Nizar Abrahams co-founded Readers Den more than 30 years ago in Cape Town, South Africa, and has ever since been the home away from home for comic book nerds, otaku and pop-culture fans.
Being one of the oldest comic book shops in South Africa, Nizar was witness to the rise of anime and manga in South Africa during the early 2000s and played a key part in developing the market and spreading its popularity.
Today, Readers Den remains strong and has carved out a unique space in the South African pop-culture scene, from comics being perceived as low art in the early days to now being available in school libraries, from Fan Con to Comic Con, Nizar and Readers Den have played a part in it all.Enjoy a bit of South African pop-culture history by looking back at the early comic book days of Readers Den.
I sat down with Dr. Kotzee Kellerman, a successful medical practitioner, a long-time anime fan and one of my oldest friends.
We reminisce about growing up in a small town in South Africa and going through the trials and tribulations of being an anime fan during the early 2000s.
For the past 23 years, Kotzee has been a great friend and fellow anime-nerd, sharing many of our otaku experiences - and still doesn't believe me when I say I thought my Winged Dragon of Ra was legit.
Market Kokoro is every anime fan's favourite Asian grocery store! From Karate Kid combos to hosting both iterations of Daru Fest, Market Kokoro has become an integral part of pop culture in South Africa.
We sit down with brand manager Monique van Rooyen and dive into how a retailer became the hub of fan events and activities in South Africa.
Recorded live at Daru Fest - Winter 2025
We welcomed The Notorious Po to our mobile recording studio at Daru Fest Winter 2025.
Phirawat Supina, better known as The Notorious Po online, refers to himself as a semi-strong casual anime nerd, but after sitting down with him, I can confirm there's nothing casual about this anime content creator, with a deep passion for - and vast knowledge of anime music.
We talk anime rooms, music, growing up Afrikaans, and being a jock while also being an anime fan.
Find The Notorious Po at the following links:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/thenotoriouspo/?hl=en
We welcomed Chad Beyers to our mobile recording studio at Daru Fest Winter 2025.
Chad Beyers is an avid comic book collector (and soon-to-be mega anime fan :P), who shares his love of storytelling and passion for beautiful art and visuals with us in this episode.
From comic books to anime and Hollywood adaptations, we explore what makes good storytelling that compels adults to spend small fortunes on the brands and characters they love and enjoy.
Find Chad Beyers at the following links:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/_chadbeyers/
YT: https://youtube.com/@PocketDimensionPodcast
What if I told you that anime fans are some of the most interesting people you'll ever meet?
I'm talking scientists who got into engineering because of Gundam... entrepreneurs who built businesses inspired by Dragon Ball... artists whose entire style came from watching Studio Ghibli films as kids.
Here in South Africa, we've got this incredible anime community that nobody's really talking about. We've been watching anime since the 90s, building communities, starting businesses - there's decades of untold stories. People with wild backgrounds, crazy hobbies, and perspectives that'll blow your mind.
So I'm starting this podcast - but we're not just talking about the latest episodes or which waifus are the best. We're using anime as a lens to explore everything else.
Because let's be honest - if you've stayed loyal to a 20-year manga series that's still ongoing, you clearly understand commitment in ways most people don't.
First episode drops July 24th.
