Madumo

Set against the turbulent backdrop of contemporary Soweto, this is a gripping tale of witchcraft and an unlikely friendship. Adam Ashforth, an Australian who has spent many years in the township, finds his longtime friend Madumo in dire circumstances: his family has accused him of using witchcraft to kill his mother and has thrown him out on the street. Convinced that his life is cursed, Madumo seeks help among Soweto's bewildering array of healers and prophets. With Ashforth by his side, skeptical but supportive, Madumo embarks upon a physically grueling treatment regimen that he follows religiously - almost to the point of death - despite his suspicion that it may be better to 'Westernize my mind and not think about witchcraft'. Ashforth's poignant account of Madumo's struggle opens up a mysterious world that is real to many but openly talked about by few. The insights that emerge as Ashforth accompanies his friend on an odyssey through Soweto's supernatural perils have profound implications even for those who believe they live in a world without witches.