OUTSIDE

We are honoured to have Santilla Chingaipe join Ukoo Family as our Literature Contributor.

Santilla is a journalist, historian, and award-winning filmmaker whose work explores migration, identity, and the untold histories that shape our world. She is also a regular contributor to The Saturday Paper, where her insightful writing continues to challenge, inform, and inspire. Her words carry power, healing, and accountability.

She is the author of the groundbreaking book Black Convicts, a critical work that reclaims and honours the stories of African presence in colonial Australia. This book has already cemented its place in history, and we believe it will remain a vital reference for generations to come.

At Ukoo Family, we believe literature is more than the written word it is a vessel for truth, memory, and connection. Through her fearless storytelling and unwavering commitment to justice, Santilla reminds us of the responsibility we carry as creatives: to honour the stories of those who came before us and to create space for those yet to come.

We are inspired by Santilla's courage, brilliance, and deeply-rooted purpose. Her contributions are a gift, and her voice will continue to echo far beyond the page.

A short bio 

Filmmaker, historian and lover of a good time!

4 literature recommendations you love 

Sula by Toni Morrison (or anything by Toni Morrison, really.) I worship at the altar of ancestor Morrison, and re-readings of her works always teach me something new. How I wish I could go back to the feeling of reading her for the first time.

Known and Strange Things by Teju Cole. Again, like Morrison, I recommend reading everything Cole writes, including his most recent novel, Tremor, which I devoured. His first essay collection shows Cole at his best: an astute and alert observer of the world. and sees it as it is, and meditates on what it could be. This has a permanent home on my bedside table because I return to it again and again.

Snake by Kate Jennings. I came to Kate Jennings' work, ashamedly, late. But what a discovery this was! I didn't want it to end. A severely underrated Australian writer.

Slave Empire by Padraic Scanlan is a history book I'd recommend. It's accessible and Scanlan argues, in devastating detail, how Britain was built by the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Your favourite quote or life philosophy

Just do the right thing.

Simple, but oh so hard to consistently do. But I aspire to always do the right thing, even if it's not expedient.

Tell us a little about yourself. What's lighting you up these days?

Gosh, I feel like I'm at the start of a new chapter - personally and professionally, and it's terrifying but exciting at the same time. Knowing that I get to shape what the next decade or so looks like thrills me and forces me to create habits and rituals that ensure that I can show up fully in everything I do.

What song or soundtrack feels like your personal anthem right now?

As summer draws closer, I've been listening to a lot of afro house (or 3-step). I spend summer in Southern Africa and house is always the soundtrack for drives, house parties and everything in between. I currently have Uzizwa Kanjan by Jazzworx, MaWhoo, and Thukuthela on repeat.

How do you stay inspired during seasons that feel overwhelming or uninspired?

Slowing down and sticking to routine. I find that eventually, the creativity starts to flow. But you have to stick at it - you can't wait for inspiration to strike.

Is there a creative project or idea that's been quietly calling to you?

Yes. I'm preparing to make my first narrative feature film. A dream I never thought to dream because being a filmmaker was never a career option!

The process is stretching me creatively in ways I've never experienced and I'm really enjoying the challenge that comes with working in fiction. It's the most creatively fulfilling project I've undertaken so far, and I'm collaborating with some incredibly talented people. It's quite possibly the most fun I've had and I'm trying to be as present as possible through it all.

What small daily ritual helps you feel grounded and connected to yourself?

Going for a walk first thing in the morning. There's something about fresh air and sunshine that just has a way of lifting your spirits, even on challenging and difficult days.

How do you define friendship and family in this season of your life?

For me, it's about being present. I'm at a stage in my life where everyone is busy, and so when I intentionally make time to be with friends and family, I really try to be in the moment. That means putting phones away and enjoying the company of the ones I love.

Is there a dish or food ritual that brings you deep comfort something you return to again and again?

Going to the farmer's market on a Saturday morning and a Sunday roast dinner. it doesn't matter where I am in the world, these are non-negotiable rituals for me on a weekend. Knowing that I'm nourishing my body, and taking the time to buy myself a bunch of flowers and prepare a meal, forces me to slow down because most of my days are really busy and intense. It's a dream of mine to live on a farm and grow my own vegetables and keep chooks, so going to the market is a way of connecting to that lifestyle by speaking to the farmers and growers and learning about seasonal produce.

What's a wellness or body-care ritual your family enjoys doing together?

I try to take 6 deep breaths throughout the day. It helps me release tension and calms me - I'm an over thinker and sometimes, I have to remind myself to return my focus back to my physical body. I always feel so much better!

If you could go back and offer your younger self one piece of wisdom, what would it be?

You can't control people's perceptions of you, so do you, babe. Seriously, I wish I'd learned this lesson sooner -- I spent so much of my 20s and 30s making myself small to make other people feel comfortable and as I get ready to enter my 40s, I'm so over that! I'm very much in "me season" and making decisions and choices based on how I feel and what makes me happy, rather than what people might think. Oh and embrace the cringe! Life is short -- don't be afraid to embarrass yourself.

Santilla's approach to storytelling fearless, honest, and deeply rooted in the pursuit of justice  aligns powerfully with Ukoo Family's commitment to honouring truth and creating space for voices that need to be heard. Her work challenges us to look beyond surface narratives, to reclaim what has been erased, and to understand that literature holds the power to heal, educate, and transform. Through her courage and brilliance, Santilla reminds us that our stories matter, and that the act of telling them is an act of resistance and love.

You can explore more of Santilla's work at santillachingaipe.com and follow her on Instagram.