South Africa Books

The life of Desmond Tutu is incredible in many ways. Advocates of social justice, racial equality, and Christian spirituality alike can find inspiration from the story of his life's achievements. As Bishop of Lesotho, then General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, then the Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu used his positions within the realm of religion to become one of South Africa's most outspoken advocates for an end to apartheid.

What I enjoyed most about Shirley DuBoulay's biography of Desmond Tutu was its faithfulness to Tutu's true personality and character, both the positive and the negative characteristics. For example, DuBoulay is willing to admit that Tutu's calling to the priesthood was not especially strong at first; however, by the time he began life as a priest, everyone saw that he had a unique ability to connect to all different types of people. More than most, he was able to place himself in another person's shoes, and constantly tended to his parishioners' every need. DuBoulay also admitted that Tutu was irresponsible with money, and was overly sensitive in that he allowed his feelings to be hurt easily.

However, his positive personality traits greatly outweighed the negative. He had an indomitable spirit, and remained faithful to the idea that all South Africans, black and white, can live together in harmony, despite criticisms from those who looked for blacks to become the top of the racial hierarchy. His incredibly personable demeanor attracted blacks and whites alike to his cause, and would help to heal a divided country. All in all, Tutu lived the Christian ideal of living for others. DuBoulay relays this with many anecdotes from Tutu's life that show first-hand the effect that he had on South Africans and people around the world.

A pivotal moment in the book is the Fort Hare strike. Police with dogs, guns, and tear-gas attacked students who were peacefully protesting a racist educational system. Tutu encouraged them and supported them throughout the entire day, and his full-fledged commitment to their cause showed them that he would do more than just speak out against injustice: he would fight it on all fronts. This experience changed Tutu by making him realize that Christianity and advocating for justice went hand-in-hand.

Another important moment in Tutu's life was his decision to accept the position of Dean of Johannesburg. He and his family had been living in England and enjoying the freedoms that living outside of apartheid allowed. However, God called him to return to his homeland and respond to the needs of his people, so that is what he did. This decision sent him back into the cruel realities of apartheid - a harsh adjustment for his family, but necessary so that he might fully understand the struggle in which he would play such a large part. A year later, when he became a Bishop, he disliked some responsibilities of the position (those that took him away from his parishioners) but thoroughly enjoyed leading his people spiritually.

Tutu fully embraced his destiny as an anti-apartheid advocate as General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. By speaking up about the injustices in South Africa, he raised the profile of the SACC both nationally and internationally, and gave it greater credibility within the minds of everyday South Africans. He identified the SACC with the new concept of Black Liberation Theology, and thus made it respond to the needs of oppressed South Africans. His actions were already beginning to shape the course of events in South Africa that would eventually lead to the end of apartheid.

It is the inclusion of first-hand accounts of events such as this that make "Tutu: Voice of the Voiceless" such a rich and informative biography. While I initially thought DuBoulay included too much personal information about Tutu, I soon realized that his early years growing up, as well as his personal experiences around the world, greatly inform our understanding of this incredible man. Because the book was published in 1987, there is much of Tutu's life that is left out. However, this glimpse into Tutu's life is an inspiration to nonviolent freedom fighters everywhere, and is an expertly written biography.

I liked this book because it detailed a lot of information concerning the Black Liberation Movement. It is really techical and in-depth in the sense that you can't just breeze through the pages. So, if you have time to not only read but also breakdown the elements of this book then I would definitely recommend it for you.

Banned when it was first published in South Africa in 1963, Modisane's account of life as a black in South Africa in the 1940s and 50s is still for me one of the most vivid and insightful reminiscences of apartheid. As he remembers his youth in Sophiatown, his survival tactics, the deaths of his siblings of starvation and his father in a brutal gang fight, he returns again and again - as a refrain - to the last days of Sophiatown whose eerie emptiness echoed his own internal alienation and sense of futility during the darkest days of apartheid. In his evocative style he paints a picture of the vibrant shebeen culture of Sophiatown and some of its famous and notorious inhabitants but without the romantic gloss of some writers. What is refreshing is his lack of romanticising, his inclusion of graphic descriptions of the casual violence and lawlessness of gangs - unrestrained by the white police - who terrorised the community. He was one of a team of black writers, first for the 'Golden City Post', then for 'Drum' magazine, became an actor and playwright and left for West Germany in 1958 when Sophiatown was finally bulldozed. His keen sense of the terrible ironies and absurdities of apartheid, as well as a wealth of historical and political detail provided for me, as a white growing up in 1950s and 60s South Africa, a fascinating, sobering and illuminating window on the experience of a black intellectual trying to survive in South Africa in the 1950s.

In South Africa, even in the most modern of cities, practitioners of magic hold sway over the population. The ones who work for the benefit of their client are revered but there are some like the Albino that use the dark powers of the spirits to achieve their own ends. The Albino has built up an empire based on heroin and human smuggling and he performs mudi (organ) murders so he can harvest human organs for his spellcraft.
When a black child's body is found in a ditch, it is easy to see it is a mudi murder because the heart is missing. Detectives Harry Morgan and Jacob Tshabalala are assigned the case. While Harry uses tried and true police methods, Jacob believes in the magic of his people. A major heroin bust disrupts the Albino's empire, causing him to commit crime against those that betrayed him. The Albino's empire is linked to the little girl's murder so it is inevitable that he will cross paths with Harry and the police many times. The case is broken wide open by a British reporter who identifies the top guns in the criminal empire. Harry begins to realize there is more to the world of spirits than he ever knew.

The exotic locale and the supernatural beliefs of many people living in South Africa will give armchair travelers a thrill. It is fascinating to watch the metamorphosis of Harry from non-believer to believer. Both Harry and Jacob are well developed characters with demons they have to exorcise if they want to live normal lives. Richard Kunzmann's debut novel is a smash hit.
Harriet Klausner

Most avid readers of history know of Winston Churchill's mature works about the First and Second World Wars; and occasionally they know of his histories of the "English-speaking peoples" and of his biography of his illustrious ancestor the Duke of Marlborough. But it is much rarer to encounter someone who knows of, much less who has read, this volume of his collected dispatches as a correspondent to the Boer War. That's a pity, for these very early works, written around the turn of the century when Churchill was in his late twenties, provide an illuminating window into the developing character and literary style of one of this century's preeminent journalists, historians, and statesmen. But the stories are of interest not only because of their author. These collected dispatches serve as a primer on one of this century's first and least-well-known wars, one whose brutality and political intrigue foreshadowed the nation-draining slaughters to follow in this bloody century. The prose is a bit less polished and more stiffly Victorian than in his later works, but Mr. Churchill's sense of his destiny and his place in history, as well as his pugnacious self-confidence, shine through. Well worth a read for those who'd like a glimpse at the formative years of this great man. (by Michael Sebastian)

Does not go much into the background and the reasons for the war, but concentrates on the strategies and battles in the years 1899-1902. Displays lots of interesting pictures, drawings, original maps and also several pictures of the different battlefields as they look today. And very readable.

This is a good chance to have a general overview of that important conflict that marked the transition to modern XX century warfare and the last colonial war of the Victorian British Empire. Information is very complete considering the limited 40 pages. Art work could be more detailed but this is the style of this artist. Art work descriptions are short and undetailed, dissapointing in this point. A very good choice...

I was looking for a book which would explain to me why the hardline Afrikaners gave up power to South African blacks without the bloodbath we had been dreading for decades. This was the unlikely but very insightful book I found. It's repetitive at times, but along the way the author's interviewees -- most of them fascinating South African "types" -- give all the answers that make sense. To truly enjoy the wonderful bits of local humor, one needs some Afrikaans (a consistent C for Afrikaans up to and including matric, like mine, is surprisingly sufficient). Highly recommended.

The book combines beautiful photographs, excellent maps, and more concise commentary than other guides to this country. On the downside, the quality of different travel agencies, lodgings, etc. is not appraised. The information is useful for all but rock-bottom travelers (Botswana isn't cheap, anyway), however, the authors are inappropriately condescending toward the options available to budget and mid-range travelers and frankly colonial in their attitudes toward the locals. Still, if you can tolerate a few nauseating passages in the introductory chapters, you get a useful supplement to the Lonely Planet, Rough Guide etc.

If this book is the same one edited by W. A Edge and M. H. Lekorwe, it is a very detailed book by college professors in Botswana and I found it very helpful on my research on one of best run democracies in the world, unknown to many. Its worth every dollar it costs you and I highly recommend it. Its like 'everything you ever wanted to know about Botswana and were afraid to ask under the same roof' kind of book.