The Fifty Rand Note and Other Short Stories - by Tsitsi Nomsa Ngwenya Paperback

Book Synopsis

'The Fifty Rand Note is a collection of stories about multiple levels of consciousness from home, diaspora, the self to the collective, all being drawn from a society going through painful motions of change. Is it possible to steal a whole fifty rand note on a kombi and not return change? Is it possible for anybody to lose their source of livelihood and remain sane? What do you do when your city is fast becoming worse than the village? Is it possible to silence the whole village as you insist...? "Let me tell you"... Tsitsi's stories bring the reader closer to the acidic narratives of the likes of Dambudzo Marechera and Ayi Kwei Armah. This book will surely twist your neck until you see your heels.'

Memory Chirere, University of Zimbabwe

'After reading Tsitsi Nomsa Ngwenya's collection of short stories I came away decidedly entertained. And it also felt like I had been under a microscope being scrutinised. No doubt that was because Ngwenya is a stickler for detail and writes so evocatively as to create a verbal collage of experiences. The Fifty-Rand Note is a very good read and I recommend it without reservation.'

David Mungoshi, author of The Fading Sun and Live Like an Artist

'The Fifty-Rand Note is not only a collection of hilarious, well packaged stories but a very philosophical work of art with cross- cutting themes of everyday life from politics, crime, religion, culture, marriage and migration to poverty and the very idea of good life. Tsitsi artistically and wittingly presents these rather serious matters in a very captivating and absolutely fantastic piece.'

Professor Prudence Maqhawe Khumalo