Teenager Seraki Mandindi and his parents live in a three-room tin shanty in Soweto Township, Johannesberg, South Africa. Seraki's brother Phakane lived there too, until he was arrested. Seraki and his family don't know exactly why Phakane was arrested, and they don't know where he's being held.

When, almost by chance, Seraki becomes part of the cast of the musical iSezela, his life undergoes some dramatic changes.

Why is the musical called iSezela (crocodile)? Mosake says: "Our country is filled with plastic crocodiles: the old traditions that enslave our people, the educational system, the government and its policies, trial without detention, the State of Emergency, and the crime and violence of our townships.... This is what our musical is about: the plastic crocodiles that cause our suffering. And you..you are the young people who have the power to change everything."

The cast of iSezela spreads their message all the way to Broadway in New York City, and at the same time there are major changes happening in their home country, as the evil old crocodiles are being defeated.


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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Our TOC lunch featured some really serious pancakes but no crocodiles. This book decided to go home with someone else.

Released for crrcookie's November 2009 Bountiful Harvest Food Release Challenge.