Nun and the Pig: Tales from South Africa

In 1980, a British teenager named Treive Nicholas went to a school in Transkei, South Africa, where he experienced a politically charged and little-known part of Africa. He faced surreal and heart-warming experiences, witnessed the death of an infant, and railed against the injustices of the apartheid system. He smuggled Communist black liberation literature across the borders and hitchhiked thousands of kilometers north to Zambian bush, where events took a dangerous turn. Fear, shock, joy, and self-discovery were a daily experience in this forgotten corner of South Africa, where humor and kindness flourished amid grinding poverty and brutal racism.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 256 pages
\n Publication date: 15 July 2021
\n Publisher: Amberley Publishing
\n

In 1980, a young British teenager named Treive Nicholas arrived in the remote village of Qunu, located in the home state of Nelson Mandela, Transkei. Fresh-faced and eager to explore the unfamiliar world, Nicholas was about to embark on an extraordinary journey that would leave a lasting impact on his life.

Looking back on this pivotal year forty years later, Treive Nicholas' memoir, A Nun and the Pig, offers a captivating insight into this politically charged yet little-known part of Africa. Through his vivid and personal experiences, Nicholas paints a vivid picture of a world that ranges from the surreal to the heart-warming, from the wonderful to the tragic.

One moment, Nicholas could be engaging in lively conversations with local Thembu chiefs, sharing laughter and stories. The next, he would be witnessing the tragic death of an infant in a neglected Umtata township, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of apartheid. As Nicholas grew increasingly vocal in his opposition to the injustices of the apartheid system, he faced increased scrutiny and danger from law enforcement agencies. At one point, he even found himself smuggling Communist black liberation literature across the borders of South Africa, a risky endeavor that required him to navigate through treacherous terrain and evade detection.

Armed only with a camera and a bag of dried apricots, Nicholas embarked on hitchhiking adventures that took him thousands of kilometers north to the Zambian bush. Along the way, he encountered a range of emotions, from fear and shock to joy and self-discovery. The forgotten corner of South Africa, where he found himself, was a world of contrasts. Humour and kindness flourished amidst grinding poverty and brutal racism. The friendship of a wise and feisty nun, Sister Mary, kept Nicholas on course and opened his eyes to a side of life that was unfamiliar to a former milkman from suburban England.

Sister Mary's car, affectionately known as "the Pig," was a trusty but temperamental companion on their journey. It had seen its fair share of adventures and had been through countless repairs, but it never failed to get them where they needed to go. Through their travels, Nicholas and Sister Mary encountered a diverse range of people, from village elders to political activists, each with their own unique story to tell.

Their experiences in Qunu left a profound mark on Nicholas, shaping his perspective on the world and inspiring him to become an advocate for social justice. Forty years later, he continues to work tirelessly to promote equality and human rights, drawing on the lessons he learned in this forgotten corner of Africa.

A Nun and the Pig is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit, a story that reminds us of the power of friendship, compassion, and the pursuit of a better world. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for change and that the human spirit can overcome even the most challenging circumstances.

\n Weight: 524g\n
Dimension: 166 x 242 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781398106772\n \n