What do you think?
Rate this book
The Longest March
A hundred and twenty years ago, seven thousand Zulu mineworkers walked from the gold mines in Johannesburg to Natal, covering a distance of five hundred kilometres over ten days. This journey was their longest march.
It is 1899 and Philippa’s fiancé Nduku has just broken off their engagement. She is heartbroken – after all, she has followed him from Kimberley, where they first met, to the goldfields of Johannesburg.
In this bustling new city, tensions are mounting between the South African Republic and the gold-hungry British Empire. When war is declared, the mines are shut down and migrant workers ordered to leave town.
But how do you get home and out of harm’s way when there are no running trains and home is hundreds of kilometres away?
You walk.
Over perilous terrain – sleeping in the open, being attacked by wild animals and harassed by armed white farmers – Nduku and Philippa and seven thousand others walk.
Disguised as a mineworker’s wife, for Philippa is white, she and Nduku talk about their true histories, about their fears and hopes, with every footfall.
On their way to Natal, and on their long journey into their inner selves, the possibility of lasting happiness seems within reach – if only they can survive, and if only they can weather the storm of an unexpected third player in their troubled romance.
Set during an incredible event in South African history, Fred Khumalo’s new novel is a tale of heady determination, and a tribute to the perseverance and courage of ordinary men and women when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
It is 1899 and Philippa’s fiancé Nduku has just broken off their engagement. She is heartbroken – after all, she has followed him from Kimberley, where they first met, to the goldfields of Johannesburg.
In this bustling new city, tensions are mounting between the South African Republic and the gold-hungry British Empire. When war is declared, the mines are shut down and migrant workers ordered to leave town.
But how do you get home and out of harm’s way when there are no running trains and home is hundreds of kilometres away?
You walk.
Over perilous terrain – sleeping in the open, being attacked by wild animals and harassed by armed white farmers – Nduku and Philippa and seven thousand others walk.
Disguised as a mineworker’s wife, for Philippa is white, she and Nduku talk about their true histories, about their fears and hopes, with every footfall.
On their way to Natal, and on their long journey into their inner selves, the possibility of lasting happiness seems within reach – if only they can survive, and if only they can weather the storm of an unexpected third player in their troubled romance.
Set during an incredible event in South African history, Fred Khumalo’s new novel is a tale of heady determination, and a tribute to the perseverance and courage of ordinary men and women when faced with extraordinary circumstances.
264 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2019
About the author
Fred Khumalo
23 books71 followersFred Khumalo is the author of the novels Bitches’ Brew, which was a joint winner of the 2006 European Union Literary Award, and Seven Steps to Heaven. His memoir, Touch My Blood, was shortlisted for the Alan Paton Prize for Non-fiction in 2007, and his most recent book, #ZuptasMustFall and Other Rants, was published in 2016. His short fiction has appeared in various anthologies, literary journals and magazines. He holds a MA in Creative Writing from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he lives.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 20, 2020
Well, a lot can be said about this book and hence even though I read the book last month, I could not just write a review. There is a lot to assimilate from this wonderful work of historical fiction that deals with diverse themes such as love, betrayal, homosexuality, Christianity, leadership and trauma to mention just a few.
We are invited into the world of Nduku, Philippa and Xhawulengweni who are in a very strange love triangle. It is one that consist of two males and one female who had what I would call Colored privilege. Even though she was in love with a progressive Black man, she had trauma that was caused by her mom among other people. Philippa is a decent human who was so unfortunate to be involved with a man with both a colorful history and a very big secret, Nduku. The latter is also fighting childhood trauma that even drove him away from home, in the province of Natal. He was "fortunate" to meet the missionary people upon arrival in another province after fleeing home. I say fortunate in invented comma's as even though missionaries brought change in a form of education among others, they also were problematic in that they considered African way's barbaric. This is one part of the story Mbulazi tell really well.
The best part of book for me was a letter by Xhawu towards the end of the book, written for Nduku and Philippa. Through the letter, I got to experience the Catholic side of Fred Khumalo. I went back to the letter more than once and I also think the fact that no one really knows what happened to Xhawu is the reason I did.
Primarily, the book is about the March the Native's took from Johannesburg to Natal. However, it is also a march love and the boundaries it can take one to. For me, the story is finished but not complete and I think a sequel to this book is coming in the near future.
