Great African Reads discussion

Welcome to our March contemporary literature discussion! This month we are featuring speculative fiction. The Heart of Redness by South African writer Zakes Mda is our poll winner. Zakes Mda is actually a pen name; his given name is Zanemvula Mda.

In 2011 Mda published a memoir, Sometimes there is a Void – Memoirs of an Outsider, which the New York Times reviewed in January. In it, the reviewer referred to The Heart of Redness as one of his best novels.

As for Mda himself, in another January review of his memoir, the reviewer notes that, "While many South African writers seemed to lose their footing after apartheid’s official demise, unable to adjust creatively to the collapse of old certitudes, Mda has flourished, discovering fresh stories." The Heart of Redness is one of those fresh stories.

His wikipedia entry provides this synopsis of The Heart of Redness: "The Heart of Redness, Mda's third novel, is inspired by the history of Nongqawuse, a Xhosa prophetess whose prophecies catalyzed the Cattle Killing of 1856-1857. Xhosa culture split between Believers and Unbelievers, adding to existing social strain, famine and social breakdown. It is believed that 20,000 people died of starvation during that time. In the novel, Mda continually shifts back and forth between the present day and the time of Nongqawuse to show the complex interplay between history and myth. He dramatizes the uncertain future of a culture whose troubled relationship with the colonizing force of Empire, as well as their own civil factions, threatens to extinguish their home of Qolorha-by-Sea. Mda's account of the Cattle Killing draws heavily on that of historian Jeff Peires in his book The Dead Will Arise (Mda acknowledges this at the outset of his novel). Like Peires, Mda identifies Mhlkaza, Nongqawuse's uncle and one of the key players in the event, with William Goliath, the first Xhosa person baptised in the Anglican church."

I don't know about you guys, but i feel like i'm treading into brand new territory with this book. To help me (and us) i'm planning to read an essay about The Heart of Redness in South African Literature after the Truth Commission: Mapping Loss. I may also peek at the Peires book.

Happy Reading!

Thanks for the background and the references - it helps a lot!

Mocha Girl wrote: "Thanks for the background and the references - it helps a lot!"

No problem! i think i'm definitely going to be doing some side research with this selection. i'm excited to get started! :)

Some more background references:
1. Noel Mostert's Frontiers: (but be warned: 1355 pages.) Check the Amazon reviews as well as those on GoodReads.
2. Dorothy Winifred Steele's MA thesis: INTERPRETING REDNESS: A LITERARY BIOGRAPHY OF ZAKES MDA
http://uir.unisa.ac.za/bitstream/hand...
3. I would have liked to have added John Matshikiza's play Prophets in the Black Sky which I saw, in the playwright's own production at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg in 1993 but it is, sadly, severely out of print. With luck, though, you might find a copy in a good library. And, unlike the first two works, just 35 pages.

Thanks so much, Manu!

Wow, thanks heaps for the background info, Marieke (and also Manu)!! Planning to get the book from the library this weekend.

I haven't started yet but I did drink some South African red wine last night! :)

I cannot find the book at a library near me! It is really strange, I know my local library had a copy but now it's not listed anymore and they haven't got it anymore (someone must have lost or stolen it), totally sucks. :(

Anybody got a link to an ebook version?? (not amazon, don't know how to convert kindle ones, got a Sony eReader)

Oh no!

I just started today and first I was not sure I was going to be able to get into it, but that feeling is going away very quickly.

Marieke wrote: "Oh no!

I just started today and first I was not sure I was going to be able to get into it, but that feeling is going away very quickly."

Yeah, totally sucks... :(

I hope to start the book in the next couple of days.

I'm really enjoying it Beverly...and learning a lot. I have been checking Wikipedia a bit and also I got the Peires book about the Cattle Killing. It's helping me to feel more comfortable with names, terms, and events.

I read Sometimes there is a Void – Memoirs of an Outsider last year. It was one of the best books I read all year. I am South African and found the early family history and his life in exile in Lesotho particularly interesting. I recently bought a copy of Heart of Redness and will see how far I can get with it this month.

That's great to hear, Carolien! I have his memoir from the library and have felt very excited to read it, especially after reading Binyavanga's memoir...the connection being that of writers discovering themselves as writers. Plus the history of the places from which they come.

It will be great to have you on board for Heart of Redness. :)

I read this last year for the Around the World tour. I'm not normally a fan of time-jumping narratives but this was definitely interesting and unique.

For ebooks, you could check Kobo, but they only have this book available in some countries.

Yeah, and they don't have it for Australia... :( But thanks Windy! :)

Muphy! Time to book a trip to South Africa!

Marieke wrote: "Muphy! Time to book a trip to South Africa!"

Haha, now that's an idea!! :D

Okay, reading about how much some of you are enjoying this, I'm going to jump in. Our university library has the book so I can get it quickly.

Andrea wrote: "Okay, reading about how much some of you are enjoying this, I'm going to jump in. Our university library has the book so I can get it quickly."


yay!

i had to set it aside for a couple of days because i have an e-book of Yes, Chef: A Memoir due today, which is great btw. but shortly i'll be returning to this and related readings. :)

windy wrote: "I read this last year for the Around the World tour. I'm not normally a fan of time-jumping narratives but this was definitely interesting and unique."

i'm so glad...i don't mind the time jumping, but initially i was worried i wouldn't like the "Believers" and "Unbelievers" thing...but those are the actual terms for the two groups of people and i've totally adjusted to it now.

