About the series
Published by New Africa Books, the Siyagruva Series began in the early 2000s with a bold idea: young people deserve stories that sound like them, move like them, and matter to them.
Created by editor and author Robin Malan — the main creative force behind the series — Siyagruva centres around The Siyagruva Scene, a dance studio where teens navigate identity, friendship, love, and real-life challenges. The name “Siyagruva” (“we are grooving”) captures the energy and rhythm of youth.
From the start, the vision was collaborative. Robin believed in mentoring and opening doors for emerging writers to learn the craft and contribute to the series. Today, his legacy continues through the work of the Siyagruva team and board members, including Anne Schlebusch and Russell Kaschula. The late Colleen Moroukian also played an important role in shaping the series.
Siyagruva remains a vibrant collection of contemporary Young Adult fiction — grounded in real South African experiences and written to help young readers feel seen, heard, and inspired.
- The books use some or all of the characters and are between 7000 and 9000 words long.
- In several books, there are two distinct intertwined themes/stories- keeps up the interest.
- The language is straightforward but the plots are gripping and tackle South African teenage issues and social dilemmas boldly. Very relatable.
- One of the authors and a member of the editorial board, Professor Russell Kaschula of UWC, spells out the broader picture and why this series is so ground-breaking in the attached article: Identity in the Siyagruva series of novels
