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Rachel Kolisi opens a new chapter with a memoir beyond the screen
A story that needed more than a camera
There are some stories that feel unfinished once the credits roll. For Rachel Kolisi, Failing Forward was always meant to be more than a documentary. Now, she is giving that story a second life on the page.
Kolisi has confirmed she will release a memoir alongside her upcoming documentary, Failing Forward, with both set to launch in March 2026. The book is co-authored with Zibu Sithole and will be published by Pan Macmillan South Africa.
The announcement landed on Instagram on January 22, just a day after Kolisi celebrated her 36th birthday, and the reaction was immediate. Messages of support flooded her comments, with many followers saying they were ready to read the parts of her story that could not fit into a film frame.
Why a memoir, and why now
According to the publisher, the book invites readers to step beyond the screen and into the private moments that shaped one of South Africa’s most recognisable women. Kolisi herself put it more plainly. Some truths, she says, need the quiet space of a page to be fully understood.
That idea sits at the heart of Failing Forward. The documentary has been positioned not as a traditional biography but as an emotional journey through defining seasons of her life. It explores identity, loss, motherhood, and healing, with a focus on inner growth rather than public spectacle.
Notably, Kolisi has been clear about what the project will not include. It does not centre on her divorce from Springbok captain Siya Kolisi or the intense public speculation that followed. Instead, the lens stays firmly on her internal evolution and the quiet resilience that helped her keep moving.
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A message many women recognise
In December, Kolisi shared that she poured her heart into this project in the hope that women everywhere would feel seen and connected. That intention has resonated widely, particularly in South Africa, where conversations around womanhood, faith, and personal reinvention are increasingly public.
Her emphasis on resilience feels especially timely. Kolisi has spoken openly about the idea that everyone falls, but what defines us is how we move forward. It is a sentiment that has been widely shared across social media since the announcement, with many women describing the title Failing Forward as deeply relatable.
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A birthday marked by reflection and faith
The timing of the announcement added another layer of meaning. On January 21, Kolisi marked her 36th birthday with a reflective post rooted in faith, quoting verses about joy after hardship and peace that surpasses understanding. She described feeling ready and excited for the year ahead, a tone that mirrors the spirit of both the documentary and the memoir.
Taken together, the projects feel less like a personal reveal and more like an open invitation. Kolisi is not positioning herself as someone who has it all figured out but as someone willing to share what growth looks like in real time.
When Failing Forward arrives in March, the documentary will offer one way into that story. The memoir promises another, quieter path for readers who want to sit with the words and find pieces of their own journey reflected back at them.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: EWN
