Tales of a Rural Traveller is an autobiographical novel following the life of Mosupatsela, a young man born into a poverty-stricken family who rises to make a name for himself in the various circles of life he becomes exposed to.

He was born to a father who worked as a truck driver and a mother who was a domestic worker. The story begins in a small village in Limpopo where Mosupatsela was raised by his grandparents. It is a tale of childhood aspirations and a determination to achieve against all odds.

Mosupatsela moved to Johannesburg, Alexandra, when he started school. His first home in Alexandra was at a women’s hostel. Shortly after his arrival in Alexandra he appeared on a popular TV show, which smoothed his integration into a community of initially unwelcoming peers. He flirted with a life of crime but was saved by his prominent and well-educated uncle, who introduced him to books and taught him about the importance of education.

Books changed Mosupatsela‘s outlook on life and empowered him to look beyond his immediate surroundings. Inspired by his uncle and committed to dismantling the poverty that he was born into, he worked hard to attend university, where he spread his wings broadly and became a promoter, student journalist, activist and executive member of various student bodies.

Through the protagonist, this book provides insight into the lived experience of ordinary youth in post-apartheid democratic South Africa. The story carries powerful commentary on society, education, unemployment, politics and the economy, all through the personal and thrilling experiences of the narrator.

Categories Non-fiction South Africa

Tags Collen Serite Tales of a Rural Traveller