AFDA Cape Town student Alia Khan Koumantarakis, who has just completed her BA in Motion Picture degree has taken out all the stops and published her debut novel called Riot.
Alia began developing Riot as a screenplay in 2021, shortly after the Durban riots. The initial script version was published in 2022, and I later adapted into a novel, which was completed and published in 2025.
“I decided to write Riot because I felt that a significant part of South Africa’s history had been forgotten, or rather, erased from our collective memory. During the 2021 Durban riots, I remember the shock and fear that spread through communities, and I couldn’t help but wonder if something like this had ever happened before. That’s when my mother told me about the 1949 riots. It was a time when the same city, the same streets, and the same communities were torn apart by violence and racial tension.” says Alia.
Alia was fascinated how few people her age did know about the 1949 riots. “I wanted to use storytelling, through film and literature, to uncover that silence and give it a voice. Writing Riot became both a creative and emotional journey, not just to retell a tragedy, but to understand the human side of it. I wanted to explore how history repeats itself when we don’t confront it, and how love, empathy, and shared humanity can exist even in moments of division and hatred.”
Riot is a historical fiction novel set during the 1949 Durban riots. A time when tensions between Indian and Zulu communities erupted into days of chaos, destruction, and loss. The story follows Zarik, the son of an Indian shopkeeper, and Nandi, a Zulu princess, whose forbidden love becomes a symbol of hope in a city unraveling around them.
Through their relationship, the novel explores the complexities of identity, loyalty, and belonging in a divided society. It shows how the actions of a few can ripple through entire communities, but also how courage and compassion can bridge divides.
Alia says that her biggest goal with Riot is to spark conversation and reflection, especially among younger South Africans who may not know about the 1949 riots. “I want readers to question why certain parts of our history have been forgotten, and to see how understanding the past can help us build a more united and empathetic future.”
Alia, who majored in directing and producing at AFDA, also plans to adapt Riot into a feature film and continue writing scripts that tell authentic African stories. “My goal is to bring our history and shared experiences to an international audience, celebrating Africa’s diversity and complexity through cinema and literature.”
The official book launch of Riot will take place on 6 December 2025 at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban. The book is currently available for purchase online at: www.riot1949.com
Alia also founded her own production company last year called STALIA Productions – Film and Media CC.