The City is Mine

“The City Is Mine,” promises to be his most compelling work yet. Set against the backdrop of contemporary Johannesburg, the novel offers a gripping narrative that explores themes of power, identity, and the pursuit of the South African dream. With his signature wit and razor-sharp social commentary, Mhlongo paints a vivid portrait of life in the city, capturing both its beauty and its challenges with unparalleled insight.

 

The first part of the book explores Mangi and Aza’s relationship’s deterioration and Mangi’s descent into an ‘unaccommodated man’. The second part explores Mangi’s search for meaning, through his descent into homelessness, finding fulfilment in sex, and making money through criminal activities. The final third of the text shows Mangi’s personal growth through extreme loss, death, love, and recognition of the values he knows should drive him towards a happier life.

Mangi’s reversal of fortune is not as extreme, but he too loses everything that had once made him feel safe in the world, and by the end of the text, he must redefine his place in the world by realizing what is truly important in life.

 

Author:        Niq Mhlongo
Genre:          Literary Fiction
Rights:          all rights available, South African English excluded (May 2024)
Pages:           272