We are invited into the world of Nduku, Philippa and Xhawulengweni who are in a very strange love triangle. It is one that consist of two males and one female who had what I would call Colored privilege. Even though she was in love with a progressive Black man, she had trauma that was caused by her mom among other people. Philippa is a decent human who was so unfortunate to be involved with a man with both a colorful history and a very big secret, Nduku. The latter is also fighting childhood trauma that even drove him away from home, in the province of Natal. He was "fortunate" to meet the missionary people upon arrival in another province after fleeing home. I say fortunate in invented comma's as even though missionaries brought change in a form of education among others, they also were problematic in that they considered African way's barbaric. This is one part of the story Mbulazi tell really well.
The best part of book for me was a letter by Xhawu towards the end of the book, written for Nduku and Philippa. Through the letter, I got to experience the Catholic side of Fred Khumalo. I went back to the letter more than once and I also think the fact that no one really knows what happened to Xhawu is the reason I did.
Primarily, the book is about the March the Native's took from Johannesburg to Natal. However, it is also a march love and the boundaries it can take one to. For me, the story is finished but not complete and I think a sequel to this book is coming in the near future.
April 2, 2022
When the longest march took place back in 1899, obviously, our author was not yet born but hhheeeey what is in that book is rich history and armed with lots of lessons. When he first learned about this part of our history, he drove all the way from Johannesburg to KZN, with several stops in between, researching and taking pics. Walking in the route which was once walked by our forefathers hence we have this offering. About 7000 Zulu men and women led by izinduna with the help of a white man who was helping them to pass through areas where black people were not allowed to pass, traveled over 500 kilometers from Johannesburg to Zululand and Natal. Anglo-Boer War was looming, fighting over the ownership of our mines. For their safety, Zulu workers had to stay clear of this war and go back home. But there were no trains, no cars, no busses so they had to walk. Enroute, there were fires, wild animals etc... True life story.
But the author chose to have characters, changed the march to be of about life events of characters like Nduku, Philippa, and Xhawulengweni and other supporting characters. In the book these characters are part of the march, they tell stories of their backgrounds, how they ended up in the mines. Each has his own traumatizing past events. The story is narrated when a black man was a slave, when some blacks were turned into Christianity and when you were not converted, you were called barbaric.
There are a lot of themes covered by Khumalo in this offering from various Zulu traditions, wars, interracial relationships, homesexuality, and many more.
The book will take you through all different emotions. The author, although this march and many scenes in the book were intense, managed to throw humor that will leave you cracking with laughter. When Xhawulengweni (the one who shakes hands with a leapard) finally met his namesake, took a cup for me. I was not ready with the death of this character later in the book. I had fallen in love with him, pity he was not going to look at me even if I was there. The only thing that kept me paging through the book after his death, was what could have been written in those letters. His letter to the couple, washed my eyes with fresh tears. His love was too deep. That went straight into my fragile heart.
Even if you are not a lover of historical books, this will dig you out of that hole. Beautifully written and with so many life and history lessons to take with. The man has a thing with words. When I read other reviews, some said this was nothing compared to his previous book, Dancing the death drill. If that is true, then I am glad it's part of my list for this year.
Thanks Mtungwa, you are indeed a great storyteller. It was like I was in that march. I was part of those 7000 men, women and children. I was in that rock of Unkatha, I walked my own life through their experiences. And through it all, I learned that life needs those who are willing to swim against the tide. That march became our journey to life, as we keep on learning and rediscovering ourselves. We keep on darking and diving from weapons thrown at us as we walk, but we keep on marching forward. We fall and we get scared enroute but we never give up.
But the author chose to have characters, changed the march to be of about life events of characters like Nduku, Philippa, and Xhawulengweni and other supporting characters. In the book these characters are part of the march, they tell stories of their backgrounds, how they ended up in the mines. Each has his own traumatizing past events. The story is narrated when a black man was a slave, when some blacks were turned into Christianity and when you were not converted, you were called barbaric.
There are a lot of themes covered by Khumalo in this offering from various Zulu traditions, wars, interracial relationships, homesexuality, and many more.
The book will take you through all different emotions. The author, although this march and many scenes in the book were intense, managed to throw humor that will leave you cracking with laughter. When Xhawulengweni (the one who shakes hands with a leapard) finally met his namesake, took a cup for me. I was not ready with the death of this character later in the book. I had fallen in love with him, pity he was not going to look at me even if I was there. The only thing that kept me paging through the book after his death, was what could have been written in those letters. His letter to the couple, washed my eyes with fresh tears. His love was too deep. That went straight into my fragile heart.
Even if you are not a lover of historical books, this will dig you out of that hole. Beautifully written and with so many life and history lessons to take with. The man has a thing with words. When I read other reviews, some said this was nothing compared to his previous book, Dancing the death drill. If that is true, then I am glad it's part of my list for this year.
