Africa: Through the Window

About the Book

This contains the personal experiences and eye witness accounts of the author while living and travelling through Africa. Most of the work emanates from the protests of the people of Namibia and South Africa against the apartheid brutality that was spearheaded by the South African regime. It documents the South African liberation movement including the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO). The release of Swapo political prisoners led by Toivo ya Toivo, followed by the world acclaimed Nobel Peace winning deed by South Africa’s FW De Klerk when he released Nelson Mandela from more than 27 years of imprisonment on Robben Island, Victor Verster and Pollsmoor prisons. The hope brought about by a free people of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa is put under a microscope, commenting on the aspects of the Freedom Charter and the African leadership in general. Robert Mugabe’s hatred for Blair and Bush is reflected in the poem that was written on the day Mugabe celebrated his birthday. Whoever wishes to know and understand the struggle for colonialism and apartheid in South Africa, and whoever wants to have an eye on Africa’s past, has got to look through the window that is found in the words and imagery found in this body of work. The collection addresses issues of love, Aids, hunger, hope, oppression and freedom.

About the Author

Mziwonke Qwesha was one of the struggle poets in South Africa. He published some of his works in the Staffrider during the anti-apartheid era. He is the winner of two poetry awards; the Unesco-sponsored Calabash Poetry Award in 1991 and the Express Yourself Poetry Award in 2007. He has travelled vastly in Africa before returning to South Africa in 1993. Most of his poetry appeared in the Swapo publication, Namibia Today and Abacus. The author has studied at the then University of Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University) and the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.