Reclaiming Power Through Storytelling: Ntombi Meso’s Debut Book Is a Bold and Tender Conversation on Identity, Affirmation, and Conscious Parenting
South African media powerhouse and award-winning broadcaster Ntombi Meso has made her literary debut with a deeply personal and culturally resonant book that is already reshaping how we approach self-worth in childhood. I Am Lovely and Dark is more than a beautifully illustrated children’s story. It’s a soft but powerful invitation to examine how we speak to young people about identity, beauty, and belonging.
At the heart of the story is Kayise, a young girl navigating the unspoken rules the world places on skin tone, desirability, and visibility. Inspired by Ntombi’s own lived experience with colourism and internalised shame, the book charts a path from confusion to confidence and from self-doubt to self-love.
“This story is a reflection of my own journey,” Ntombi shares. “It’s a gift to every little one, and to the adults who raise them, reminding us all that we are enough, just as we are.”
A Toolkit for Confidence, and a Mirror for Adults
What sets I Am Lovely and Dark apart is its multi-layered approach. It is at once a celebration of childhood innocence, a tool for nurturing emotional literacy, and a gentle mirror held up to parents, teachers, and caregivers who may be unknowingly passing down biases that limit children’s self-image.
Every copy of the book includes:
- A hardcover picture book filled with heartfelt storytelling
- A professionally narrated audiobook voiced by Ntomb
- A set of 15 powerful affirmation cards to encourage reflection and healing conversations between children and adults
Launched on World Book Day, 23 April 2025, this book is part of a larger global movement calling for better representation in children’s literature and more honest, empowering conversations at home. Official sales and shipping begin Saturday, 24 May, with a family-centred launch event scheduled for Youth Day, Monday, 16 June 2025, in Johannesburg.
For Parents, Allies, and Everyone in Between
This book is not only for children with dark skin, but it is for anyone raising or supporting a child in today’s world. It opens the door to critical conversations about bullying, bias, and identity, and encourages all of us, regardless of background, to unlearn harmful ideas and embrace inclusive, conscious parenting.
In a country still grappling with the legacies of inequality, and in a world where colourism and internalised racism continue to shape our perceptions, I Am Lovely and Dark is both a balm and a guide. It is not about controversy. It is about compassion, care, and rewriting the narrative for the next generation.
Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of self-love, this book belongs on your shelf.
Pre-orders are available now at www.ntombithevoice.com/i-am-lovely-and-dark
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