Mukiwa: A White Boy in AfricaMukiwa opens with Peter Godwin, six years old, describing the murder of his neighbor by African guerillas, in 1964, pre-war Rhodesia. Godwin's parents are liberal whites, his mother a governement-employed doctor, his father an engineer. Through his innocent, young eyes, the story of the beginning of the end of white rule in Africa unfolds. The memoir follows Godwin's personal journey from the eve of war in Rhodesia to his experience fighting in the civil war that he detests to his adventures as a journalist in the new state of Zimbabwe, covering the bloody return to Black rule. With each transition Godwin's voice develops, from that of a boy to a young man to an adult returning to his homeland. This tale of the savage struggle between blacks and whites as the British Colonial period comes to an end is set against the vividly painted background of the myserious world of South Africa. |
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African arms army arrived asked began body called camp carried close continued crocodiles dark dead death didn’t dogs door drove eyes face father felt finally fire followed front gave gone guerrillas hand happened head hill inside killed knew Land later leave letter lived looked minutes morning mother moved never night once parents play police pulled radio remember returned Rhodesia rifle road round seemed seen Shona side sitting soldiers sometimes soon started stayed stopped sure talk tell things thought told took tree tried trucks trying turned usually verandah waiting walked wall weeks whole window young