Book Review: Dark Continent
March 3, 2010 by Sithe
Dark Continent is about Sihle Khumalo, who hails from the rural KZN. And to celebrate his 30th birthday, he decides to explore Africa from Cape to Cairo on public transport.
As he takes us through his travels, he breaks down stereotypes and perceptions. He re-discovers the continent that we all have grown to love and pity. Each encounter with locals is laced with some sort of drama and a lesson to be learnt but each is personal and reverential. His unprecedented humor and a zest of sarcasm make the book a fine read.
I have read a few Africa travel books before but Dark Continent gave me that feeling of wanting to just pack my bag, hit the road and explore this beautiful continent. So if you have money to spare or you just want to get away from everything else, take the trip. But if you are broke like the rest of us, read the book.
Favorite Quote
‘You see, my broer, I can see the difference between Xhosas and Zulus by looking at their eyes. All Zulus have squint eyes. So that is how I knew that you are a Zulu,’ he continued, confidently.
That was a first for me. Nobody had ever told me that I have squint eyes. What is a well-known difference between Xhosas and Zulus, ac knowledged especially among black South Africans, is that Xhosas are very manipulative, power-hungry people whereas Zulus are stupid, taxi-driving war-mongers who are capable of insulting you until you develop concussion.
By Sithe Sikhosana ©
Twitter: @Sithe1
Quote Of The Day: 
hayi kabi on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:40 am
Sithe, you have not done this book justice with this 10 line review.
It’s an awesome book but it’s been out for years now. Ngathi u forgot that BS asked you to do a book review, u then saw this book on your bookshelf and decided to write a review in 2 minutes.
At this rate we’ll have a 10 line review of ‘Long walk to freedom’ from you the next time.
Hope this doesn’t come across as too harsh but as people we need to have a spirit of excellence in everything we put our names on.
Lela on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 1:31 am
But wt ur 10 lines u made me wana go n buy d book,lol @ d last line n d quote i think its true bt i wl observe more.
Lela on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 1:34 am
Infact i wl buy d book,it wl break my record of buying only christian books,i want it n dat 1 ya d world according 2 juju.
ugogal on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 5:35 am
I fully agree with hayi kabi. This book is really awsome. I just couldn’t put it down! I even used 2 read it on the slow N1 traffic bet pta & jozi!
It puts u right there as if u r travelling 2 egypt!
J.A.Y. on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 7:59 am
I know it’s hard to do a review without giving too much away – but yes we would’ve appreciated a few more quotes from the book.
I’m sure there were happy, sad , funny and scary moments on this trip. In any case – I’m not even a great reader (anymore) – but this is a must-read.
Did the gentleman mention how long it took him to complete this trip and roughly how much money he had to cough up – so I can know just how poor I am for this journey – which also happens to be a DREAM of mine.
Thanks Sithe – but yeah don’t be shy to really rip the book apart – so to speak.
Double Standards on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 8:24 am
I know Sithe gave a 10-line review, but take it from me, I have read it and its a brilliant book, one of those u dont want to put down until u finish, also the wit and the humour, its hilarious, and after reading Dark Continent, u can also buy Heart of Africa, also by Sihle Khumalo, I tell u, u feel like u have been to those other African countries just by reading the books, and it makes u appreciate our continent even more, these two books are worth every penny u spent on them
sponono on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 8:54 am
LOL…hawu sthe and your 10-line review….my guess s you didnt like teh book THAT much but you’d like us to read it so you just HAD to rite somethinginyana…adn that squint eyes thingy is making me mad…ngizolima’zumuntu..nx bangazosjwayela kabi”….lol
SZ on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 9:23 am
Its more like the people who have read the book that have commented are the one’s that are selling the book and doing the reviews more than Sihle.
sponono on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 9:48 am
SZ..uSthe started with a bang and then the ooomph just deflated in his reviews..LOL…Ok here’s hoping the next review will be more eeh eh eh sdudla-rish ngoba lona u-two-slice-we-review
Pearl on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 10:37 am
Such a pathetic review,this book is just too brilliant 2 recieve such mediocre review
Sithe on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 10:42 am
Thank you guys for the feedback. This is the reaction I needed. The review was made short deliberately. There is difference between writing a review for the sake of it and and actually wanting to connect with the people who will be reading. At least now I know where I stand. If you have read my first review, you’ll understand that I take my work seriously.
Apologies to those who were offended, it was intentional
Once again, thank you for the feedback.
One Love,
Sithe
sponono on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 10:48 am
Apologies to those who were offended, it was intentional..SMH
he he he Sthe cha uya’sjwayela shem…you offend us intentionally…yo haayi-ke…
we patiently wait for another review…(by the way ya’ll The Time of The Writer Festival is on from the 9nth of March UKZN…perhaps you can find a gem of a book there to review–even Ndumiso Ngcobo will be there
ntshepeng on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 11:56 am
saw something about this book on twitter and i think i’ll buy it. don’t see the point in the “intentional offence”.
Enkosi on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 12:24 pm
LOL @ “intentional offence”. Hayi ngekhe.
Anyway even the two lines also want to make me read the book but it’ll just go on my getting-extremely-long wish list coz I’m so broke and have been for so long
.
Cherry yase bhayi on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 4:48 pm
I read the book last year,twas awesome,but I felt like the guy didnt hav that much fun travelling the dark continent!
SZ on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 7:37 pm
Sithe if u’re around DBN pls attend Time of the Writer,Sponono am going to be there on the 13th def they hve Ndumiso Ngcobo and the guy (forgot the name Uwam something) who wrote the Say you’re one of them book.
sponono on Wed, 3rd Mar 2010 8:07 pm
SZ..i’m also gonna be there durign teh opneing on tuesday…representin abelungu bam…I’m hoping to get a pic of Ndumiso or some other top-class author
Mogwanthi on Thu, 4th Mar 2010 2:39 pm
LOL@ Sithe’s intentional offence!
Miss H on Thu, 4th Mar 2010 3:21 pm
Guys I am sure he meant unintentional. It must have been a typo.
sponono on Fri, 5th Mar 2010 9:28 am
Miss H he said The review was made short deliberately.it was intentional…no typo there…
Just heared the authro of teh bookd being interviewed on Ukhozi this morning, I thought its a young man, but he sounded babarish…very serious…anyways he spoke about ReadSA which y’all should check ou