Mohale Mashigo

Mohale Mashigo, born Kgomotso Carol Mashigo (and also known by her stage name Black Porcelain) is a South African singer-songwriter, novelist, and former radio presenter. Her debut novel The Yearning (Pan Macmillan, 2016) won the 2017 University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Debut Writing and was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award 2018. She lives in Cape Town.

Background Mohale was born in Mapetla, Soweto, in 1983. She describes herself as a storyteller who uses the medium of music and prose for expression.

Writing Mashigo's debut novel, The Yearning, was published by Pan Macmillan in May 2016. It has been described as "a bewitching addition to the current South African literary boom...", a story told "with charming lucidity, disarming characterisation, subversive wisdom and subtle humour." It won the 2016 University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Debut Writing and has been longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award 2018. She's one of the guests in the french documentary Children of Captain Africa.

Mashigo won the inaugural Philida Literary Award in 2020.