Welcome to the
Living Book
Welcome to the inside story – the shadows of Apartheid South Africa — where real stories unfolded in hushed voices, sideways glances, and unexpected acts of quiet rebellion. Step behind the curtain into a world where every whispered anecdote carried the weight of a nation, and the rules that shaped our lives were the ones no one dared to write down.
Thank you for joining. This space will grow over time — like your journey through the book, it’s layered, alive, and open to discovery.
Tanya 10 Months old
Tanya’s brother Herman - you have to love those brown coaches we grew up with
Tanya Circa 1977 – Mom made most of my clothes
My dog Lalele, shortly after she had puppies
Circa 1978. My brother and I with our gardener on the back steps in Johannesburg
Circa 1978. Family photo.
My 5th Christmas and birthday. Also the year I drank all the leftover alcohol form the empty glasses left out after my parents entertained.
7 years old at Primary School in Auckland Park
Year 3 or Standard 1 in those years. The only time I had short hair in my lifetime. (leave the first 9)
Brother and Sister in Knysna on Holiday. We went to the Cape most December Holidays.
Brother and Sister on holidays a few years later.
With mom and kids
With friends in Namibia on the road stopping to buy baskets. I have the kids on my bad and my Granma can be seen behind a grass basket next to my mom in the white towling dress
Strange pets. In Namibia in the patio.
High School in Windhoek, Namibia.
Author
Dr Tanya Finnie
From the shadows of an abusive home to the raw beauty of Africa’s wild heart, Tanya Finnie’s coming-of-age story unfolds during one of the most politically charged periods in South Africa’s history. Set against the backdrop of Apartheid and its slow unravelling, this memoir traces her path from being a young girl seeking safety, to becoming a fearless tour guide traversing borders physical, emotional and cultural.
Woven through with harrowing and heartwarming encounters, Tanya’s journey reveals the quiet power of curiosity, the courage it takes to step beyond silence, and the deep desire to create a more inclusive and equitable world.
Written as a memoir, a lived experience of survival, identity, and the making of a woman determined to turn pain into purpose.
To see more about her professional life and explore her professional work in global inclusion and cultural strategy, you can find Dr Finnie on RedHeadCommunications.com
For her flagship events on diversity and equity, head to DiversityAndInclusionsummit.com.au to follow the groundbreaking summits, based around inclusive practice case studies, panel discussions and stories.
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