Refilwe Modiselle honours her father's legacy with children's book on albinism education

News24

10-06-2025

Growing up, she never saw herself represented in books or mainstream media.
Her difference was misunderstood and hardly embraced.
Being the pioneer that she is in the entertainment space, Refilwe Modiselle took it upon herself to challenge stereotypes and educate the world about albinism.
Merging this with her love for children, Refilwe put pen to paper to lay the educational foundation at grassroots level.
Though she had never imagined herself writing a children's book, it all felt perfect and just right when Lingua Franca Publishers presented her with the opportunity.
'It felt like a God-given assignment I couldn't say no to. When the idea was presented to me, it just made sense to pursue it. People have always asked when I'd write a book. I always thought that would come much later in life, maybe an autobiography in my very old age. But I guess destiny had other plans. Writing a children's book felt like the perfect way to ease me into authorship,' she laughs.
Announcing it on social media, the media personality said adding the author title to her name was unbelievable and an unexpected dream.
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Despite all her accomplishments over the years, the 39-year-old admits that her journey has been an easy one.
In light of this big accomplishment with the 28th of June being the official release day for the book, Refilwe emotionally pens down a message to her younger self.
'You were born a light in this world, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you. You didn't know how big your light would become but you kept shining anyway! Well done, kiddo, for holding on to your light even when the world tried to dim it. They tried to bury you, but they didn't know you were a seed!'
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Refilwe lets Drum into the making of the book – Zizi's World: Through her Vanilla Eyes.
'I was under the pressure to deliver within a specific time frame, so I had to start writing whether I
liked it or not (laughs). I went back and forth not knowing where to even begin with the kind of story I
was going to tell. But then divine inspiration struck: to draw from my own life and experiences (with
a bit of fiction of course), and to craft a story that touches on narratives we rarely explore.'
Drawing inspiration from her own journey, she tells the story with beautiful illustrations that have emotional resonance with children aged 4–12.
'The story is centred around Zizi, a bright, confident girl with albinism, and thanks to her loving parents, she has always felt proud of who she is. When her family moves to the big city and Zizi starts primary school, she notices that there are so many different people in the world, and very few, if any, look like her. For the first time, she feels unsure of herself after some of her classmates are unkind. With her parents' support, Zizi learns to embrace and find strength in her uniqueness. The book not only reflects a journey of living with albinism, but also of discovering the beauty of standing out in a world that often doesn't know how to accept differences. Children deserve stories where they are seen, affirmed, and celebrated – Zizi's World: Through Her Vanilla Eyes is precisely that,' she elaborates to Drum.
More than just the overall experience and education around albinism itself, Refilwe wants kids with a 'difference' in any way, shape or form to know that they too have a place in the world.
'I'd love children to affirm each other & be groomed early in the principle of respecting each other. There are so many layers to this book, so kids will take away multiple themes & lessons, such as self-love, the importance of family, friendship, embracing differences, anti-bullying, and discovering your own superpower. Most importantly, I want kids to know the world is limitless if you believe in yourself. The world is your oyster!'
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If any parent is doubting making the purchase of Zizi's world for their children, they are assured of the positive mindset, invaluable education that the book sparks not only for the children but the parents as well.
'This book offers a unique and rarely explored narrative that will provide children with an invaluable education, positively shaping their mindset. It's more than just a story for the kids; it's an opportunity for parents to engage in a different kind of story time. While it's bought for the children, parents will also find themselves reflecting on various themes that may spark positive personal insights and growth. It's a book for children, but surprisingly, it's for parents too.'
Acknowledging the influence of literature her late father had on her and her sisters, she says she knows he'd proud of her for empowering the world through literature.
'My dad was a strong academic and an advocate for reading. He was part of spaces like The Reader's Digest Book Club, so I know he would be incredibly proud. He would have reminded me how reading empowers people and I'm now doing the same through this book. It's a beautiful way to honour his legacy, especially in an era where digital content has pulled many kids away from the joy of reading. He would tell me he is proud I'm helping shape young minds to become better human beings.'