“Unless they are off duty, no matter how wide it is, and even when it is sincere, a smile seems fake if the job description of the person who is smiling includes smiling.”

Mokokoma Mokhonoana is a South African writer and public speaker. She is best known for her work exploring themes of resilience, identity, and the Black female experience in contemporary Africa, blending memoir, fiction, and cultural critique. Her writing often centers on navigating personal and societal challenges with wit and depth.