uHlanga is proud to announce the April 2026 publication of the debut collection by Kirsten Deane, Disabled, But.
We have had our eyes on Kirsten for a few years now, and we are excited to bring you this toothy, bony, uncomfortable, spellbinding collection.
In Disabled, But, Deane tells the story of her disobedient and uncontrollable body, and sharing it with her family, her community and her lovers. Finely poised and subtly subversive, the poems here explore Deane’s experiences of self-love and internalised hatred; of being a young woman who wants to shrink even as she grows; of learning to live with pain and discomfort as constant close companions – even as trusted friends.
Photo by Kaylin Pietersen
Shying away from neither body horror nor tenderness, Deane writes from a place not simply close to the bone, but from the very marrow. Accessible and estranging, Disabled, But is evidence of a powerful and essential new voice in South African poetry.
Kirsten Deane was born in Cape Town in 1998. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing, both from the University of the Western Cape.
An avid disability researcher and activist, she is also lead editor for English Alive, South Africa’s oldest publication for young writers.
She lives in Cape Town.
Disabled, But is scheduled for release in South Africa on 6 April 2026. For press and reading copies, please mail us.