Book Reading & Signing @ Whitby Bookshop

About the Activity
Gather at the Whitby Bookshop for an intimate evening of readings, conversation & book signing with Yana Fay Dzedze, joined by her husband Nyaniso Dzedze.

Yana shares work from her two memoirs; The Fire in my Belly, which traces the internal questioning that accompanied her journey from a childhood in Whitby into the world of love, cultural initiation & life in South Africa, & You Came with the Birds, written from mother to daughter across the threshold of pregnancy & parenthood, as she & Nyaniso reconcile their very different cultural inheritances in the most intimate of contexts. Nyaniso is present in every chapter of both books; his presence on the night will bring a second voice to the stories, grounding them in the lives they were actually lived.

Whether you know Yana's writing already or are coming with fresh eyes. Books are available to purchase on the night. Come early, find a good seat & bring your reading list.

Part of Whitby Gathers, a free summer arts programme across Whitby & surrounding villages, supported by Arts Council England.

What to Bring
Nothing but your curiosity. Books available to purchase on the night.

About the Artists
Yana Fay Dzedze is a writer, performer & cultural practitioner whose work explores identity, migration, memory & storytelling. She grew up in Whitby & now lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the author of You Came with the Birds & The Fire in my Belly; two memoirs in which her husband Nyaniso is written into every chapter, his presence inseparable from the stories she tells. She works across literature, theatre & performance & is the Programme Lead for Whitby Gathers 2026.

Nyaniso Dzedze is a South African performing artist, actor, dancer, choreographer & singer, best known internationally for his lead role as adult Simba in Beyoncé's Disney production Black Is King. He made his South African television debut in Ashes to Ashes & went on to star in Hear Me Move, South Africa's first dance film. He is the subject of much of Yana's writing & a vivid presence at the heart of both books.

TO BOOK, POP INTO THE BOOKSHOP OR CALL ON 01947 606202 DURING opening HOURS (9.30-5.00)