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Paradise in Gaza
When Mpisi Mpisani travels to his home village for the burial of his mother and a visit to his first wife, he is anxious to hurry back to Johannesburg. His second wife, waiting in Soweto, will give birth soon. Giyani, his eight year old son, accompanies him.
But when Giyani disappears, Mpisi stays to search for him. He tries to ignore the villagers who blame magic for the boy’s disappearance. Meanwhile Mpisi’s city wife, Ntombazi, bears a boy with a birthmark that seems to be a sign . . .
But when Giyani disappears, Mpisi stays to search for him. He tries to ignore the villagers who blame magic for the boy’s disappearance. Meanwhile Mpisi’s city wife, Ntombazi, bears a boy with a birthmark that seems to be a sign . . .
298 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
7 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Niq Mhlongo
18 books81 followersMhlongo was born in Midway-Chiawelo, Soweto, the seventh of nine children, and raised in Soweto. His father, who died when Mhlongo was a teenager, worked as a post-office sweeper. Mhlongo was sent to Limpopo Province, the province his mother came from, to finish high school. Initially failing his matriculation exam in October 1990,[1] Mhlongo completed his matric at Malenga High School in 1991. He studied African literature and political studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, gaining a BA in 1996. In 1997 he enrolled to study law there, transferring to the University of Cape Town the following year. In 2000 he discontinued university study to write his first novel, Dog Eat Dog.[2]
He has been called, "one of the most high-spirited and irreverent new voices of South Africa's post-apartheid literary scene".[1]
Mhlongo has presented his work at key African cultural venues, including the Caine Prize Workshop and the Zanzibar International Film Festival, and was a 2008 International Writing Program fellow at the University of Iowa.[3] His work has been translated into Spanish and Italian.
He has been called, "one of the most high-spirited and irreverent new voices of South Africa's post-apartheid literary scene".[1]
Mhlongo has presented his work at key African cultural venues, including the Caine Prize Workshop and the Zanzibar International Film Festival, and was a 2008 International Writing Program fellow at the University of Iowa.[3] His work has been translated into Spanish and Italian.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 4, 2020
Paradise In Gaza has turned out to be a big story spanning over 10 years in narrating time.
The story is set in the 70's bang in the height of apartheid and is set in Soweto, Chiawelo, and a small village in Gaza, in the homeland of Gazankulu.
The narrative revolves around Mpisi Mpisane who is navigating a small house and a big house and as nature would have it, both wives do not see eye to eye. After a traumatic incident on a sojourn back to the village to bury his mother, Mpisi returns home to Soweto a broken man.
Niq Mhlonho knits folklore, myths, superstitions and history in weaving the lives of Khanyisa and Ntombazi with Mpisi just a speck in the background.
Amazing use of imagery leaving the reader in total awe of Niq's creative writing skills. The use of idioms and the portrayal of the African chieftancy gives a clear picture of the politics of the day. While apartheid South Africa was riddled with strife and unrest caused by push back from the oppressed blacks leaving many townships burning, many people unable to go to their places of employment, it was life as usual in the Gazankulu homeland. Not that the homeland wasn't without its challenges like drought, underdevelopment, unemployment and sustinence living, Niq foregrounds displacements, diasporic living and the squalor inhabitants of the land were forced to live under on their own land. Add to that superstitions, myths, folklore and witchcraft, my heart really went out to Khanyisa but as patriarchy dictates, the wife/woman builds her home while Mpisi makes the occasional visit once in a few years and stays long enough to anchor himself through a baby. Womanhood comes with little or no choice especially for the rural, uneducated disempowered woman.
A very emotive narration. From ancestral spirits to families not being able to honour their ancestors to forced labour and inhumane working conditions.
The research that went into the making of Paradise In Gaza is amazingly impressive. Niq dug deep to unearth some of the greatest secrets in so far as ukuthwasa and its associated mythologies is concerned adding more colour to an already colourful plot.
Even with a few red herrings where I was unsure of the threads, the many twists made for compelling reading. So many vignettes. So difficult to predict the direction.
The school year is coming to a close. Sit up and take this journey with Ntombazi and Khanyisa.
A very long wait, Niq, but so worth it.
Highly recommended.
The story is set in the 70's bang in the height of apartheid and is set in Soweto, Chiawelo, and a small village in Gaza, in the homeland of Gazankulu.
The narrative revolves around Mpisi Mpisane who is navigating a small house and a big house and as nature would have it, both wives do not see eye to eye. After a traumatic incident on a sojourn back to the village to bury his mother, Mpisi returns home to Soweto a broken man.
Niq Mhlonho knits folklore, myths, superstitions and history in weaving the lives of Khanyisa and Ntombazi with Mpisi just a speck in the background.
