The removal of a children’s colouring book about Palestine from independent book stores in South Africa has raised concerns about censorship driven by pro-Israeli lobbying in a country known for its pro-Palestine positions.
Written and illustrated by Nathi Ngubane and published by Social Bandit Media in February 2024, From The River to The Sea had sold over 3,000 copies before being pulled by the Exclusive Books chain at the behest of pro-Israeli groups recently.
“Exclusive Books stopped promoting the book. The book is no longer appearing on their website, and other customers were told that their orders were canceled. We are still waiting for their official response,” Ngubane told The New Arab.
“We cannot afford not to have Palestinian content on our shelves, and as much as we may not agree on everything, we must all reject censorship.” ….more
