For Simphiwe Kanityi, the seed of his first book was planted in the unlikeliest way — through a poem written in his first year at Rhodes University, meant to inspire high school students to rise above poverty of both stomach and mind. But that seed lay dormant for years, waiting for the right time and the right story to find him.
Life’s detours — from unfinished manuscripts to years of ministry, counselling couples, and founding Real Men of Direction (REMEDI) — eventually brought one recurring theme into sharp focus: fatherlessness. As someone who grew up without a present father, Simphiwe understood its emotional, social, and spiritual weight. Through his work with men, single mothers, prisons, and mental health institutions, the same pain kept echoing back.
His book, In Pursuit of My Father – A Personal Account and the Impact of Fatherlessness on Black Youth in South Africa, dives deep into:
The ripple effects of apartheid and cultural patterns on black fatherhood
How identity, self-worth, and even marital choices are shaped by a father’s absence
The overcompensation trap of trying to be present yet still emotionally absent as a father
The connection between fatherlessness and broader social ills like violence and broken communities
Raw, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable, the book forces readers to confront wounds many would rather bury. For Simphiwe, it’s not just a memoir — it’s a call to restore fathers to their rightful place, using both real-life stories and biblical insights.
Yet his journey wasn’t only about writing. At one point, bitterness nearly drove him to seek revenge against his father. But God intervened, revealing Himself as the ultimate Father and transforming Simphiwe’s mission from destruction to restoration. His earthly father passed before they could truly know each other, but the story didn’t end there — Simphiwe embraced the family he left behind.
Today, the book is reaching schools, universities, and communities, with dreams of expanding across Africa and onto screens as a film or documentary. Simphiwe now stands as:
A husband and father of two (soon three)
An ordained pastor leading two churches in Johannesburg
A marriage counsellor, relationship coach, and media professional
An academic with multiple degrees and a ghostwriter of six books (four published, two in progress)
His testimony is living proof of the Xhosa proverb that inspired him years ago — “even the arum lily grows in arid places.” From the boy who once doubted he had a story, to the man whose voice is healing nations, Simphiwe’s life and message are both a warning and a beacon: the cycle of fatherlessness can be broken.
Very powerful stories and book contents from the authors here. They are very much diverse and inspiring.