The Innocents: A Novel

by Tatamkhulu Afrika

Inspired by the author’s years as an activist in Apartheid-era Cape Town, The Innocents is a gripping account of how, in the myriad political battles of our recent past, an even greater number of private wars were lost or won.
Yusuf and three of his friends attempt to prove themselves worthy of the People’s Army by committing acts of sabotage against Cape Town’s wealthy citizens. Thandi, the bewitching niece of the People’s Army leader, accompanies them as an accomplice, and to report back on their achievements. As Yusuf struggles to reconcile his strong religious beliefs that condemn the murder of innocents and his group’s increasingly extreme political strategies, they are all drawn into a vortex of fear, heroism, disaster, and betrayal of lost innocence.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Tatamkhulu Afrika was born Mohamed Fu'ad Nasif in Egypt to an Egyptian father and a Turkish mother, and came to South Africa as a very young child. Both his parents died of flu, and he was fostered by family friends under the name John Charlton.

He fought in World War II in the North African Campaign and was captured at Tobruk, his experiences as a prisoner of war featuring prominently in his writing.

After World War 2 he left his foster family, and went to Namibia (then South-West Africa), where he was fostered by an Afrikaans family, taking his third legal name of Jozua Joubert.

In 1964 he converted to Islam and his name was again legally changed to Ismail Joubert. He lived in Cape Town's District 6, a mixed race inner-city community. District 6 was declared a "whites only" area in the 1960s and the community was destroyed. With an Arab father and a Turkish mother, Afrika could have been classified as a "white", but refused as a matter of principle.

He founded Al-Jihaad to oppose the destruction of District Six and apartheid in general, and when this affiliated with the African National Congress' armed wing. Umkhonto We Sizwe, he was given a praise name of Tatamkhulu Afrika, which he adopted until he died.

In 1987 he was arrested for terrorism and banned from speaking or writing in public for five years, although he continued writing under the name of Tatamkhulu Afrika.

He was imprisoned for 11 years in the same prison as Nelson Mandela, and was released in 1992.

Tatamkulu Afrika died shortly after his 82nd birthday, from injuries received when he was run over by a car two weeks before, just after the publication of his final novel, Bitter Eden. He left a number of unpublished works, including his autobiography, two novels, four short novels, two plays and poetry.

Reviews

[Loreley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fighting for a just cause does not make you a good person.
A fascinating tale of an unexplored side of fight against apartheid. Probably based on some of the experiences of Afrika himself, but I don't know enough of his biography to be sure.

[Rodeweeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting perspective on the Apartheid struggles, from the viewpoint of a Muslim. A man who are trying to be accepted as part of the struggle while many of his own people stood rather with the oppressors. At the same time he struggled internally with things he feel must be done but which are against the laws of his faith. I would like to see an updated edition (perhaps there is and I am unaware of it) in which "the God" would be rendered "Allah" - as it is it feels as if the author tried to make the book more acceptable for non-Muslims. On the other hand, I think this book are worthy of joining the ranks of the classics - the language is sophisticated and poetic.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot, expanded my former concepts of South African struggle, and experienced a Muslim allegiance to the Cause. A very interesting book.