House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-torn Zimbabwe (Christina Lamb)

Although a lot of books written about Zimbabwe may end up repeating the same story, Christina Lamb tells her story differently. In the past books would be about the black man and how much pain the white community had inflicted on them, then the white community started being under attack and the same stories were told but with the black community being the enemy. Today all Zimbabweans, black and white are victims of the power hungry government. Christina Lamb tells the story of Aqui (a black Zimbabwean) and of Nigel (a white Zimbabwean). In House of Stone you are presented with two sides of the same story.

If you don’t know much about Zimbabwe, this is a great place to start.

                                      

Watch a film about it:

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Alexander McCall Smith)

The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is the first of a series of very funny books written by the Rhodesian born (now Zimbabwe) Alexander McCall Smith.

The book is set in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana and describes the adventures of Mma Ramotswe, the only lady detective in Botswana. 

The narrator starts by telling us of how Precious Ramotswe grew up without her mother and how her father, who had become very ill through working in the mines in South Africa, looked after her. In a very light hearted way, McCall Smith describes the harsh conditions the miners had to suffer. The lady who looks after Precious after her mother had died is an aunt who had been “returned” to her family by her husband for not being able to bear children. The description of Precious Ramotswe’s early life gives a brief account of what life is like in the rural areas of Botswana and how the traditional extended family relations work.

We also learn about Note Mokoti, the jazz musician whom Precious married against her father’s advice and turned out to be a very big mistake. Note serves to explain why Precious Ramotswe is not married and is without children despite her belief in the traditional order of things. 

The rest of the book (and indeed the following books in this series) describes the cases Mma Ramotswe is asked to investigate, some serious bloodcurdling ones; such as the case of the missing boy who is suspected of having been used for traditional medicine and some funny and cheerful ones; such as Happy’s impostor daddy and the womaniser whose wife thinks innocent. Very sweet, upbeat books that tell us stories of an Africa no one writes about anymore, very far from the typical AIDS and poverty stories that have now come to symbolise the African continent! 

                     



Watch a video about Botswana:


                                                                                                                                                  

              

Watch a trailer:

     

Or explore on amazon:

                                                                      

and visit Alexander McCall Smith at: http://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/

The Fear (Peter Godwin)

Another great book by Peter Godwin. This time he tells us about the awful events surrounding the last "elections" and the subsequent GNU (Government of National Unity).

When I first started reading it I thought there was too much information about torture, it was almost "listed". But then I understood that he would be betraying those people who testified if he didn't mention them in the book... and there was no other way of escaping "sensationalism" other than these "listings". 

Apart from this, which never ceases to shock and sicken the reader from beginning to end (human cruelty really has no limits) he does not disappoint, his usual descriptions of Zimbabwe still make you feel nostalgic and in a sense hopeful even in these (more than) hard times. If you are going to read this: PREPARE YOUR STOMACHS and your hearts. I think this was the most difficult book I ever read!

Mukiwa - A white boy in Africa (Peter Godwin)

This is a beautiful story about growing up in Africa and the magic that exists there. In this book Peter Godwin tells his family’s story and the story of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia. Many of us who grew up in Zimbabwe do not have a “historical conscience”, certain things simply were not discussed as we were growing up, and our parents simply assumed that we knew what had happened before. It was great reading the book, reminiscing and putting the pieces together (not necessarily agreeing in all points).

The book can also be enjoyed by non Zimbabweans, the vocabulary and instances that might not be understood by a person who is not from Africa are all explained and the story is told in a funny easy to read way. Although there is war and death, it is a hopeful book.

When a Crocodile eats the Sun (Peter Godwin)

Peter Godwin continues his family’s history and Zimbabwe’s history in this tragic book. This time he describes the country in another transition, that of apparent normality (1996) to complete chaos (2004). Whereas in Mukiwa there was a feeling of hope, in this book it is just sadness and destruction. I sometimes had to force myself to continue reading and could not hold back the tears. It is not that I did not know what was going on in Zimbabwe, although I left in 2000, it is the feeling of helplessness, futility and powerlessness.

It is beautifully written and I would strongly recommend it to those who are interested in 20th century history, Africa or simply non-fiction.