotionally powerful and intellectually rich.
Joy Sedibe
Joy Sedibe
The book was really educational for me. I have never looked at racism from the perspective of a child who was actually living it. I wish I understood this earlier in life, the harm and trauma people were subjected to. Anyway, my perspective has changed and I’ll never see things the same.
Anonymous
Anonymous