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Child of This Soil: My Life As a Freedom Fighter
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About Child Of This Soil: My Life As A Freedom Fighter
LETLAPA MPHAHLELE, Apla Commander, is that rarest of creatures: a military man with a sensitive, seeking soul. In Child of this Soil, Mphahlele tells his story, giving us an insider’s view into the heart of the armed struggle. After a childhood marked by a questing, rebellious nature, the young Letlapa flees South Africa in search of his destiny. His exile will not end for many years, as he embarks on the turbulent, nomadic life of a guerrilla: swept from one end of Africa to the other, migrating from refugee camp to prison cell to High Command. Enduring rigorous training, political infighting, and the loneliness of a life led underground, the young cadre develops into a mature political thinker and effective commander. Letlapa Mphahlele gives the reader a unique combination of blow-by-blow action and thoughtful commentary. Emotional, quirky and analytical, Mphahlele bursts our notions of a battle-scarred guerrilla: he is a philosopher and a poet; above all, a man of principle. He does not shy away from tough moral issues, nor does he shirk responsibility for his own often controversial decisions. Child of this Soil is a lively read, full of adventure, and packed with affectionate anecdotes about struggle leaders, politicians, cadres and other vivid characters – brightened by Mphahlele’s delightful self-deprecating humour. At a time when political parties now represented in Parliament were outlawed, for many the armed struggle promised the only way forward. In this telling account, Mphahlele’s words remind us of the passion, risk and sustaining hope of those troubled years. “A touching account.” The Herald (Port Elizabeth)
