Book cover of Poli Poli

Book description

Poli Poli is a remarkable history that speaks to African identity, close family bonds, belonging, struggle and sacrifice, women's rights, and femininity, and is written with the lyricism and transporting detail of one of the country's greatest wordsmiths.

Barbara Masekela powerfully conveys the realities of life under apartheid and illustrates…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Poli Poli as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I met author Barbara Masekela in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1967. We met again briefly in Cape Town in 1992. This remarkable memoir tells the story of the first 21½ years of her life, all of it new to me.

It is the story of a young black girl of mixed family heritage growing up in apartheid South Africa when I was growing up as a young white boy in the same country. I can’t wait to read the volumes that must surely follow Poli Poli.

If you love Poli Poli...

Ad

Book cover of December on 5C4

December on 5C4 by Adam Strassberg,

Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

Want books like Poli Poli?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Poli Poli.

Browse books like Poli Poli

Book cover of A Plan for the People: Nelson Mandela's Hope for His Nation
Book cover of Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Book cover of Life & Times of Michael K

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,278

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Poli Poli, you might also like...

Book cover of The Bridge: Connecting The Powers of Linear and Circular Thinking

The Bridge by Kim Hudson,

The Bridge provides a compassionate and well researched window into the worlds of linear and circular thinking. A core pattern to the inner workings of these two thinking styles is revealed, and most importantly, insight into how to cross the distance between them. Some fascinating features emerged such as, circular…

Book cover of And Then They Were Gone: Teenagers of Peoples Temple from High School to Jonestown

And Then They Were Gone by Ron Cabral,

Of the 918 Americans who died in the shocking murder-suicides of November 18, 1978, in the tiny South American country of Guyana, a third were under eighteen. More than half were in their twenties or younger.

The authors taught in a small high school in San Francisco where Reverend Jim…

5 book lists we think you will like!