Amazing use of imagery leaving the reader in total awe of Niq's creative writing skills. The use of idioms and the portrayal of the African chieftancy gives a clear picture of the politics of the day. While apartheid South Africa was riddled with strife and unrest caused by push back from the oppressed blacks leaving many townships burning, many people unable to go to their places of employment, it was life as usual in the Gazankulu homeland. Not that the homeland wasn't without its challenges like drought, underdevelopment, unemployment and sustinence living, Niq foregrounds displacements, diasporic living and the squalor inhabitants of the land were forced to live under on their own land. Add to that superstitions, myths, folklore and witchcraft, my heart really went out to Khanyisa but as patriarchy dictates, the wife/woman builds her home while Mpisi makes the occasional visit once in a few years and stays long enough to anchor himself through a baby. Womanhood comes with little or no choice especially for the rural, uneducated disempowered woman.
A very emotive narration. From ancestral spirits to families not being able to honour their ancestors to forced labour and inhumane working conditions.
The research that went into the making of Paradise In Gaza is amazingly impressive. Niq dug deep to unearth some of the greatest secrets in so far as ukuthwasa and its associated mythologies is concerned adding more colour to an already colourful plot.
Even with a few red herrings where I was unsure of the threads, the many twists made for compelling reading. So many vignettes. So difficult to predict the direction.
The school year is coming to a close. Sit up and take this journey with Ntombazi and Khanyisa.
A very long wait, Niq, but so worth it.
Highly recommended.
October 31, 2020
I am enjoying this SO much. I have read and loved all of Niq Mhlongo’s books, but Paradise in Gaza is turning out to be my absolute favourite.
It is brutal and hard but also gentle and full of joys (much like South Africa, I guess).
It is also a surprise of a novel. I thought it was going in one direction, but it took a turn, then I thought it was going in another direction, until it took another turn. And now I’m just settling in for the home stretch, trying not to guess where it will go, and instead just enjoying the ride.
Beautiful writing, beautiful people, in a hard life and a hard country, but making it work as best they can.
Highly recommend it.
It is brutal and hard but also gentle and full of joys (much like South Africa, I guess).
It is also a surprise of a novel. I thought it was going in one direction, but it took a turn, then I thought it was going in another direction, until it took another turn. And now I’m just settling in for the home stretch, trying not to guess where it will go, and instead just enjoying the ride.
Beautiful writing, beautiful people, in a hard life and a hard country, but making it work as best they can.
Highly recommend it.
May 17, 2025
3.5* I read this book for my book club. I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the writing and short chapters. It made it an easy read. I enjoyed that it was set in Apartheid South Africa and detailed the impact that the oppressive regime had on black families, culture and spirituality. I do not think many South African books focus on the erosion of African spirituality as a result of colonisation. The discussion on the ancestral calling was enlightening and insightful. The juxtaposition of urban and rural life was also well done. The book also dealt with issues around witch hunts and the negatives of some of the superstitions we hold as black people and the lives that they destroy. It is a topic that is still current despite the advent of democracy, especially in rural areas.
I had mixed feelings about the book because I read the last page and wasn't sure what the author wanted me to take away from the book. I understand the key themes but couldn't grasp the key takeaway. Despite this, I enjoyed the book.
I had mixed feelings about the book because I read the last page and wasn't sure what the author wanted me to take away from the book. I understand the key themes but couldn't grasp the key takeaway. Despite this, I enjoyed the book.
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January 8, 2022Niq Mhlongo book research never disappoints me, it's been a great adventure reading PARADISE IN GAZA. I am not very familiar with all things related to ukuthwasa but not one thing felt out of place with Ntombazi's journey for me, everything felt like that's how it should have gone. It's been a good read, it's been a great journey.
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August 14, 2021Loved this book, I am a big fan of Niq Mhlongo and of course he never disappoints
Once again he transported me to another world and there I found a common theme of kindness as the characters interacted throughout the book
Once again he transported me to another world and there I found a common theme of kindness as the characters interacted throughout the book
January 11, 2022
Oh i absolutely love it, i would like to see part two of it. And please this time Mpisi must go home so that Khanyisa can have happiness too and we wanna know how blacks overcome white oppression
Nanakhumalo232@gmail.com
Nanakhumalo232@gmail.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
Although I really enjoyed this book there are so many themes and strands of stories that were never fully explored or brought to conclusion.
July 29, 2021
Enjoyed this book, just like Niq Mhlongo' s other novels ,loved the themes in this book
April 14, 2024
A book that explores the weaving of culture and modernity in a polygamous family. Light read, yet enchanting and offers a great critic on cultural 'norms'.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews