Waterbearer, The | Young Adult Fiction

Dianne Hofmeyr

A totally riveting read. The story of Maji, who sails down the East Coast of Africa with his tradesman father in their dhow, and who is then captured by warriors from a great inland kingdom somewhere in the interior of Africa (which one later realises is Great Zimbabwe). Never before has a writer succeeded in making ancient Africa seem so exotic and exciting as Dianne Hofmeyr has done here. The book has a powerful atmosphere and is simply un-put-downable.