Kukuchi: Her Life and Times

By Sipho Ernest Mahlobo

Kukuchi is a spirited Black woman living with albinism, who navigates her way through a dysfunctional and oppressive environment where skin colour influences perceptions and opportunities. Kukuchi's resilience reflects the fighting spirit in all of us. The novel is a work of extraordinary scope and imagination, sometimes tense, shocking, entertaining, and inspiring. The author writes with a personal sense of belonging, engaging the audience through humour and sincerity. Donaldson Primary resonated with the angelic voices of its girls' choir, rehearsing O'Carolan's 'English Country Garden.'
African girls can't do javelin.

The Department dispatched an army of inspectors who fired both Mrs McLeod and her prot g .

Where is my Elvis?

Law is difficult. There is no time for 'little Mandelas', little Lillians' in the Law Faculty.

According to their policy, they did not recognize 'non-white' beauty contests.

When Olifant and I held each other close, the fresh scents from Donaldson's flowering shrubs rushed back and teased me. Once again, I could feel Mendi's arms wrapped around me, with wild eruptions of desire so powerful I let my defences fall.

She told her that the police found the girl's body in a shallow grave near a local stream under the branches of a willow tree.

In a remarkable display of originality, white sports organizations tried to convince the world that the South African government's sports policy had undergone significant change.

Chuene said, "Toby was pretty and lovable, but she could never discover herself or understand why her beauty, loveliness, and pretty smile had failed to get her anywhere, and why Kukuchi seemed to achieve everything."
Tina found her final resting place in her village of Bikita, among her loved ones and ancestors.

I see your whites-only sports bodies are now at work pretending to be good citizens...

"Do you believe in God, Mr Venter?"
"You know what my German mother used to say, Fat Girl? She always said, 'Whether you believe in God or not, he is still up there in the sky'."
"May the God who is up there in the sky bless you, Mr Venter "

Ignoring her request, the school explained that, according to police, they did not acknowledge 'non-white' beauty contests, and that hosting a mixed-race contest was illegal.

When Sobukwe said Africans wanted their land back, they called him a communist. How could Sobukwe be a communist?

On reaching the top, Kukuchi sets her wandering eye on the Drakensberg, and it feels as if she could easily touch the Devil's Tooth.

"This beautiful land you see on the far side of Moyeni and Maqabaqabeni was taken from the Africans by white settlers..."

I knew that the matriarch and patriarch had been living apart for a long time, with rumours about divorce swirling around even longer.

A warm feeling of delight washed over me. I watched Zenzi enter the voting booth, her enigmatic smile hiding her pain and secrets.

My father's child, you know that the court is a friend of the crafty.

________________________

Sipho Ernest Mahlobo was born in Estcourt, Natal. He holds Masters degrees in education and literature. His writings have gained recognition from the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was placed third out of 111 contestants in COSAW/Safm's "Soundscapes Radio Drama Competition." The French embassy also invited him to attend a seminar in Paris, facilitated by Denis Hirson. Mahlobo has written and directed two theatre productions: 'Sisters of Rockville' and a dance/poetry piece, 'Wrinkled Reflections.' He has authored several movie scripts, which he hopes will be produced when opportunities arise. His primary obsession is the return of his ancestors' land, stolen with impunity by Europeans.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0620793678
• ISBN13: 9780620793674
• Release Date: May 2019
• Publisher: South African National Library
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"