She Plays with the Darkness — Zakes Mda

A captivating tale of two siblings, separated by circumstance but bound by a magical connection, set against the backdrop of a transforming South Africa.

In a remote mountain village in Lesotho, the beautiful Dikosha lives for dancing and for song, setting herself apart from her fellow villagers. Her twin brother, Radisene, works in the lowland capital of Maseru, struggling amid political upheaval to find a life for himself away from the hills. As the years pass, Radisene's fortunes rise and fall in the city, while Dikosha remains in the village, never leaving and never aging. And through it all, the community watches, comments, and passes judgment.

She Plays with the Darkness is a captivating work of literary fiction that deftly weaves elements of magical realism into a poignant narrative of family, community, and the enduring bonds of sibling love. Zakes Mda's lyrical prose brings to life the contrasting worlds of rural village life and urban turmoil, creating a rich and immersive portrait of contemporary South Africa.