Tales from Africa and Elsewhere

Catherine Kentridge was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. She grew up there, attending private all-girlsÆ schools and then going to England, where she went to Marlborough, an all-boysÆ public school, where there were a few girls in the Sixth Form. She intended this to be a gap year before returning to South Africa to study at one of the universities there. Instead, the time in England turned out to be a turning point. Catherine was offered a place at Oxford University to read English Literature. After Oxford, Catherine studied law in Chester and London, very surprised to find herself beginning to follow in the footsteps of her advocate parents. She quickly discovered that law did not suit her at all, so she returned to South Africa where she became an editor and then a journalist. Catherine now lives in Canada, working for many years as a journalist, broadcaster, and editor. More recently she has become a storyteller, and a wedding and memorial service celebrant. Catherine is the daughter of the distinguished South African and international lawyers, Sydney and Felicia Kentridge.