What do you think?
Rate this book
Yellowbone
Karabo, a light-skinned girl living in Mthatha, grew up with the hurtful cry of ‘yellowbone’ ringing in her ears. She hears her parents argue, not realising that questions surrounding her paternity are the cause. To Karabo, there can be no greater bond than the one between her and ‘Teacher’, as her father is called.
With her exotic appearance, people expect Karabo to coast through life on her looks alone, but she moves to London to study architecture. At a private recital, a priceless antique violin binds her fate to that of virtuoso André Potgieter, who fled to London to hide a secret – though no saint himself, he sees angels. And he’d do anything to keep seeing them.
Spanning three countries – South Africa, Britain and Ghana – Yellowbone is a powerful, enthralling story exploring belonging and identity, justice, deceit and truth.
With her exotic appearance, people expect Karabo to coast through life on her looks alone, but she moves to London to study architecture. At a private recital, a priceless antique violin binds her fate to that of virtuoso André Potgieter, who fled to London to hide a secret – though no saint himself, he sees angels. And he’d do anything to keep seeing them.
Spanning three countries – South Africa, Britain and Ghana – Yellowbone is a powerful, enthralling story exploring belonging and identity, justice, deceit and truth.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2019
1 person is currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Ekow Duker
4 books24 followersEkow Duker is a fiction author living and working in Johannesburg, South Africa, most notably recognised for his novel White Wahala, which was shortlisted for the European Union Literary Award in 2011/2012. Duker was born in Ghana, and educated in the United Kingdom, the United States, and France.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 11, 2023
An unusual story with delightful moments of dialogue from Karabo. There is humour and very clever commentary contained within just a few words.
May 2, 2019
#Yellowbone was a sad reminder of how colonisation and apartheid had brainwashed dark skinned people so deep that the discrimination and self-hate is on auto pilot now, perpetuated by the dark skinned people themselves. Men would do unbelievable favours for light skinned women, and dark skinned ones would hate the very fibre the "yellowbones" are made of. Unfortunately this hate spree exists within families as well.
Another reminder of the ills of colonisation and apartheid were the perceptions of black people by the whites in the book (the Harrisons, Potgieters and Summerscales), which were nothing less than demeaning, condescending, insulting and informed by total ignorance. The dirty black man, black people do irrational things, witchcraft and dancing naked around fires, stealing etc utterances were harsh reminders of this reality.
Challenges pertaining to interracial and inter-cultural relationships were beautifully brought to light through Andre’s parents, where one was English and the other Afrikaans, Teacher (Ghanaian) and Precious (South African), and Karabo (Black South South African) and Nigel (White from the UK). Nonetheless one couldn’t help but wonder what they had expected from the relationships, having lived in racist and xenophobic societies. Anyway, such trials undoubtedly add amongst other things, to the nostalgia experienced by the diaspora of many countries, as seen with teacher and Karabo.
It was interesting how, despite the cultural and racial differences, parents are ill equipped to deal with children with special gifts. Can the people of European descent really say Africans are barbaric while they all seemingly see pathology where there isn’t, decide on the aetiology and execute treatment without investigating differential diagnosis and alternative management? The question is posed with special reference to Andre’s mother who was so desperate to have a normal son that she even allowed a non-specialist in the field to put him on medication for psychiatric patients, and the prison boss’ parents who beat the living daylights out of him to exorcise the demons in him.
Mental illnesses are still misunderstood in many African settings and the book has done justice by incorporating the topic in the narrative, and highlighting the plight of the affected and sufferers. It is sad though that such patients are either frowned upon or abused in many ways. Another plight that was vividly brought to light was that of prisoners, a group that society usually has no sympathy for, for their suffering is regarded as penance. The author however reminded us in the book through the stories of Jemima and Karabo’s other friends that the justice system was man made, terribly flawed, and usually did not favour the poor. The abuse of women and children is sadly an age old thing, the descriptions of which I went through very fast in the book, because of the nerve they touched. May father/reverend Majola and those like him burn in eternal hell.
The gay sexual acts were described with such detail and one couldn’t help but wonder if the author enjoyed those more than the heterosexual encounters, which I personally felt were not afforded the same detail that could sexually arouse the so called straight. I was happy for Andre’ for getting more than he bargained for from his chance encounter with the seasoned musician with the master-piece of a violin at the park though…dirty old man. Joyce the prison warder…I shall say no more.
Sexual misconduct and infidelity, and sex, will always be a source of deep rooted pain and entertainment, and demonstration of power, for the affected and bystanders, and people in authority respectively. Was teacher really a noble man considering who he married and how he won her affection? Were Precious’ reasons for cheating warranted? And Bill’s sexual shenanigans? What about the prison captain, father Majola and the municipality manager Precious worked with?
My take on the paternity test? Teacher can dream on. I will have to look at the validation report of that test first, including the type and diversity of samples used in its validation, before I can believe it outcomes.
It was a great book, I give it 4/5.
