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The Lost Language of the Soul
A Novel by Mandla Langa
Joseph Mabaso , a young boy growing up in Zambia is the son of a South African freedom fighter and a Zambian mother. His father comes and goes on mysterious business but his mother is always there - a stern but comforting presence. When she disappears ,leaving him and his siblings alone, Joseph knows that something is terribly wrong.
Joseph sets off alone to find his mother enduring physical and emotional hardship . He encounters some wonderful guides who help him , teaching him courage and resilience along the way. Its a beautifully told story : the scenes of domestic life in Lusaka are so lively and real, the hardships of the road so vivid and the casual menace in Yeoville spring off the page.
I have to my shame never read any of Langa's work but I plan to remedy that . His biography is intriguing - one of 9 children , he studied at Fort Hare and completed his BA. In 1974, he became involved in the South African Student's Organization and was arrested in 1976. After serving his term in jail , he fled to Botswana and then became a nomad living in Lesotho, Angola, Mozambique ,Zambia, Hungary and the UK. He writes poetry, has penned an opera Milestones and has written numerous books including The Lost Colours of the Chameleon which won the 2009 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Best Book in Africa).
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