Black Diamond

by Zakes Mda

Kristin Uys is a tough Roodepoort magistrate who lives alone with her cat. She is on a one-woman crusade to wipe out prostitution in the town for reasons that have personal significance for her. Although she is unable to convict the Visagie Brothers, Stevo and Shortie, on charges of running a brothel, she manages to nail Stevo for contempt of court and gives him a summary six-month sentence.

From Diepkloof Prison, the outraged Stevo orchestrates his revenge against the magistrate, aided and abetted by his rather inept brother Shortie and his erstwhile nanny, Aunt Magda, who believes mass action will force the powers that be to release Stevo.

Kristin receives menacing phone calls and her home is invaded and vandalised. Even her cat is threatened. The chief magistrate insists on assigning a bodyguard to protect her. To Kristin’s consternation, security guard Don Mateza moves into her home and trails her everywhere. Nor does this suit Don’s long-time girlfriend Tumi, former model and successful businesswoman, who is intent on turning Don into a Black Diamond sooner rather than later. And Don soon finds that his new assignment has unexpected complications which Tumi simply does not understand.

In Black Diamond, Zakes Mda tackles every conceivable South African stereotype, skilfully (and with the lightest touch) turning them upside down and exposing their ironies, often hilariously. This is a clever, quirky novel that captures the essence of contemporary life in Gauteng and will resonate with all South Africans.

Genres: Fiction, Africa, Novels, South Africa, Humor, Crime, 21st Century

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Zakes Mda is the pen name of Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda, a novelist, poet and playwright.

Although he spent his early childhood in Soweto (where he knew political figures such as Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela) he had to finish his education in Lesotho where his father went into exile since 1963. This change of setting also meant a change of language for Mda: from isiXhosa to Sesotho. Consequently Mda preferred to write his first plays in English.

His first play, We Shall Sing for the Fatherland, won the first Amstel Playwright of the Year Award in 1978, a feat he repeated the following year. He worked as a bank clerk, a teacher and in marketing before the publication of We Shall Sing for the Fatherland and Other Plays in 1980 enabled him to be admitted to the Ohio University for a three-year Master's degree in theatre. He completed a Masters Degree in Theatre at Ohio University, after which he obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Mass Communication. By 1984 his plays were performed in the USSR, the USA, and Scotland as well as in various parts of southern Africa.

Mda then returned to Lesotho, first working with the Lesotho National Broadcasting Corporation Television Project and then as a lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Lesotho. Between 1985 and 1992 he was director of the Theatre-For-Development Project at the university and founded the Marotholi Travelling Theatre. Together with his students he travelled to villages in remote mountain regions working with local people in creating theatre around their everyday concerns. This work of writing theatre "from the inside" was the theme of his doctoral thesis, the Ph.D degree being conferred on him by the University of Cape Town in 1989.

In the early nineties Mda spent much of his time overseas, he was writer-in-residence at the University of Durham (1991), research fellow at Yale University. He returned for one year to South Africa as Visiting Professor at the School of Dramatic Art at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is presently Professor of Creative Writing at Ohio University.

Reviews

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern day South Africa is bought to life in this breezy satire. People with connections make a lot of money and leverage off the government's Black Economic Empowerment policy. The dream of many is to become rich - a Black Diamond.
The book covers the lingering smell of apartheid, small-time gangsters, big-time corrupt business, the reaction to a mixed race relationship, and how ex-freedom fighters find they are on the scrape heap and have gained little from all of their sacrifices.
The plot was entertaining but the characters were a bit wooden.

[Benedict Siyotula · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is such a true reflection of the South Africa I know. The political freedoms we live in in South Africa have allowed certain expectations from the people who fought for this freedom. The title black diamond is so unique to RSA too. I like that each of the characters are so real, my only issue is how brief the book is...I wonder about the comrade who changed, sounds like Tokyo Sexwale...

[Taryn Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel, very interesting perspective of the BEE dynamics in the South African economic sphere, mixed with intrigue, sex, law breaking and lust. Makes for one hell of an exciting read

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. A breezy detective story and page turner. Unfortunately I presume it was only published in South Africa. ALthough published by Penguin books I could not find it on Goodreads and had to add it manually. But what sets this book apart is instead of trying to examine all the social ills of the S.A. society it concentrates on a farcical and humorous look and telling a good story. It is in the vein of a Walter Mosley type story. ANd having read it here in S.A. I can vouch for its observations of a middle and upper class segment of the country that rarely gets mentioned in world press. I can vouch for Zakes observation that BMW's and Mercedes Benz are more common than dirt here. I hope the publisher does decide to release this book as they have many other of Mda's books in the U.S. so that others can enjoy this wonderful, movie ready, tale.

[Kojo Baffoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Diamond is an easy and quick read but gives a great snapshot of the delicate minefield that living in contemporary South Africa can be taking into consideration the country's history. As a novel, the story is engaging but also informative in the way Mda puts certain things into context, explaining that history - for example, the difference between those who were in the bush fighting as part of Umkhonto versus those who were involved in the administration and political development of the ANC when they all returned to South Africa.

