Song of Be

In 1989 Namibians went to the polls in their first democratic election - an achievement matching the famous South African event of 1994. This momentous political change is the backdrop to Song of Be. The dramatic first sentence of the novel 'I have just killed myself' takes readers into a story of compassion, and the despair of a young girl struggling to make sense of a complex world. Be and her mother work on a white man's farm, far from their Ju/hoan group. Through Be's eyes we are shown both past horrors and present fears. Stereotypes shatter as her insights are revealed - her understanding of the farmer's depressive wife is pivotal to the story; well-meaning books and journalists do not escape criticism. This novel's short extent belies its substantial content. Set in a vast, sparsely populated country, its themes of love, exploitation, and rapid change are universal. It is a deeply satisfying read, disturbing and ultimately hopeful.