Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

The story is an apartheid eye-opener

One would be forgiven for thinking a full-time author wrote this book. It was only after reading that I checked and discovered the author was a comedian. Well, that should explain the humor aplenty in the book…

Born a Crime tells the story of a mixed boy growing up under South African Apartheid. Although littered with plenty of funny quips and rib-cracking statements, Born a Crime does not fail to give a vivid overview of the racial system that so dominated the entire South African system.

The book is written from the POV of the author, who is the subject of the book. The writing is not static, neither is it progressive like normal prose. The prose jumps from different events and scenes, following a trend of linked themes rather than linearly chronicling events.

The story is an apartheid eye-opener. The evils, intricacies, ironies, and grim facts of the system are in stark contrast with the matter-of-factly manner it is delivered. The result is a hilariously chilling expose to the unbelievably tough upbringing of a young boy of mixed heritage in South Africa.

As I commence my post-read mullings, I cannot help but wonder how it would have been for me, growing up in such circumstances. The ironic thing is that many Africans can draw parallels with Trevor Noah’s upbringing, even if only in the slightest of ways. One realizes that the African experience is quite similar even in places as distant from the other as Nigeria and South Africa.

Highly recommended!