[Unarine Ramaru · Rating 3 out of 5]

A movie ready script. It came highly recommended and I understand why. Definitely a page turner, charged with little facts of apartheid South Africa and commentary on how different characters are negotiating with the new South Africa. The voice, Mda use to narrate the story is relatable and makes for a realistic story
The characters however lacked depth, predictable as it went on.

I am excited to have read my first Zakes Mda, I will soon stan and pick up more of his work but the rushed and theatric ending is the reason for my low rating of 3/5.

[Yolanda Mtshali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot praise this book enough. I enjoyed this book so much. I found myself not being able to put it down from the moment I started reading it.

'Black Diamond' is definitely one of the books that you will always remember. Zakes Mda never seems to amaze me, his authentic use of language is inspiring, completely reminiscent of the current South Africa. You pick up his books and somehow you feel like you are thrown into the multicultural and multilingual South African universe. He does well in bouncing between different languages, from English to IsiZulu to Afrikaans and once in a while a bit of Spanish, Portuguese and French, it is so fascinating.

In 'Black Diamond' we follow the sexy, tall, dark and handsome Don Mateza. 'OOooooooh child', the way Mda describes this character will make your insides water shame. I sat and day dreamed about Don Mateza *Giggles*.

It is a great book get it. There is romance, a little bit of drama and some thrills. It is also great that a South African author is capable of producing something so magnificent. It is beautiful. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something different. If you are looking to delve into what South Africa looks like and what you might encounter.

[Lisa Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Zakes Mda tackles every conceivable South African stereotype, skilfully turning them upside down and exposing their ironies, often hilariously”

Clever, funny and such a good reflection of contemporary South Africa. The ending was a bit sloppy and disappointing though!

[Maniki_021 · Rating 3 out of 5]

uses sharp satire to explore post-apartheid ambition, corruption, and the social dynamics of the “new elite.”

The story follows Don Mateza, a former political activist turned private investigator, who’s hired to protect a high-profile judge from a dangerous ex-convict. But the real drama is in his personal life especially his relationship with his glamorous but materialistic fiancée, Tumi.

The title “black diamond” refers to the term used in South Africa for newly wealthy Black professionals in the post-apartheid era, and the book examines how the pursuit of status, money, and luxury can clash with morality and personal integrity.

It’s witty, fast-paced, although I didn’t like how predictable and rushed it felt, I really enjoyed the plot. It could’ve used more development because there was no real twist in stories like this, it’s usually a death or an arrest, and that’s where Zakes should’ve hit us with a big shock. Still, it was definitely a page-turner and highly entertaining. Would I read another Zakes Mda book? Absolutely

[Kevin Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I didn't enjoy is the predictability of this storyline............It would make a great Netflix Africa series.

[Tumelo Moleleki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end kind of feels rushed and shortened. This was a quick read since I usually take my time to contemplate the story.

I found the plot entertaining but I did not like the crude language. The story was packed with a fair amount of side stories and some history bits. I liked that Tumi came out as a strong person although I felt she emasculated Don with her ways of treating him like a kept man. as a man I felt Don was weak, moderately ambitious and a skirt chasing scoundrel who did not deserve the love and devotion of such a smart and strong woman.

The magistrate annoyed me to no end but her love of cats redeemed her somewhat in my eyes and Tumi's hatred of the cat made me unsympathetic to her plight when it seemed Don chose his cat over her. The whole business of black people hating and being afraid of cats is so tired and old, I am so over it!

Picked up some new vocab which is always fab.

[Marit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally written as a movie script - and you can tell. The narrative is not as complex and intricate as in Mda's other books. It also makes "Black Diamond", in my mind, a bit more shallow and the characters certainly lack depth. Nevertheless, the book offers an interesting and entertaining depiciton of contemporary life in Johannesburg and remains very true to life.

[Leana Uys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the characters Mda creates. They are believable without being stereotypical. This is not only the story of an unexpected relationship, but also a social history of South Africa at this time in history.

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Mateza works for a security company in Johannesburg, and his ambitious girlfriend Tumi, who runs a modelling agency, is grooming him to become a "Black Diamond", one of the nouveau riche of the new South Africa. Don is asked to be the bodyguard of an uptight white female magistrate, who has been threatened by a petty criminal she has sentenced to prison, and there is the hope of promotion is he does the job well. This does not satisfy Tumi, however, who thinks it demeaning, and Don has to spend too much time away from her. The magistrate, Kristin, did not ask for protection, and sees having a bodyguard as a sign of weakness.

In this scenario Zakes Mda weaves a plot of shifting loyalties and the conflicting values that characterise the "new" South Africa, though it was already ten years old in the time the story is set, and is another fifteen years older now.

I had only recently finished reading Mda's memoir Sometimes there is a Void and so was aware that a lot of the book is based on his own real-life experiences. It is social satire, and the story is rather sad, but Mda also sees the funny side of it.

It also seemed to complement another book I had recently read, Darkness Suspended, though the tone in that one is much more serious, and lacks Mda's humour. More on that on my blog here Black Diamond: yuppie life in the new South Africa | Khanya

I give it five stars, but perhaps that is because it is set close to home, and if I were living on another continent I might have given it fewer. Though I don't move in the kind of social circles described in the book, it sounds pretty authentic to me.

[Rhiannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know. This is a very readable, fast-paced book, but it's full of things that bothered me. Strange sentences that don't quite work ("One thing wonderful about this dish...", "What's the fuck with you" and more), casual homophobia, and the constant question of how old the characters were supposed to be (old enough to have been adults under apartheid, but young enough to be worried about birth control at the time of the book?), really really tired gender stereotypes, cats that don't behave like any cats I've ever met...
I really enjoyed reading a book set in modern Johannesburg, and some of the weirdness was arguably just adding a South African flavour (the homophobia, the use of "must" instead of "should"), but the plot was silly and there is no depth to any of the characters. I enjoyed it more when I started reading it as a screenplay (apparently it was originally intended to be a script) along the lines of Aberystwyth Mon Amour or The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency rather than as a novel. Maybe a 2.5.

[Khanya Cakata · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mda is revered the world over for his decades of work in the literary and political spheres. I am sure all these plaudits are well deserved. This novel was , and remains, my only contact with the great writer.
Set in contemporary South Africa it seeks to paint the intrigue of a Johannesburg-based magistrate. Her crusade is to end prostitution on the streets. It involves criminal brothers and the eventual inclusion of a body guard, whose girlfriend is on a mission to convert into a “Black Diamond”, the now derogatory term for the new black upper middle class.
I am bored just recounting these details of this book. Mda may be a world-renowned write but this novel falls flat on its face. It is uncompelling and forgettable. Maybe it was not written for South Africans, I can vaguely picture someone who has no clue of how life actually is in South Africa picking this up and enjoying it. It did nothing for me.

[BrotherGodfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this is a fun and proudly South African novel.

Did not really care for the plot itself, a few tropes and very predictable, but what I really appreciated was that the plot was used primarily as a narrative for the setting of post-apartheid contemporary South Africa. Its always satisfying to have your lived experience reflected in a work of fiction, speaking as someone who lives and grew up in Soweto. Almost a love letter to Johannesburg dear I say.

Zakes Mda has a honest and accurate understanding of Post-apartheid South Africa as depicted in its politics, cultural and social settings through the characters interactions and dialogue.

[Amanda Nyanhongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know the anticipatory feeling when you’re in a plane and the plane is about to take off? Imagine that feeling but what happens is, the plane never actually takes off. Frustrating.

This is how it mostly felt when reading the book. The storyline has so much potential but it just falls so desperately short. There’s very little done to build up things; the plot takes continuous, dramatic and unexpected turns. This is especially towards the end. The ending felt so rushed, so much is happening and nothing is fleshed out.

The language is good, that was a huge redeeming quality for the book. But overall it wasn’t a very great read for me.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel left me with very mixed feelings. I am a sucker for "and they lived happily ever after" and there was none of that in this story. Tumi appeared to love Don the project and not Don the man. The only person in the book who appears to grow in any way is Kristen. Perhaps the story is indicative of life in South Africa, but I would like to believe that there is beauty in South Africa, and none of that is evidenced in this novel.

[Nancy Mcdaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot although not nearly as well as Mda's earlier novels. For some reason, the rural culture and people settings of he other books were more interesting to me and moved me more. But this was a very interesting story and peek into the more contemporary story of urban South Africa, I am glad I read it.

[Michelle Khusu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read a lot of South African books, especially since I am huge fantasy fan. This was a great read though. I thoroughly enjoyed it but won’t go into details as I don’t like spoilers. My least favorite was Tumi most definitely! I have certainly come across women like her and find them annoying. Don Mateza is certainly a memorable character for me

[Lauren Voges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a good read, but spoilt slightly by what felt like a rushed ending. I loved the author’s casual style and fast pace, and his characterization felt so authentic and honest, yet still fun and tongue-in-cheek. The cast are all flawed but fantastic, and Mda doesn’t shy away from tough situations or stereotypes. Absolutely worth reading.

[Shireen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this reflection on the current situation on South Africa. A few getting rich while others are cast by the wayside. A sad fact that there are still those who frown on interracial relationships. Well written and entertaining

[Sarah O'neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was originally written as a screen play and adapted into a novel. I wouldn't say its his best ever but Zakes manages to quietly send you something to think about. He is an amazing storyteller who knows the society from which he draws his characters intimately.

[Julian]

Part Noir, part dark comedy, it's a crime novel set in 21st century South Africa. Fast and very accessible, it was apparently based on a screenplay and in part, it reads like a screenplay. Sometimes a cliche and predictable, the end did have some have satisfying twists.

[Geir Ertzgaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uvanlig forfriskende og annerledes roman - fra Sør-Afrika, og langt fra både Wilbur Smith og André Brink.

[Anthonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

At bit confusing at the beginning, but very much interesting as you go on

[Hilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing! Enjoyed the book tremendously.

[Laeeqah Ebrahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read, quite unpredictable. But not the writing style I'm used to. Had to read it for my module. The style was short and to the point and minimal. And the end was open ended

[Nhlanhla Dube · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. A good interrogation of BEE and related corruption and with well-drawn characters and believable action all the way. Very nice writing.