The Spirit of Resistance in Music and Spoken Word of South Africa's Eastern Cape by Lindsay Michie brings orality studies into the twenty-first century. It shows the relevance of the musical and poetic genius of Eastern Cape South African performers. The book moves from the past, the impact of colonialism, the amaXhosa cattle-killing of 1857 through to apartheid and the era of democracy from 1994. It includes reference to the recent impact of COVID-19 on Eastern Cape performers’ creativity. At the heart of the book is how South Africa’s voice of protest is represented in the genres of the oral word – musical and poetic. This is portrayed against a socio-political backdrop. This link between past and present is done with the full appreciation of the creative spirit and history of the Eastern Cape region. The book is indeed a spiritual journey that connects one with the language and culture of the amaXhosa, emphasizing the importance of creativity in the lived experiences of this community, both through a historical and contemporary lens.