Fear, The

The Fear - the last days of Robert Mugabe

by Peter Godwin, ISBN:9780330513951, R195.00

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Due October 2010

In mid-2008, after thirty years of increasingly tyrannical rule, Robert Mugabe, the 84-year-old ruler of Zimbabwe, met with his politburo. He had just lost an election. But instead of conceding power, Mugabe was persuaded to launch a brutal campaign of terror to cower Zimbabwe’s citizens. Journalist and author Peter Godwin was one of a few observers to slip into the country and bear witness to the terrifying period that Zimbabweans call simply, The Fear.
Following on from his compelling and moving memoirs Mukiwa. Told with Godwin’s brilliant eye for character and natural story-telling gifts, this dark story of Africa’s corruption and violence is populated by extraordinary characters whose lives have been shaped by The Fear.

Zimbabwe - Years of hope and despair

Zimbabwe - years of hope and despair

by Philip Barclay, ISBN:9781408805664, R190.00

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Philip Barclay lived and worked as a diplomat and blogger in Zimbabwe during 2006-2009 - one of the few permitted Western observers of events on the ground. In this electrifying first-hand account we witness the key events that marked the decline of this once prosperous and stable nation. In early 2007, The Movement for Democratic Change (led by Morgan Tsvangiari) held large rallies, leaving Tsvangiari severely beaten and activists killed and arrested. Philip Barclay attended the trials of the MDC activists while campaigns for the next election were beginning to take shape, even though both parties were divided. Although it looked certain that President Robert Mugabe would win the next election in March 2008, given that he controlled all state media, as Philip travelled around the country there was a sense of hope and excitement at the prospect of change. On polling day it became immediately obvious that the MDC had won. The following months saw a widespread outbreak of violence; reports came in of rape, murder and mass evictions as the military and party militia's assaulted and intimidated the supporters of the MDC. Mugabe was not ready to stand down. Philip witnessed a bomb site where activists were burned alive and interviewed rape victims and members of illegal refugee camps. Philip himself was stopped and threatened by a ZANU-PF militia. By July 2008 the country had fallen apart. Hyperinflation ensued, utilities failed and the worst Cholera epidemic in recent world history hit a starving population. A unity agreement was eventually signed in early 2009, but is this really a new dawn for Zimbabwe? Concise, fluent, imaginative and authoritative, Zimbabwe gets to the terrifying core of a country systematically destroyed by its own government, and asks important questions about what the future may hold.

Pappa in Afrika

Pappa in Afrika
By Anton Kannemeyer, ISBN:978-1-77009-871-8, R280.00

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Summary   

Anton Kannemeyer, aka Joe Dog of Bitterkomix fame, unflinchingly explores the vigorous debates around race that enliven and shadow daily life in South Africa. Pappa in Afrika brings together recent drawings, paintings and comics that tackle colonialism and its ongoing legacy head-on, adopting Hergé’s Tintin as the archetypal figure of the white settler. Praised in the New York Times for its “semiotic sophistication, graphic ingenuity and X-ray political vision”, Kannemeyer’s work is as relentless in its critique of the hypocrisy and racist attitudes of white society as it is of the greed and corruption of Africa’s new political elite.

About the Author

Born in 1967 and based in Cape Town, Kannemeyer has been publishing and exhibiting his work since 1992, the year he and Conrad Botes founded Bitterkomix as students at the University of Stellenbosch. Recent solo shows have taken place in Cape Town, Johannesburg and New York.

Angolan Rendezvous

Angolan Rendezvous
By Tamar Ron & Tamar Golan, ISBN:9781920143428, R250.00

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Ostensibly, this book is in two voices: Tamar Golan, Israel’s first Ambassador to Angola, deals with the political/diplomatic aspects, while the stories on gorillas, the Black giant sable and Nature are by zoologist/ecologist, Tamar Ron. But in reality, the book has one voice, one of love for Angola, its long-suffering people, vast landscapes and wild animals, and their ongoing struggle for survival.

Africa is associated with war, disease, oil, diamonds, hunger, corruption, destruction, death—a lost and forlorn world. In Angola all these are manifest, yet the authors fell in love with the country, with the wonderful people, the children and the women, whose daily struggle for survival arouses both sympathy and admiration, with Angola’s enchanting natural beauty, mysterious cultures, rare biodiversity and fiery sunsets over an endless ocean.

