A South African woman, an Afrikaans-speaking Xhosa mother, navigates a tumultuous period in the country, prioritizing her family's well-being amidst chaos. After her husband falls ill, Poppie's residency status is deemed illegal, prompting a desperate struggle to secure permission to stay with her children. She moves from home to home, applying for permits and extensions, using every means possible to remain with her family. Caught between her children's needs, her husband's illness, community anger, and repressive laws, Poppie ultimately surrenders just as the 1976 riots for freedom erupt.
Poppie Nongena
Elsa Joubert's novel "The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena" is widely regarded as one of the best African novels of the 20th century.
