Touch My Blood: The Early Years

by Fred Khumalo

Book by

Genres: Nonfiction, South Africa, Africa

196 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2011

About the author

Fred 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.

Reviews

[Wayne Jordaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that deepens our comprehension of the miracle that is the evolving South African story.

[Paballo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will give you a roller coaster of emotions. I’ve enjoyed it so much. I couldn’t put it down and managed to finish it in two days, that’s an achievement! Fred Khumalo is one of a kind!

[Moyo Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[M. R Phora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an autobiographical novel about the coming of age of youth living in apartheid South Africa. Fred Khumalo encountered many issues in a world that was systemically designed against black people. A world where courage and perseverance were prerequisite characteristics for survival. The book draws you into many subjects that affected blacks, from his grandfather being strip off his land, his father being a soccer fanatic (putting familial finance in jeapody), Fred being gang affiliated, being bewitched- twice, to him being a political activist and putting his life and career at danger. All this while, the book pulls the reader into an emotional Rollercoaster. At one moment you are reading a humorous chapter about him being a "Stingy Arab"(one who's sexually deprived), the next moment you are reading about the sad killing of youth, some of those were his own friends.

The book has a heavy commentary on political dynamics during Apartheid South Africa. Black dominated political parties such as Azapo, UDF, and Inkhata are testament to the adage: "divide and conquer." While black people were fighting amongst each other, "apartheid benefactors" were just watching comfortably in their suburbs. The infighting of black people led to anarchy and powerlessness of political parties that were supposed to save them from evils of apartheid. By the time the evil regime was brought to heel, many lives were lost, and youth was just beyond repair from the psychological pressures they endured.

Fred Khumalo is a literary genius, a scholar, and he has an encyclopedic knowledge of his generation. I praise him for the way he was able to write his own story whilst shedding a light on how backbreaking it was to live in apartheid regime. Nonetheless, one can only be appreciative of the things that made them who they are.