Thanks Mtungwa, you are indeed a great storyteller. It was like I was in that march. I was part of those 7000 men, women and children. I was in that rock of Unkatha, I walked my own life through their experiences. And through it all, I learned that life needs those who are willing to swim against the tide. That march became our journey to life, as we keep on learning and rediscovering ourselves. We keep on darking and diving from weapons thrown at us as we walk, but we keep on marching forward. We fall and we get scared enroute but we never give up.
March 14, 2020
This is definitely not as great as "dancing the death drill" but I really enjoyed it. I had hoped for more history, but there was more fiction. Besides this, there was a lot to like. The presentation of queer love in the late 1800's and the multiple facets of Zulu/black masculinity stood out to me. I also really like how showed the internal conflicts of Christianity vs African spirituality that many converts and some of us today.
I also learnt the meaning of -"Isinamuva liyabukwa" : the one who dances last captures the audience
I also learnt the meaning of -"Isinamuva liyabukwa" : the one who dances last captures the audience
November 16, 2019
A historical fiction with numerous interesting threads covering interracial relationships, homosexuality, tribal tensions, crime, christian missionaries and racism. It's a well chareographed novel that really is a long march for an interracial couple and not the actual 7000 people march. I found this a very refreshing read.
November 11, 2019
With the factual ten-day march in 1899 of seven thousand Zulu mineworkers from Johannesburg to their homes in Natal and Zululand for its background, this stirring story comes to us in Fred Khumalo’s distinctive voice. He has turned the epic journey into something intimate and personal with the story of a love triangle complicated by external forces such as the cultural and religious preferences and prejudices of the times.
After a thrilling start to the heroic march, emotions are high and physical danger real for the cast of wonderful, original characters, all observed with kindness and wit, with their back stories glimpsed in a series of interludes, furthering our understanding and liking. Everything is relevant, nothing extraneous, so that the novel is a tight, fast read.
It’s amazing.
After a thrilling start to the heroic march, emotions are high and physical danger real for the cast of wonderful, original characters, all observed with kindness and wit, with their back stories glimpsed in a series of interludes, furthering our understanding and liking. Everything is relevant, nothing extraneous, so that the novel is a tight, fast read.
It’s amazing.
March 31, 2020
Fred Khumalo is a great story teller. The Longest March is an historical novel with a twist. In this book, Fred writes a bit like a modern Sol Plaatje, taking liberties Sol either wouldn't have been aware of or wouldn't have taken the risk to expose. Whatever the case, I couldn't put it down. As a radio person (and Fred has also been one), I recognise the enormous potential The Longest March has for radio adaptation. Any takers out there?
May 9, 2022
A beautiful read!!
February 26, 2020
I just started reading and I like an author that hits the ground running. Fred is able to build character and give context without information overload. He's wit is charming in the midst of a horrible time for characters. As a reader, you will find yourself at times laughing in times of crisis. Fred's writing flows smoothly for your enjoyment. His use of language doesn't talk down to the reader too. It's no lecture! I thought it was a history book and avoided it over the festive season. Still enjoying every page I turn and it's quite a page-turner.
February 13, 2020
I was fascinated by this story of 7000 marchers. The author set the scene well and I could see and hear that turn of the century life. The romance between Nduku and Phillipa was a clever device to bring in the racial prejudices of the time. The ending of the book felt rushed after the great detail of the earlier chapters. The relationship between the lovers degenerated into mawkish sentimentality by the end of the book.
November 17, 2019
Beautiful, descriptive writing to tell the story of 7000 mineworkers walking from Johannesburg to KwaZulu Natal at the start of the South African war. The march was organised by the mines, led by a white native affairs commissioner and escorted by police, as the mines were closed or closing due to the war and the trains had stopped running, Posing as mineworkers to join the march was a group of thieves including Xhawulengweni, people who just wanted to get away from Johannesburg, and Philippa, a woman seen as white (would be officially coloured by still-to-come apartheid classification) who was living with mineworker Nduku. The relationships between Xhawulengweni, Philippa and Nduka unfold over the journey and the complexities between them lead to much of the action of the novel. I found the writing so visual, that I could already see the movie. Khumalo’s writing makes me feel the physical cruelty that some experienced at the hands of others, the dust, the exhaustion, the swollen feet and legs, and some of the kindness, love and beauty that was also experienced.
On some levels, the book is an allegory for modern times. The gang of thieves seemed to have started their existence with the intention of robbing the rich, but even before the march they found it was easier to rob the poor. Interracial and homosexual relationships create the same issues that they often do now and are discussed variously with prejudice, pragmatism and compassion.
For the writing, the history and the story, this is a must-read book.
