Krismis van Map Jacobs

by Adam Small

Na sewe jaar word 'n gevreesde bendeleier 'Map' Jacobs op parool vrygelaat en op almal se lippe ontstaan die vraag: het 'Map' verander, of is hy steeds die ou 'Map'? Die drama speel af na die gedwonge verskuiwings vanuit die Kaap na die Vlaktes en belig ook die invloed wat sosiale en maatskaplike euwels op die gemeenskap het. Dit gee ons 'n blik op die leefwyse van die ontworteldes, hul lief en leed en sommige se desperate hunkering na 'n beter bestaan.

Genres: School

142 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2008

About the author

Adam Small (1936 - 2016) was a South African writer who was involved in the Black Consciousness Movement and other activism. He was noted as a Coloured writer who wrote works in Afrikaans that dealt with racial discrimination and satirized the political situation. Some collections include English poems, and he translated the Afrikaans poet N.P. van Wyk Louw into English.

Small was awarded the Hertzog Prize in 2012 for his contribution to the drama genre. Although the award was well received for being long overdue, some controversy arose because the Academy, in making the award, broke one of their own rules stating that the prize can only be awarded to a writer who has published new and substantial work in a specific genre during the previous three years. Small's last play was published in 1983. One of his famous poems is called "Doemanie."

After decades spent out of the public eye, Small, on 14 September 2013, received a hero's welcome at the Breytenbach Centre in Wellington, where he was guest of honour at the centre's Poet Festival. He read a selection of poems from his latest anthology Klawerjas. In 2015 a new drama, Maria, Moeder van God, was broadcast on Radio Sonder Grense's yearly art festival programme.

Reviews

[Jenna Marx · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have a clear memory from afrikaans class where we were doing unprepared readings from this book and we were all so excited to be able to swear in class without getting in trouble

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moes vir skool lees

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"krismis van Map Jacobs' is a very inspiring book. Map wasnt always a gangster,its because there was no money to study further after he matriculated. he was the leader of three gangs. Gapie Martin was second in command of the gangs. Map is a strong leader with knowledge, but because Gappie called him "Chief' he gave way and allowed his men to rape the two women. It wasnt his intenion for his gang to rape the women. They were only ther for oney and nothing else. Map turned himself in and asked Ivan Philander to take his mommy to hospital. Map wa sentenced to twelve years but only got seven. In that when he was in prison he gave his heart over to the Lord and asked for forgiveness. He convinced his Mommy that he changed here in prison and that he gave his heart over to the Lord Jesus. After seven years of not speaking to anyone in he neighbourhood his Mommy finally forgave him

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting, suspenseful, and emotional book. It gives a raw case of Cape Town district six. And it gives a clear description of what is happening on Cape Flats in Kaapse dialek.

We hear of stories, we read it on the news. When reading this book, the author illustrates to the reader the emotional struggle that goes along with such violent crimes. Most times we know these things are happening but we aren't aware of the aftermath and in this book it is clearly displayed.

[Rooi Hanswors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een van die baie min boeke waarvan ek gehou het op skool. Dit was refreshing om iets te lees wat nie handel oor mal koppe wie se broers sterf of n vrou wat konstant draf en wraak wil neem oor haar verlede nie. Die boek se boodskap het nogal n impak gehad en is iets wat ek saam dra: liefde is n rede om te verander. Die handelinge in die boek is nogal swaar maar ek dink dit weerspieel die nare waarheid.

[Carina · Rating 3 out of 5]

*gelees vir skool

[Sue-ann Block]

A great story about life in the district six,a true story of south african Capetonians making ends meating,striving for a better life,however every dream has it challenge. A society ruled by fears,desires,dreams and reality of life in Apartheid days. A prisoner(Map Jacobs) telling his story and how he is a changed man. If you want to know more about the ways,cultures and life of previously disadvantaged cape coloureds,I recommend you read this lovely book.

Krismis van Map Jacobs written by Adam Small

[Sasha-Leigh Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accurate representation of the Coloured community during Apartheid and the struggle that they went through. Being forced to move from their homes to live in the Cape Flats;poverty;gangsterism,etc. The heartbreaking part is what happened to Map's sister and mother,thus, what happened to her is the reason she no longer talks and why Map is in prison. I loved that in the ending when something tragic happened,some good came out of it( forgiveness).

[Wilmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible. Very depressing.

[Natasha]

im starting today with the book