I finished the book last night. I have read this author before and enjoyed his writing style.

Here are my thoughts on The Heart of Redness:
• First I needed to remind myself that this novel was published in 2002 and at that time this was a very forwarding novel and a way to present the political/cultural issues South Africa at the time the book was published
• Understand some of the historical background helps with the understanding of the book and the issues presented
• In some ways the book is very universal in its themes and presentation – especially for cultures/countries that were colonized and the native cultures were suppressed or not consulted with. And of course there is the age old question on what is progress and how the different definitions applies to different groups
• I would agree that the recurring flashbacks on the historical information at times got redundant and slowed down the plot.
• I would say while the author tried to present both sides of the issue I would say that he does take a stand and the reader will know which way he leans
• Did a good job of showing that most the issues even when you pick sides are not black and white but a lot of gray.
• It also showed that there was much manipulations going on both sides by those who wanted a certain outcome and the loser in both cases would be the common people
• I learned the history and culture of region I did not know much about except how it was presented in the US media
• The themes and issues were also pertinent to me as the US as been in a stalemate on a number of issues over the last couple of years and neither side does not want to give

great thoughts, beverly! i'm not quite done yet, but i think i'm having a very similar reaction. i have enjoyed the flashbacks, but as i get closer to the end, they do feel a little bit redundant.

this episode in South African/Xhosa history reminds me a little bit of the Ghost Dance Movement.

Professor Gail Fincham, Department of English, University of Cape Town reflects on the work of Zakes Mda and surveys five of his novels. Two lectures. Link at

http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Centre-f...

And if you'd like Tessa Dowling to do her best to teach you Xhosa in 45 minutes . . .

http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Centre-f...

Great fun. I was there.

And if you'd like Tessa Dowling to do her best to teach you Xhosa in 45 minutes . . .

http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Centre-f...

Great fun. I was there.

I read Heart of Redness earlier this year and enjoyed it. This afternoon I caught an extensive interview on radio with Zakes Mda on his book The Sculptors of Mapungubwe. It sounded absolutely fascinating. He used a combination of the archaeological findings on the site, plus stories and songs narrated by current tribal elders in the area plus artefacts (many of which were founds on other continents as spread by Arab traders in medieval times) to create the story set about 1000 years ago.

For those of you who don't know about Mapungubwe, here's a Wikipedia link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_...

Descendants from Mapungubwe would eventually end up building the Great Ruins of Zimbabwe. There is very little written about that era in Africa, although these people were producing incredibly beautiful gold jewellery. I'm definitely rushing out to buy this book.

Thanks for sharing this!

At the University of Cape Town Summer School, 30 and 31 January 2014. I plan to be there.

MAPUNGUBWE: ORIGINS AND FUTURE STATUS
Dr Shadreck Chirikure, Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town
Since its discovery in 1933, Mapungubwe has fired the imagination of academics and members of the South African public alike. One of the golden objects – the Mapungubwe golden rhino – is a famous South African icon. The discovery flowed from the large finds of gold that were recovered from the burials excavated on the hilltop.Evidence shows that the success of the people of Mapungubwe was achieved against a backdrop of an environment seemingly marginal for human occupation.
However, Mapungubwe even had connections with China, India and the Persian Gulf. This two-lecture course will explore the reasons for Mapungubwe’s rise. What was life like during the height of its power? Why did it collapse? What is the value of Mapungubwe today? The first lecture will focus on both the origins and the decline of Mapungubwe.
It will also discuss the major archaeological finds from the site and how these have been interpreted.The second lecture will consider the
place of Mapungubwe in modern South African society, and engage with issues related to the long term conservation of the site, including threats
emanating from increasing mining in the area .
LECTURE TITLES
1 . Unpacking Mapungubwe
2 . Mapungubwe in contemporary society

That looks tempting. Can you share a link where one can get more info on registration?

Try www.summerschool.uct.ac.za

I have a remote connection with my countryman Zakes Mda and the Heart of Redness.
My apologies for self-promotion.
At http://www.amazon.com/African-Histori...
you’ll find Arthur Anyaduba’s 160-page paperback “African Historical Novel: A Poetics: The Examples of Manu Herbstein's 'AMA' and Zakes Mda's 'The Heart of Redness' ”
That will set you back just $64.80. Librarians?

I have a remote connection with my countryman Zakes Mda and the Heart of Redness.
My apologies for self-promotion.
At http://www.amazon.com/African-Histori...
you’ll find Arthur Anyaduba’s 160-page paperback “African Historical Novel: A Poetics: The Examples of Manu Herbstein's 'AMA' and Zakes Mda's 'The Heart of Redness' ”
That will set you back just $64.80. Librarians?

Manu I hope you will return to this thread after attending the course and let us know your thoughts!

I found the thread and it looks like such a great idea. Lauren Beukes is lecturing as well. Very tempted to spend 3 days in Cape Town at the end of January...

Dammit, amazon doesn't have it for kindle.

Amazon.com does - here's the link. http://www.amazon.com/The-Sculptors-o...

Yep, but it tells me pricing information isn't available, so I can't actually buy it.

It's in Exclusive Books for R195 if that's your only option.