Ubuntu: A novel

by Mark Mathabane

Ubuntu's plot and characters illuminate better than any history book or newspaper headline the corrupting evil of apartheid, the atrocities committed by ruthless death squads in its defense, and the heroism of many of its opponents, black and white. A tour-de-force adventure and love story that will leave you breathless with its many twists, Ubuntu combines fact and fiction in a way that informs and inspires as it entertains with page-turning suspense. Ubuntu is a powerful and unforgettable saga of divided loyalties, deadly treachery, forbidden love, unspeakable horrors, and the heroic courage of individual South Africans who dare to reach across a deep racial divide to save their country's soul by bringing to justice one of the apartheid era's most ruthless killers. Mathabane dedicated this book to his father, "who fronted life without flinching -- in the true spirit of Venda warriors."

Genres: Fiction

380 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1999

About the author

Mark Mathabane (born Johannes Mathabane) is an author, lecturer, and former collegiate tennis player.

Dr. Mathabane touched the hearts of millions with his sensational autobiography "Kaffir Boy." Telling the true story of his coming of age under apartheid in South Africa, the book won a prestigious Christopher Award, rose to No. 3 on The New York Times best-sellers list and to No. 1 on the Washington Post best-sellers list, and was translated into several languages.

Reviews

[Gail Mathabane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exciting book set in South Africa really opened my eyes to what happened during the apartheid era. I got totally caught up in trying to find out what would happen next to Liefling, Gideon, Kruger, Makhado and Thando. This novel is based on true stories that were revealed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission led by Bishop Tutu. I know for a fact that the author read everything he could about the TRC and read the witnesses' testimony and used it to shape this fact-or-fiction thriller. You might be wondering how I know this. It's because I copyedited the manuscript twice before it went to print, and again, recently, before it went to print again. You see, the author is my husband, and we have read each other's work since we met as struggling young writers at the Columbia School of Journalism in 1985!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of "Kaffir Boy" (which told of his growing up as a poor Black in South Africa) reflects on Ubuntu as a key concept from his childhood and how it could help solve the racial issues in the United States. (He came to the States to play college tennis, married a white woman, is a public speaker.) I agree that the concept is very good, something to strive for, but it doesn't address how one gains perspective, compassion, etc., if you don't have them. I continue to be impressed by the values of a communal culture.

[Tim O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story on post apartheid South Africa showing how verkrampte ideas did not die just because there was an election. This edition really needs to be re-edited as there are many pronoun and tense errors.