For many years a bloody war of independence raged and, as soon at it ended, the country was thrown into a terrible civil war, during the height of the Cold War. Millions were killed, maimed, or lost their homes. The war is now over but the minefields still claim their gruesome harvest. Everything is interwoven: life and death, war and peace; children who know no childhood and adults who dream of a long-lost innocence; men and women, tough warriors who suddenly find softness and warmth in their souls; betrayal of and return to tradition; man and Nature, their fates irrevocably intertwined.

“Calma, calma!” is the answer for every problem—your visa has expired, you are wracked with malaria, there’s a power cut and you’re stuck in the elevator between the 15th and 16th floors ... yet things have a way of working themselves out in Angola. But there is something pleasant in the air, something calming, warm, comforting. Something that can only be described as calma, calma!

The Mudjadji dynasty : the principles of female leadership in African cosmology

The Mudjadji Dynasty

By Mathole Kherofo Motshekga, ISBN:9780620423298, R265.00

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The Mudjadji dynasty : the principles of female leadership in African cosmology.

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the principles of female leadership in southern Africa, with special reference to the Mudjadji cosmology.  The process involved tracing the origins of these principles back to Ancient Ethiopia - more specifically to the provinces of Napata and Meroe in the Sudan - and even further, to show that these principles are directly linked to the African cosmology and the goddess Mwari

Something about the author:

 Dr. Mathole Kherofo Motshekga is the founder and executive director of the Kara Heritage Institute, which promotes the study of African history and culture, and an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

He is legal adviser to the Mudjadji Royal Council, the National Coalition of Traditional Leaders, and the National House of Traditional Leaders of South Africa.

He is a former premier of Gauteng, and chair and deputy chair of the African National Congress (ANC) in that province.  He serves on numerous national task teams and committees.

Dr Motshekga holds a B Juris (Unisa); LLB (Unisa); and LLM (Harvard), and is an honorary professor of political sciences of the University of Pretoria.

He has also been a visiting scholar in the African Studies Centre at Harvard University in the United States; a visiting lecturer in law at the University of Freiburg; and a research fellow of the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, also in Freiburg, Germany.

He regularly speaks  on radio and TV about issues relating to African heritage.  Dr. Motshekga was born in 1949 in Balobedu, home of South Africa's fabled Rain Queens.

My friend the Mercenary

My friend the Mercenary

by James Brabazon, ISBN:9781847674401, R220.00

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In a fly-blown bar in West Africa, war reporter James Brabazon found himself discussing military plans to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea with one of Africa's most notorious mercenaries, Nick du Toit. The Byzantine plot, its farcical execution and, ultimately, its tragic consequences led to Mark Thatcher, Simon Mann and a host of celebrated guns for hire falling victim to their own avaricious egos, Machiavellian scheming, and perverse double-crosses. Due to a twist of fate, James Brabazon remains free to tell the story.

Of Loss, Hope and Healing

Of Loss, Hope and healing

by Estelle Neethling, ISBN:9781415200841, R190.00

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South Africa looms before thousands of refugees from across all Africa as the land of milk and honey. They flee conflict and hardship, they leave behind home and loved ones – only to face the harsh realities of living in a foreign, sometimes hostile country. Their longing to be reunited with their families brings them to the doors of the South African Red Cross Society. Of Loss, Hope and Healing is the account of a woman who reconnects displaced family members as part of the Red Cross Restoring of Family Links programme. The true stories in this book offer an insight into the ability of individuals to survive despite heartbreaking odds. Little wonder then that such a working environment would uncover in the author, too, a history of emotional displacement. Interwoven with the bigger story of African diaspora is her own story as she confronts her own, troubled relationship with family in this honest and moving account of human triumphs over inhuman adversity.

About the Author - Estelle Neethling
Estelle Neethling was born in Pretoria and raised in the south-eastern Free State. In her early fifties she became a tracing officer, and later national tracing coordinator, for the Restoring of Family Links programme of the South African Red Cross Society. She lives in Cape Town. Title published by Umuzi • Of Loss, Hope and Healing, 2010 ...[more about Estelle Neethling]

Soccer in Africa - A Game of Passion

Soccer In Africa - A Game of Passion

ISBN:9781770078802, R210.00

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In 2010, the eyes of the world are on South Africa as the country plays host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Soccer in Africa – A game of passion celebrates the beautiful game and its importance for the people of Africa.

Africa and the Slave Trade

Africa and the Slave Trade

ISBN:9780749690304, R230.00

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The Black History series brings together a wide range of events and experiences from the past to promote knowledge and understanding of black culture today. This book looks at the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on Africa and on the lives of enslaved Africans.