Another reminder of the ills of colonisation and apartheid were the perceptions of black people by the whites in the book (the Harrisons, Potgieters and Summerscales), which were nothing less than demeaning, condescending, insulting and informed by total ignorance. The dirty black man, black people do irrational things, witchcraft and dancing naked around fires, stealing etc utterances were harsh reminders of this reality.
Challenges pertaining to interracial and inter-cultural relationships were beautifully brought to light through Andre’s parents, where one was English and the other Afrikaans, Teacher (Ghanaian) and Precious (South African), and Karabo (Black South South African) and Nigel (White from the UK). Nonetheless one couldn’t help but wonder what they had expected from the relationships, having lived in racist and xenophobic societies. Anyway, such trials undoubtedly add amongst other things, to the nostalgia experienced by the diaspora of many countries, as seen with teacher and Karabo.
It was interesting how, despite the cultural and racial differences, parents are ill equipped to deal with children with special gifts. Can the people of European descent really say Africans are barbaric while they all seemingly see pathology where there isn’t, decide on the aetiology and execute treatment without investigating differential diagnosis and alternative management? The question is posed with special reference to Andre’s mother who was so desperate to have a normal son that she even allowed a non-specialist in the field to put him on medication for psychiatric patients, and the prison boss’ parents who beat the living daylights out of him to exorcise the demons in him.
Mental illnesses are still misunderstood in many African settings and the book has done justice by incorporating the topic in the narrative, and highlighting the plight of the affected and sufferers. It is sad though that such patients are either frowned upon or abused in many ways. Another plight that was vividly brought to light was that of prisoners, a group that society usually has no sympathy for, for their suffering is regarded as penance. The author however reminded us in the book through the stories of Jemima and Karabo’s other friends that the justice system was man made, terribly flawed, and usually did not favour the poor. The abuse of women and children is sadly an age old thing, the descriptions of which I went through very fast in the book, because of the nerve they touched. May father/reverend Majola and those like him burn in eternal hell.
The gay sexual acts were described with such detail and one couldn’t help but wonder if the author enjoyed those more than the heterosexual encounters, which I personally felt were not afforded the same detail that could sexually arouse the so called straight. I was happy for Andre’ for getting more than he bargained for from his chance encounter with the seasoned musician with the master-piece of a violin at the park though…dirty old man. Joyce the prison warder…I shall say no more.
Sexual misconduct and infidelity, and sex, will always be a source of deep rooted pain and entertainment, and demonstration of power, for the affected and bystanders, and people in authority respectively. Was teacher really a noble man considering who he married and how he won her affection? Were Precious’ reasons for cheating warranted? And Bill’s sexual shenanigans? What about the prison captain, father Majola and the municipality manager Precious worked with?
My take on the paternity test? Teacher can dream on. I will have to look at the validation report of that test first, including the type and diversity of samples used in its validation, before I can believe it outcomes.
It was a great book, I give it 4/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
Somewhat hard to describe I how I felt about this book, its something else definitely. I did enjoy it though.
March 3, 2020
Ekow Duker's Yellowbone: 'It is absurd but it's not a black thing,' Precious said. 'White people did it first.'
A book about the journey of two people on vastly different planes of Apartheid history and an unlikely meet-up.
Emotive and informative. Beautifully disgusting book.
A book about the journey of two people on vastly different planes of Apartheid history and an unlikely meet-up.
Emotive and informative. Beautifully disgusting book.
May 30, 2021
I normally enjoy Ekow Duker but this read fell extremely short for me. There are so many things happening that its appears as though the author himself got lost in the messaging of the book. There a different books stitched together into one.
January 17, 2022
I appreciated the basis of the story and the beautiful articulation of the mentioned musical instrument but, this was a bit of an emotional read with some parts I thought may be far fetched. It felt incomplete - by the end I wished for a better or more robust conclusion.
August 6, 2019
I could not stop reading! Three days and I was done--very well written. I think I might check out Ekow Duker's other books!
January 11, 2025
“Yellow Bone” by Ekow Duker is a beautifully written and emotionally intense novel that explores the complex themes of identity and colorism.
Duker’s lyrical prose brings the character’s internal battles to life, painting a raw and honest picture of the psychological toll colorism takes on Kayo’s self-worth and sense of belonging.
What I loved about the book was its honest portrayal of how deeply skin color can impact one’s relationships, identity, and place in the world. While the novel is emotionally challenging and thought-provoking, especially in its exploration of societal discrimination and internal conflict, it is ultimately a powerful narrative that lingers with the reader long after finishing.
Yellow Bone is a deeply moving and important read about identity, self-acceptance, and the complexities of colorism.
Duker’s lyrical prose brings the character’s internal battles to life, painting a raw and honest picture of the psychological toll colorism takes on Kayo’s self-worth and sense of belonging.
What I loved about the book was its honest portrayal of how deeply skin color can impact one’s relationships, identity, and place in the world. While the novel is emotionally challenging and thought-provoking, especially in its exploration of societal discrimination and internal conflict, it is ultimately a powerful narrative that lingers with the reader long after finishing.
Yellow Bone is a deeply moving and important read about identity, self-acceptance, and the complexities of colorism.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews