Mukiwa

A White Boy in Africa

By: Peter Godwin

Narrated by: Peter Godwin

Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rhodesia, 1964: a small boy witnesses the death of his neighbor, murdered by guerrillas - it is the beginning of the end of White rule in Africa. In Mukiwa, Peter Godwin, the witness to that murder, has written "a classic of its genre" (Sunday Telegraph), a vivid and moving account of growing up in a colony rapidly collapsing into chaos.

In unforgettable tales of innocence lost under African skies, we follow Godwin's awakening to the often savage struggle between Whites and Blacks, his horror when he is forced to fight in a civil war he detests, and his experiences as a journalist covering the country's violent transition to Black rule as Rhodesia's colonial era comes to an end and the new state of Zimbabwe is born from its bloody ashes. Mukiwa is a poignant, compelling memoir and an invaluable addition to the literature of southern Africa.

©1996 Peter Godwin (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Captivating, poignant memoir.

Boldly honest and intimate story of a white family in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe through massive transitions, told with brilliant clarity by the young son, later a soldier and investigative journalist.

Brilliantly written & a gut wrenching account of Zimbabwe’s troubled history

Godwin has an easy to read/listen and engaging style. His account of his time growing up in Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe, is brutally honest and occasionally funny. It is one of those books you’ll read in a day, and then pick some weeks later to reread. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Africa or anyone who wants to read a great story.

A Child's View of Revolution

This is a beautifully written and performed story of a boy's journey into manhood watching the collapse of the British colonial Rhodesia and the beginning of the revolutionary led Zimbabwe. The reader sees through the boys eyes what was happening in his local community. The author portrays the confusion and chaos of the loss of life and land of the white settlers whose families had become prosperous and comfortable in a land far removed than that of their ancestors who came there from Great Britain. As we know, Zimbabwe under the tyrant dictator Mugabe deteriorated. Most of the farm land violently taken over by the revolutionaries, was no longer farmed. The country gradually became one of the poorest in Africa.

Fellow Rhodesian from the North

Took me right back to the Africa of my youth and schooled me on so much I didn't know about my country neighbour to the South. I was riveted by the story and the story telling.

An excellent story of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe

A truely evocative memoir, beautifully told. So accurate in all the names, places and events.

Fascinating insights

... into complex times, funny, sad, a testament to compassion and kindness under duress

A compassionate story

Rhodesia may have been a short lived country, but its history still fascinates me. Listening to Peter Godwin tell his story of growing up in the country and experiencing the UDI and the war that followed as seen through his eyes makes it feels as if I was there with him.

By Gone Days

As an ex Rhodesian/Zimbabwean, I found this book facinating as it brought back so many bad and good memories from those 'sad' days when a great country was ruined over politics, colonial influence and the lack of strength by the British Government. Without doubt, majority vote and a handover to joint Govt could have be undertaken over time to allow the country to stay rich, safe and prosperous. Peter has recounted his memories well, although I would have liked date references every now and then. His style of writing is easy to follow and listen to and I will be reading the sequel shortly. He was a brave, honest and loyal man who did his best to highlight the appaling behavior and actipns of the New Government. Look at the place today. Ruined by selfish politicians who don't care about their own wonderful people.

details a puzzling time not to be forgotten

first hand accounts not muddied or squewed by ideology.
read with empathy and pragmatic longing

Fascinating memoir, read by the author.

This is a wonderful book, and what an absolute treat to listen to it read by the author himself, who lived through these horrific times in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia. It’s beautifully written, informative on the historical and political context, and in spite of all the sadness and horror, the author keeps a sense of irony and humour that is very welcome. Thank you Peter Godwin for your beautiful memoir and thank you Audible for bringing it to us in this format.