The award-winning memoir of a white boy growing up in Rhodesia as it went through a bloody transition to majority rule
Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa
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Book Description
Growing up in Rhodesia in the 1960s, Peter Godwin inhabited a magical and frightening world of leopard-hunting, lepers, witch doctors, snakes and forest fires. As an adolescent, a conscript caught in the middle of a vicioud civil war, and then as an adult who returned to Zimbabwe as a journalist to cover the bloody transition to majority rule, he discovered a land stalked by death and danger.
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Growing up in Rhodesia in the 1960s, Peter Godwin inhabited a magical and frightening world of leopard-hunting, lepers, witch doctors, snakes and forest fires. As an adolescent, a conscripted boy-soldier caught in the middle of a vicious civil war, and then as an adult who returned to Zimbabwe as a journalist to cover the bloody transition to majority black rule, he discovered a land stalked by death and danger. ‘The life of the white boys and girls in colonial Africa has vanished now, but this fine and powerful memoir is a marvellous contribution to its literature’ William Boyd, Sunday Times ‘His memoir of those terrible years is a vivdly scary adventure story, as well as a poignant portrait of a bitter moral dilemma…superb’ Graham Lord, Daily Telegraph ‘I have no hesitation in saying that Mr Godwin’s book is a classic’ Anthony Daniels, Sunday Telegraph ‘Remarkable’ Doris Lessing, Observer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 61 people found the following review helpful
By Philip Spires
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Peter Godwin certainly has a story to tell. It's a story of an idyllic, if unusual childhood, a disrupted but eventually immensely successful education, military service and then two careers, one in law, planned but aborted, and then one in journalism, discovered almost by default. Listed like this these elements might sound just a bit mundane, perhaps not the subject of memoir. When one adds, however, the location, Rhodesia becoming Zimbabwe, the result is a deeply moving, in places deeply sad, as well as quite disturbing account of a life lived thus far. Mukiwa, by the way, is Shona for white man.
The setting for Peter Godwin's early years was a middle class, professional and, crucially, liberal family living in eastern Rhodesia, close to the Mozambique border. I had relatives in that same area, near Umtali and Melsetter, and they used to do exactly what the Godwins did regularly which was to visit the Indian Ocean beaches near Beira. We used to get postcards from there every year, usually in the middle of our north of England winter. Envy wasn't the word...
Peter Godwin's mother was a doctor and this meant that his childhood was unusual in two respects. Not many youngsters in white households had liberal-minded parents and even fewer helped their mothers conduct post mortems. Unlike most mukiwa, Peter Godwin had black friends. He learned the local language and got to know the bush. He also grew up close to death and then lived alongside it during the years of the war of independence. He describes how the war simply took over everything and labels himself as a technician in its machinations. It's a telling phrase, admitting that he did not himself want to fight anyone.... Read more ›
The setting for Peter Godwin's early years was a middle class, professional and, crucially, liberal family living in eastern Rhodesia, close to the Mozambique border. I had relatives in that same area, near Umtali and Melsetter, and they used to do exactly what the Godwins did regularly which was to visit the Indian Ocean beaches near Beira. We used to get postcards from there every year, usually in the middle of our north of England winter. Envy wasn't the word...
Peter Godwin's mother was a doctor and this meant that his childhood was unusual in two respects. Not many youngsters in white households had liberal-minded parents and even fewer helped their mothers conduct post mortems. Unlike most mukiwa, Peter Godwin had black friends. He learned the local language and got to know the bush. He also grew up close to death and then lived alongside it during the years of the war of independence. He describes how the war simply took over everything and labels himself as a technician in its machinations. It's a telling phrase, admitting that he did not himself want to fight anyone.... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
An absolute delight...one minute you're crying, the next belly laughing. It was so enjoyable I rationed myself to reading only one chapter a day so it would last longer. I regard it as one of my all time favourites.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Frances
Format:Paperback
For me it was a trip down memory lane going to places from my childhood. But having spoken to many other people who are not from Africa and have read it , it is an interesting and imparitally told story, well written, and uplifting. I laughed and cried through the book - great great story telling
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having grown up in Zimbabwe at the same time as Peter writes about, I found this book entertaining, funny, depressing, sad, traumatic and disturbing all at the same time. He is a fabulous writer and all his books I have read so far are very compelling and beautifully written. I highly recommend this book and also his Crocodile Eats The Sun if you want to understand better the confusion and emotion that the White population of Zimbabwe went through. Of course there is a deep tragedy he describes from the Black Zimbabwe population, but his story and books are about how the white man struggled to both feel and be part of the country while also finding he was no longer welcome. I eagerly await his new book due out later this year
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By T. Williams
Format:Paperback
This is a triumph. Godwin's account of the beginnings of Rhodesia's move towards independence and its fruition in 1980 is a beautifully crafted, honest and at times terrifying read. I have never in my life finished a book and immediately turned back to page 1 and started all over again (although I did force myself to stop at page 18 when I realised what I was doing). Peter Godwin invites us to share the love he has for his family, friends and a country struggling to free itself from its colonial past. From childhood to adulthood Mukiwa charts the drastic changes of a country and its effect on the Godwin's. The companion piece, When A Crocodile Eats the Sun is even more profound. A work that lets us know more of the tragic situation in Zim. I wept.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
A fantastic book for everybody. It gave me an interresting insight into the colourful politics of the rhodesian war. Peter Godwin's experiences will change your views and open your mind. This charming story of his change from boy to man also dipicts a beutiful country that has since been shadowed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Julie Surycz
Format:Paperback
Wow. This book is amazing. I have spent the entire day reading and I couldn't put it down. It was absolutely gripping. I am South African and can remember and relate to the events Peter describes in his book. I hope that things will improve in Zimbabwe. I ache for the Zimbabwean people and their years and years of suffering.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am speechless. Peter Godwin's use of the language and his vivid descriptions of Africa are without equal.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mukiwa
A fabulous read taking me back to my childhood in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. A beautiful wonderful vision of this delightful country, a must read with superb atmosphere and visual pictures... Read more
Published 19 days ago by Mrs R Newey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mukiwa
This book was gripping and informative at the same time. It helped me understand somebody whose family went to Rhodesia and showed some of the characteristics of life at that... Read more
Published 1 month ago by anne ward
3.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible memory or partly lies?
I happened to read this as the last one out of Peter Godwins trilogy about Zimbabwe. Started with the 2nd one and then "The Fear" and lastly this one. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Giant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wukiwa
I had borrowed this book from the library, loved it so bought this copy for my son.
Very much appreciated.
Very much appreciated.
Published 5 months ago by Megan
5.0 out of 5 stars
moving account of living through independence
a moving account of growing up and living through the war years in Rhodesia. Told from a white persons perspective but with consideration for all the people of Rhodesia. Read more
Published 15 months ago by annemp
3.0 out of 5 stars
I feel sorry for Peter Godwin
Good book felt sorry for Peter and the fact that he was to afraid to tell the truth and would rather stay safe. What he said about Ian smith shocked me a bit. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Sense
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mukiwa. A Journey From Zimbabwe to Europe
Having just read and enjoyed Peter Godwin's second book of memoirs, When a Crocodile Eats the Sun, I wanted to re-read Mukiwa several years after reading it for the first time. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Clouds Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars
An outstanding tribute to times that have past and a country that is...
I have long been attracted to personal stories that come out of Africa, particularly of British people who built lives there and came to love the country, the African people and... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Alison McVey
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best Memoirs I Have Ever Read
What is it one looks for in a memoir? For me it is to see a life experienced seen through a different pair of eyes, so one feels one has almost actually that life. Read more
Published 23 months ago by F Henwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
One of the best books on Zimbabwe I have read. Godwin tells his story with remarkable ease and no bias. Highly recommended
Published on 2 Feb 2011 by Quick reviews!
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