For someone who didn't know much about the struggle against apartheid in South Africa beyond the headlines, this book brought me right into the thick of it through the eyes of one who lived and fought in it: Khulu Radebe. Jeff Kelly Lowenstein is to be commended for assisting Radebe in bringing his life story to the world. (After reading this quick and lively book, you will realize what a tragedy it would have been if Radebe's story had not been preserved for posterity.)
Khulu Radebe was born with a prophecy he would become a king. It would be a long and arduous road, however, that Radebe had to travel to fulfill this foretelling. And it is this story that is at the heart of the book. The authors begin by immersing you in the world of Alexandra Township where Radebe was largely raised. It is a world of mixed ethnicities, close-knit families and friends, violent gangs named after old Hollywood westerns, and deputized vigilantes (the peri-urban police). It's also the environment where Radebe spent time learning karate, becoming an expert drummer, and witnessing the injustice and violence of the apartheid regime.
It is Radebe's fight against the racist apartheid regime that ultimately leads to his arrest and imprisonment on Robben Island, with the likes of Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters. Despite the horrors of prison, Radebe maintains a sense of dignity and humor which is evident throughout the book and, which one senses, allows him to prevail in the end. Radebe's story is peppered - and leavened! -with humorous vignettes. One that stands out is Radebe discussing Marxism with his fellow prisoners while they are playing the board game Monopoly.
The story continues with Radebe's release from prison, return to Alexandra, torturous military training with the ANC in Angola, and his ultimate return to South Africa with the fall of apartheid. Radebe's story is not only enthralling on a personal level. It gave me more knowledge and insight into South Africa and the fight against apartheid than a lifetime of newspaper reading ever did. Please do yourself a favor and read this book! And thank you to the authors for gifting us this wonderful story.
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