Book info

• Title Jojo: Finally Home
• Author Johannes Radebe
• Year 2023
• Genre Memoir

Champion dancer and Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe has captured our hearts with his mesmerising talent, bringing joy to millions of fans and wowing the most critical of judges. He is loved not only for his dancing, but for his beautiful, infectious spirit and energy. Jojo: Finally Home is his never-before-told story, where he shares the experiences and challenges he's faced - from growing up in Zamdela, a township in South Africa, as a young boy with a passion for dance (and playing with Barbies), to becoming the star he is today. Dance transformed Jojo's future, giving him a tool to express himself - but as you will learn, this was not always easy. Captivating and moving, these are Jojo's tales of euphoric highs and all-time lows, of making history, of grief, love, family and opportunity. It is a celebration of him finally feeling at home in his own skin. These are the personal moments that have shaped him into the man he is today - someone who lives life to the full and believes that no mountain is insurmountable.

Thoughts

Obviously, Johannes Radebe is a huge favourite of mine from being a Strictly fan, and I was curious what his autobiography would reveal. I listened to the audiobook of this, and it took a little bit longer than I would have liked to settle in to the rhythm of it - it’s not Jojo’s native language and the phrasing was a bit different but I soon got into it and then totally loved it. It’s a story of a passion, of how dance can not only fill you with joy but bring you so many opportunities - but also of a loving but difficult childhood and the challenges that come with being different. Well told and plenty more story to be told in future too, I’m sure!

Rating: 4 / 5