Fred Khumalo is deeply engaged with the social and political currents of his home country, exploring themes of identity, justice, and the complexities of contemporary South African life. His prose is characterized by its unflinching honesty and a powerful narrative voice that draws readers into the heart of his characters' experiences. Khumalo’s work consistently probes the intersections of personal history and collective memory, offering sharp social commentary alongside profound human insight. He crafts stories that resonate with urgency and a keen understanding of the human condition.
"A boy plays detective, investigating the case of a goat and a coat; a woman takes revenge; an inhlabi bites off more than he can chew; teenage enmity rears its head in a prestigious school for girls; a man is cursed with an ever-growing sexual appetite; and more thoughtful stories with an entertaining zing"--Back cover.
A hundred and twenty years ago, seven thousand Zulu mineworkers embarked on a remarkable journey from Johannesburg to Natal, covering five hundred kilometers in ten days. In 1899, Philippa faces heartbreak as her fiancé Nduku ends their engagement. Having followed him from Kimberley to the goldfields, she is devastated. As tensions rise between the South African Republic and the British Empire, war breaks out, leading to the shutdown of the mines and the expulsion of migrant workers. With no trains running and home hundreds of kilometers away, Philippa and Nduku must walk. Their journey is fraught with danger—sleeping outdoors, encountering wild animals, and facing harassment from armed white farmers. Disguised as a mineworker’s wife, Philippa, who is white, shares her true history and fears with Nduku with each step they take. As they travel to Natal, they explore their inner selves, discovering the possibility of happiness amidst adversity. Their story unfolds against a backdrop of significant historical events, capturing the determination and courage of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Fred Khumalo’s novel is a tribute to resilience and the quest for love in tumultuous times.
Paris, 1958. Ein unscheinbarer Kellner steht vor Gericht. Er muss sich für den Mord an zwei Gästen verantworten, schweigt aber beharrlich. Nun beginnen andere zu erzählen. Von Zwangsrekrutierungen der britischen Kolonialmacht in Südafrika während des Ersten Weltkriegs. Von der Tragödie des Untergangs des Dampfschiffs Mendi, bei der 646 Menschen starben, darunter viele Schwarze Soldaten. Von einem Mann, der überlebte, aber um jeden Preis ein anderer bleiben will. Basierend auf einer wahren Geschichte, erzählt Fred Khumalo in diesem packenden Roman von einem Mörder und wirft dabei die Frage auf, was ein Leben wert ist, wenn es auf Lügen aufbaut.