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by Musa Nxumalo (Author)
This book offers you a uniquely South African love story that has a global trajectory. It traverses the personal, the professional, and the political terrain. Geographically, the protagonists Motho Fela and Kholofelo are strongly rooted in the mining towns of the Witwatersrand and villages of Limpopo. As their relationship and professional lives evolve over decades so expands their world view and their inter-continental, intellectual and activist engagement in global issues, especially on land; the geo-politics around the question of water and the environment. Motho Fela, over the years, becomes the cross-pollinating Afrikologist, modelling the leadership approach that Nxumalo advocates in his capacity as a coach.Nxumalo offers his readers a fable that covers a broad span of topics that will provoke you to reflect on.Identity: Who are you? Where are you coming from? Who are the ancestors that shaped you and walk with you into your future as part of your unseen entourage?Race: Motho Fela's unlearning and new learning, as he first makes judgements of black culture using his white frame of reference and then reconsiders his mistaken assessments. Kholofelo is irritated by the non-compliments she receives that use skin colour descriptors that are food related - chocolate. There's a consistent weave into the story of deep issues sometimes lightly told. One of the strengths of Musa's book is that it is never heavy, preachy or judgmental - the storyline is always there to make you think whilst maintaining the pace of the narrative.Gender. You will eventually meet overt feminist, Nandi Sibiya, who speaks her truth and puts her fellow delegates on the line. Nandi has the wonderful quality of being strong whilst maintaining her warmth. Musa here once again skilfully weaves in some of his personal leadership lessons. Corruption: From the descriptions of continuing poverty of mining communities to navigating through tender procedures and observation of malpractice - Musa Nxumalo is unsparing in revealing to readers the sorry-side of South Africa. One moment he describes the ostentatious branded accessories that seem to be part of the outfit of being involved in tenderpreneurship. And then he offers poignancy- when tenderpreneurs are called to account: what does this mean at a very personal domestic level? We witness the pain of a young boy, the friend of Motho Fela's son who's psychologically scarred having witnessed his father's arrest on charges of corruption.Leadership Strategy: The young Motho Fela is instrumental in approaching conflict resolution through inclusivity and collaboration. This is a golden thread throughout the 20-year-time line, culminating in the story of an international education programme for environmental activists and public servants.
