In the evocative memoir 'Sometimes There is a Void: Memoirs of an Outsider,' Zakes Mda navigates the rhythm of life as an artist, lover, and exile from the familiar. Born into Soweto's intellectual elite during the tremors of apartheid-era South Africa, Mda's world is rocked by political upheaval, leading to his exile in Basutoland (Lesotho). There, the intrigue of shebeen girls, the sting of racism, and the solace found in music and literature mark the chapters of his coming-of-age. His return to South Africa as a playwright provides a backdrop for his ascension into the literary world. With three marriages and a journey that takes him to American shores, Mda pens a symphony of experiences that resonate with the vibrancy of his homeland, stitching together an insider's tapestry from an outsider's thread.