African Empires

Black History - African Empires

ISBN:9780749690335, R230.00

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The Black History series brings together a wide range of events and experiences from the past to promote knowledge and understanding of black culture today. This book looks at the great civilisations of the African continent and the people within these complex societies.

The Soldier who said no

The Soldier who said no, 

by Chris Marnewick, ISBN:9781415201084, R170.00, Order Now

The Soldier Who Said No
When a Bushman arrow is used in an assassination attempt on the New Zealand Prime Minister, South African bush war veteran Pierre de Villiers, who works for the International Crimes Unit in Auckland, seems to be a logical link, but also a suspect. Suffering from cancer and suspended, disgruntled de Villiers has seen similar arrows made by !Xau, a Bushman with whom he had to flee from Angola in 1985 after refusing to follow orders during a Military Intelligence operation. Now de Villiers is forced to return to South Africa to treat his cancer, find the origin of the arrow and face his own uncertain past.

About the Author - Chris Marnewick
Grew up in the Limpopo bushveld – Koedoesrand area. Military Service in the Navy in 1967 B Juris – Potchefstroom 1970 LLB – Unisa 1973 LLM – Natal 1990 PhD – Natal 1996 Legal career: Clerk of the Court, Prosecutor, Magistrate, Attorney, Advocate. Admitted to practice in New Zealand and New South Wales. Spent 5 years in New Zealand teaching litigation skills to law graduates.

The Queen of Green

The Queen of Green - A Collection of Contemporary Cautionary Tales from Africa

Written & Illustrated by Jacqui Taylor, ISBN:9781770078123, R99.95, Order Now

Author and illustrator Jacqui Taylor has designed The Queen of Green for children, as well as all those involved with children, to teach them what it means to ‘go green’ and how they can assist in taking better care of planet earth. Through the medium of contemporary verses, marvellous illustrations, tips and facts, she goes straight to the heart of the matter – that they need to love the earth. She wants them to realise that they can be a part of the solution, rather than the problem, and have fun at the same time. Concepts such as ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ are explained in a way that children will understand. It’s a must for every child; their parents, grandparents, teachers and child carers might discover that they too can learn something new!

About the Author - Jacqui Taylor
Jacqui was born and brought up in Harare, Zimbabwe and knew from around the age of five that drawing was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life! Coming from a family of constant readers, Jacqui very quickly developed a love of books. After attaining her Diploma in Applied Art and Design from Bulawayo Technical College in 1983, Jacqui joined the advertising industry as a visualiser. After a ...[more about Jacqui Taylor]
 

African Survival

African Survival

Hein Vosloo, ISBN:9780620459891, R179.00, Order Now

(excerpt from http://www.survivalx-pert.com/)

A new survival book by Hein Vosloo

This long awaited book is not only a very necessary and handy survival guide to the harsh African conditions but also an autobiography of the man himself. Hein has now put pen to paper to share some of his vast wilderness survival knowledge and techniques with us. Funny stories and serious survival techniques, most of which were learned the hard way by the author, and a mass of other very interesting information, make this a must read for all outdoor enthusiasts.

From hikers, campers and caravaners to explorers and mountain climbers this book is an essential part of your gear.

Hein as we all know has had an interesting television career, appearing in shows like Survivor Malaysia and Woes, and  now a cameo appearance on Celebrity survivor, on the island of Santa Carolina. The fact that the creators of Survivor asked Hein to be their gift to the survivors is a testimony to his status as South Africa's survivor man.

The first time most of us heard about Hein Vosloo was when he caused a sensation by being the first person on the Survivor franchise, anywhere in the world, to make fire using only natural means. Usually the survivors are at the  mercy of mother nature until they win a reward and get flint or after the first tribal council when they are able to take their torches back to their camps. Hein redefined the rules and showed that it can be done the old way,
long before modern day conveniences.

Hein has lived in areas and shelters most of us would consider harsh and unliveable, minus the comforts we consider necessities these days. And, it seems this is where he is happiest. 

He hasn't pursued possesions and positions that make up a normal supposedly successful life, instead he has followed the path less travelled and in so doing gained an immense amount of knowledge about Africa and it's animals.

This books stories and experiences are written honestly and will be much appreciated by those who wander through Africa's wilderness, near or far, and ensures that you, the reader, are better equipped to survive in a tough situation, find shelter, eat, drink and obtain rescue. This book could save your life!