On some levels, the book is an allegory for modern times. The gang of thieves seemed to have started their existence with the intention of robbing the rich, but even before the march they found it was easier to rob the poor. Interracial and homosexual relationships create the same issues that they often do now and are discussed variously with prejudice, pragmatism and compassion.
For the writing, the history and the story, this is a must-read book.
July 20, 2020
I think what I liked the most about this novel is that it showed that in history people (people groups, countries, etc.) go through 'marches' and often we focus on the actual march; the logistics, consequences, the impact and so forth. And that's all really interesting, but we forget that in real life history is often just 'playing in the background' of our personal lives. Khumalo really encapsulated that in this novel; there is the pain and burden of the actual march, but there is also the personal pain and burden that the characters have to deal with in their own personal march.
As an English (and History) teacher, when I read a book I always find myself contemplating if it would be a good book to study in high school, and I think this one would be excellent. It has the macro-micro perspective on a really interesting historical event. A lot of depth to the characters and a lot of social issues to explore (racism, tribalism, homosexuality, homophobia, crime) It also writes from a different character's perspective in each chapter (a personal favourite story-telling style).
Will definitely be reading another Khumalo book soon!
As an English (and History) teacher, when I read a book I always find myself contemplating if it would be a good book to study in high school, and I think this one would be excellent. It has the macro-micro perspective on a really interesting historical event. A lot of depth to the characters and a lot of social issues to explore (racism, tribalism, homosexuality, homophobia, crime) It also writes from a different character's perspective in each chapter (a personal favourite story-telling style).
Will definitely be reading another Khumalo book soon!
December 25, 2021
K
2021 alphabet of authors
Who are you and for what do you stand? Human beings are certainly not linear and one dimensional. This, for me, is the central issue of this well-penned novel by Fred Khumalo. Set against the backdrop of a little known historical event, this novel speaks of love, sacrifice and the obstacles one has to overcome to try to live authentically.
This book would translate well into film. Yes, please and thank you.
2021 alphabet of authors
Who are you and for what do you stand? Human beings are certainly not linear and one dimensional. This, for me, is the central issue of this well-penned novel by Fred Khumalo. Set against the backdrop of a little known historical event, this novel speaks of love, sacrifice and the obstacles one has to overcome to try to live authentically.
This book would translate well into film. Yes, please and thank you.
December 6, 2019
I was hoping for more history around this incredible event rather than the fictionalised story that it is. I also found the actual narrative hard to believe given the time-period and characters involved. Still it was an interesting read.
March 24, 2023
What an unsuspecting love story this book turned out to be. Totally nothing I was expecting especially love shared between black men who aren’t from this modern era. This story/book is a historical fiction during the time where almost everything was taboo. So for two black men sharing that kind of love was quite brave. And not only love shared between two black men but also love shared between a white and a black man….
Fred Khumalo did good here. The research used for this story was very interesting and helpful. He (Mr Khumalo) used this book to tell a story about a past unfamiliar to me and that I appreciated.
Fred Khumalo did good here. The research used for this story was very interesting and helpful. He (Mr Khumalo) used this book to tell a story about a past unfamiliar to me and that I appreciated.
February 17, 2025
I picked this up in an airport in South Africa. I read the entire thing on the plane, extremely sleepy, before I realized why I didn’t like it. I closed the book, saw the authors name, and realized that a man had written it. This wouldn’t be an issue, except for how pitifully he developed his female characters and how openly he disparaged all traditionally feminine personality traits (in both men and women) throughout the book. I give this one star only because I learned quite a bit about the Boer War(s).
February 22, 2020
An absolute gem of a book! Kept me captivated from the very beginning until the bitter sweet end. To think that such a deep rooted love story unravels within the backdrop of the historical march of the 7000 black miners is so special. This book also hits home when dealing with race and the issue of identity crisis of mixed race persons. I love how delicately he touches on the love story between the two men. A must read!
April 24, 2022
An absolute gem of a book! Kept me captivated from the very beginning until the bitter sweet end. To think that such a deep rooted love story unravels within the backdrop of the historical march of the 7000 black miners is so special. This book also hits home when dealing with race and the issue of identity crisis of mixed race persons. I love how delicately he touches on the love story between the two men. A must read!
March 23, 2022
1st time reading Fred Khumalo. Will definitely be looking up some of his other works. Seemingly written as a fiction based on the original historical book '1899 The Long March Home_ a little unknown incident of the Anglo Boer War" by Elsabe Brink
April 7, 2020
I am a sucker for historical fiction and uncle Fred is definitely a genius in the genre.
A bright 5 stars to this complex love story.
A bright 5 stars to this complex love story.
May 13, 2020
Brilliant!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews