But what about the sand dunes, the titanium, the ilmenite for the pretty girls' makeup, my brothers!
Final licence of destruction must never be admitted, granted. That's the creed. Work to be done. Yona ke yona. This is it. Phambili. There's a half-triumphal burst of laughter to be shared.
Wet the baby's head! Derek toasts.
Glossary
ayeye – An expression teasing someone for his faults
braai – A barbecue
bundu – The bush; nowhere
cho! – A greeting calling attention to something
eish – An expression of reluctance
jabula – Be happy
khan'da – Operate; scheme
lalela – Listen
makhosi – Tribal chiefs; traditional leaders
n'swebu – Marvellous
phambili – Come on; go for it
sangoma – Traditional healer
shaya-shaya – A deliberately false statement
tsotsi – Street gangster
tuka – A long time ago
voetsek – Get out; push off
vuka – Wake up
wola – Hi
woza – Rise
yebo – A greeting, or affirmation
yona ke yona – This is it
About the Author
Nadine Gordimer, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991, is the author of thirteen novels, nine volumes of stories, and three nonfiction collections. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.