Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography--The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa

The Classic Story of Life in Apartheid South Africa

Mark Mathabane was weaned on devastating poverty and schooled in the cruel streets of South Africa's most desperate ghetto, where bloody gang wars and midnight police raids were his rites of passage. Like every other child born in the hopelessness of apartheid, he learned to measure his life in days, not years. Yet Mark Mathabane, armed only with the courage of his family and a hard-won education, raised himself up from the squalor and humiliation to win a scholarship to an American university.

This extraordinary memoir of life under apartheid is a triumph of the human spirit over hatred and unspeakable degradation. For Mark Mathabane did what no physically and psychologically battered "Kaffir" from the rat-infested alleys of Alexandra was supposed to do -- he escaped to tell about it.

Mathabane shows a great many literary strengths here. His candid expression of his own feelings can't help but inspire the reader's respect and interest; the whole book feels 'spoken from the heart'. His prejudices, embarrassing moments, times of despair, moments of triumph, and peer relations are all here. Of particular interest to me (naturally, as a white non-South African) was the development of his views of white people--South Africans and foreigners--and how his understanding becomes broader as he meets a wider variety of people. I came away thinking that I'd probably really like Mark Mathabane in person.

His youth in fact makes a good story, one that builds nicely to a conclusion I won't spoil for you except to carefully mention that this is the story only of his youth, not of his whole life. And his descriptive talent, which painted such vivid and contrasting portraits of the life he led, is worthy of the great storytellers of the proud tribes of southern Africa from which he is descended. I would offer the caveat that the book contains explicit sexual and violent scenes that most people would consider inappropriate for children under 14 (and even then I'm assuming a pretty well-adjusted child). Mathabane is never himself vulgar, but some of his experiences certainly were, and he gets through them as quickly as possible but I see why he didn't omit them.

If you ever wondered what life was like for South African blacks under apartheid, particularly for a highly gifted member of that group striving upward against every barrier that several cultures could place before him, this'll be a revelation.


Propaganda tool aimed at ignorant Americans.   March 21, 2003
JAMES D JONES (LITTLETON, CO United States)
13 out of 56 found this review helpful

According to the author, white South Africans all lived in mansions, drove Rolls-Royces and Mercedes, had herds of black servants treated worse than slaves, white children which had never seen black school children before etc etc. Mrs. Smith was buying for her son bicycles, roller blades, ping-pong tables and other stuff (all plural), which would requre storage space size of Walmart! Get real! I visited South Africa many times in 1970's, 80's and 90's and I can say that "Kaffir Boy" is another propaganda tool aimed at ignorant Americans. Author has his agenda, himself being the white-hater he is attempting to shape the public opinion in similar fashion.
He is suspended in vacuum between the dead end street of tribalism (whatever happened to "when we were kings" idea - in the book his fater and his tribe are morons), and the world built by the white people he is longing for and hating at the same time.
America of 1970's is shown as the promised land of equal opportunities for the blacks. It's 2003 now and the blacks still don't think so and there are cries for more affirmative action and never ending government handouts.
Love this book if you are a heart bleeding liberal, but if you have any common sense, frequent inconsistiencies should be easy to spot. No doubt that the policy of racial segregation in South Africa was wrong and cruel, but this book is not a true story it claims to be. It's a mix of truth, lies and imagined fiction. It's meant to be the author's revenge, just like Jerzy Kosinski's "Painted Bird", which at the time of it's publication was a believable and true story, until dismissed years later as bunch of lies and garbage.


Kaffir Boy   January 4, 2002
Jessica Tort (USA)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Mark Mathabane's autobiography, Kaffir Boy, tells the story of his life while growing up in apartheid South Africa. A victim of segregation, poverty, and brutality, he learned how to survive under the harsh conditions of South Africa during the 1960s and 70s. The true story of this hero is one that everyone should read to try to understand the horror of life for the people of South Africa at this time.

Mark Mathabane grew up in Alexandra, a black ghetto, under the name of Johannes Mathabane. In Alexandra, there were constant police raids, gang wars, and far less than acceptable living conditions. Tiny rented shacks provided homes for families living in this area. Since his family had very little money, Mark and his siblings were forced to sleep on the concrete floor of one of these shacks and often became ill. Early in Mark's life, he had to learn about the terror of police raids. Some of these raids against blacks are described in graphic detail throughout the book. People were arrested, beaten, or even killed, just because of their race. Although fear lived with the people of Alexandra, they had to continue to live their lives. Mark's father, a person who he would have many conflicts with in life, held a low paying job which often did not pay enough money to keep the entire family fed. There would be many times where it did not seem that life would continue for Mark. Luckily, his mother and grandmother were able to find and hold jobs, which put Mark through school. Here, he accelerated in his studies and in tennis. These two things would eventually help Mark rise above his street life.

A person can be described as a hero for many reasons. Mark Mathabane, without a doubt, displayed heroism at many times throughout his life. As a young child, Mark often cared for his younger siblings when his parents could not. He accepted responsibility and did everything he could for them. He often put his brothers and sister before himself. This act shows his selflessness and willingness to help people. When Mark goes to school, he works at his studies extremely hard. He came to love reading, and wanted to learn all that he could. Even with difficult times, Mark worked his hardest at school and was always at the top of his class. Not only was this a major accomplishment for Mark, it also gave his siblings a person to look up to, and an example to follow. When there was not enough money to continue sending he and all of his siblings to school, Mark took a job and helped to pay for his family's expenses. Mark also displays his heroism at many points during his life. His selflessness, hard work, and generosity are just a few of his traits to be admired.

This novel is very well written and difficult to put down. Although at times, mostly in the beginning of the book, the descriptions of police raids and fights are extremely graphic, the words can only describe the situation - not make one live it. Living in a society where all people are equal, it is nearly impossible to comprehend the treatment bestowed upon those who lived under the apartheid in South Africa. What happened there is history, and cannot be changed or ignored. While language and description are graphic, is it important to know what happened to these people so nothing like this can ever happen again. Mark Mathabane has a gift for writing and it is very well demonstrated in his story.

Overall, this book is definitely a worthwhile read. It is one that stirs emotion and provokes thought. Mark Mathabane's life was undoubtedly difficult, but there is an immense feeling of satisfaction when closing the book. This autobiography is not only well-written and able to hold the reader's attention, it is also truly inspiring.


Kaffir Boy   May 10, 2000
Benjamin Y. (United States)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

I'm homeschooling my 13 y.o. son & we are currently learning about South Africa and apartheid. After much research and reading 4 other books, Waiting for the Rain, Cry the beloved Country, A dry white season, and The power of One, I read Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane. Since reading this book, I have not stopped thinking about Mark and his bittersweet life, mostly bitter, anything sweet coming from his mother. The horrors he and his family endured were at times hard to read, but he and his mother were so inspiring in the way they managed to lift themselves above this horrific thing called apartheid. It is a very hopeful and uplifting book putting my own petty problems into perspective. Mathabane's gift of expression and putting words on paper that turn into pictures in your mind and deep feelings of despair and hope in your heart is exceptional. He has written 3 other books which it seems to my dissapointment are currently out of print, but I will find them and read them. I could not put Kaffir Boy down and it has changed me. I highly reccommend it.

Mari Yunker St. George Utah