Eggs to lay, chickens to hatch

Eggs to lay, chickens to hatch

Chris van Wyk, ISBN:9781770101739, R195.00, Order Now

Agnes, the Van Wyks’ Zulu domestic worker, had a special friendship with young Chris in the late sixties to early seventies. He would defend her whenever she came to work with a babalaas on a Monday morning and made a mess of the cleaning. In turn, Agnes never told on Chris when he played truant from school.
As the years passed, the two grew closer, swopping stories about coloureds and Zulus, life in Riverlea and Soweto, pass laws, politics and falling in love. She taught him to count in Zulu and he promised to teach her to read in English.
Whenever the clock ran against her, Agnes would stop almost in mid-sentence, grab a broom or cloth, and declare: ‘I have to rush. I have eggs to lay, chickens to hatch.’
What an odd, ungrammatical thing to say, Chris often mused. But many years later, he played a CD by Louis Jordan, a 1940s American jazz singer, and it all became clear.
Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch is Chris van Wyk’s second childhood memoir about growing up in Riverlea and his colourful interactions with the men and women who lived the African proverb that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. But mostly it is the story of a wonderful friendship between a young coloured boy and a Zulu woman.
About the author
Chris van Wyk was born in Baragwanath Hospital, Soweto, in 1957, and was educated at Riverlea High School in Riverlea, Johannesburg. He lives in Northcliff, Johannesburg, where he works as a full-time writer.
In 1979 he won the Olive Schreiner Award for his poetry collection It Is Time to go Home, and in 1997 he was awarded the Sanlam Prize for the best South African short story “Magic”.
His childhood memoir Shirley, Goodness & Mercy, published by Picador Africa in 2004, became a South African bestseller, selling over thirteen thousand copies to date. It was also turned into a successful play, performed in 2007 at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town and the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
In 2009 Van Wyk abridged Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, a storybook (illustrated by Paddy Bouma) for young children.

The Boy who harnessed the wind

The boy who harnessed the wind

by William Kamkwamba and, Bryan Mealer, ISBN:9780007316199, R130.00

Book overview

When William Kamkwamba was just 14 years old his parents told him that he must leave school and come and work on the family farm as they could no longer afford to $80 a year tuition fees. This is the story of his refusal to give up on learning and reading. A story of passion, determination and remarkable achievements.Malawi is a country battling AIDS, drought and famine, and in 2002, a season of floods, followed by the most severe famine in fifty years, brought it to its knees. Like the majority of the population, William's family were farmers. They were totally reliant of the maize crop. By the end of 2001, after many lean and difficult years, there was no more crop. They were running out of food - had nothing to sell - and had months until they would be able to harvest their crop again.Forced to leave school at 14 years old, with no hope of raising the funds to go again, William resorted to borrowing books from the small local library to continue his education. One day, browsing the titles, he picked up a book about energy, with a picture of a wind turbine on the front cover. Fascinated by science and electricity, but knowing little more about the technology, William decided to build his own. Ridiculed by those around him, and exhausted from his work in the fields every day, and using nothing more than bits of scrap metal, old bicycle parts and wood from the blue gum tree, he slowly built his very own windmill.This windmill has changed the world in which William and his family live. Only 2 per cent of Malawi has electricity; William's windmill now powers the lightbulbs and radio for his compound. He has since built more windmills for his school and his village.When news of William's invention spread, people from across the globe offered to help him. Soon he was re-enrolled in college and travelling to America to visit wind farms. This is his incredible story.William's dream is that other African's will learn to help themselves ' one windmill and one light bulb at a time ' and that maybe one day they will be able to power their own computers, and use the internet, and see for themselves how his life has changed after picking up that book in the library. No preview available - 2010 - 288 pages

Reviews

How Knowledge Can Change the World
User Review   - D. Scott "D. Scott" - Amazon.com -
William Kamkwamba grows up in a village in rural Malawi where people still believe in the power of magic and access to learning is very limited. William's father is a farmer, entirely dependent on the ...

His story does not add up
User Review   - Snn Dnk "Snn" - Amazon.com -
I have read the book but one thing that kept poping in my mind is "was it really possible"? Here is just one example: He said he extracted a motor out of a radio than built his first generator but as ...

All 100 reviews »

What an uplifting TRUE story
User Review   - Abbas Child - Amazon.com -
Having been to Malawi several times I looked forward to reading this book. I wished I could have read such a book before my first trip there. This book gives a real picture of what life is like in ...

Should Be Required Reading!
User Review   - MJ Mullins "Classical Music Buff" - Amazon.com -
The book wasn't what I expected. Although it was a remarkable tale of a boy's success in constructing a windmill to produce electricity in an impoverished African village, the accounting of his thirst ...