When the Village Sleeps

Author: Sindiwe Magona 
Publisher: Picador Africa 
Reviewer: Hazel Makuzeni 
The novel tells the story of four generations of women. Khulu (the matriarch), like glue binding her two daughters; Phyllis (the eldest) and Lily and, also her granddaughter Busisiwe.  
Their lives play out in Kwanele, an informal settlement in the township of Khayelitsha, just outside the City of Cape Town. And Sidwadweni: the home village of Khulu in the Eastern Cape. Like most townships in South Africa, Kwanele is rife with despair, poor service delivery, crime, unemployment and poverty. When the village sleeps follows Busisiwe, abandoned at an early age by an absent father and having an uncaring and reckless mother in Phyllis (a.k.a Missing at Night as a result of her habit of getting lost at night, unable to find her way home after a 
spree of alcohol consuming). Busisiwe’s life's an uphill battle in Kwanele. Her mother has no place of her own. She, Phyllis plus two younger brothers live in Aunt Lily’s backyard. 
Busisiwe struggles for everything; for money, clothes, good sound advice, love and acceptance. More so as she attends an elegant Model C school in town (paid for by Khulu’s former employer, Mrs Bird) while living in poverty stricken Kwanele. A series of events leads the teen to make dire decisions. 
Once I started reading the novel, I couldn’t put it down. It doesn’t feel or read like a 
fictional story. At its core; it’s really based on reality, our country’s reality. The 
characters are the many faces you'll find in Khayelitsha where I grew up and still 
live. MaSindiwe Magona is truly a living legend that we should immensely treasure. 
She gives a true account of township and rural life. She’s not afraid to tread on 
taboo topics facing our nation - such as: government corruption, teen pregnancy, the 
child grant; foetal alcohol syndrome and the brutal killings of old women in rural 
areas. 
Even though the book is heartbreaking at times; Khulu (the anchor of the family) is 
the voice of reason bridging the gap between the old and new ways of living, offering wisdom, healing, hope and utmost respect for Mother Nature.
The novel is interwoven with the spiritual world - the world of the ancestors. They 
speak throughout the book in poetry; offering guidance and predictions. 
PS Mandlakazi, Busisiwe’s courageous daughter, is one character in the book that 
will stay in my heart for a long time. She’s truly a blessing in disguise. 
DR Sindiwe Magona is an author, storyteller, motivational speaker, poet, playwright 
and actor. 
ENDS

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