Book Title: When a Man Cries Publisher: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press Author: Siphiwo Mahala Year: 2007 When a Man Cries is an anatomy of a man's fall from grace as a result of his overriding sexual escapades.
It is at first a moving story of rags to riches then a spectacular fall.
The main protagonist Themba Limba shed tears in public for his indiscretions.
In his teenage years he had a one night stand with his aunt and later slept with his own daughter, although he did not know at the time of the incident.
Author Siphiwo Mahala tells a story of Themba Limba.
Limba was born in Sekunjalo settlement in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
The story begins with the tragic death of Limba's parents.
At this time, Limba was already a man - having his own house, and a wife and a daughter.
However, he had not fulfilled his desire to provide a decent shelter for his parents.
They died still living in squalor conditions in an informal settlement part of Sekunjalo.
Despite the loss of his parents, he soldiers on in life.
He became a teacher, acting principal, community leader and councillor of Sekunjalo.
A complete man.
He was happy and content with his life.
However, he had one weakness.
He loved to spread his seed around engaging in extra marital affairs.
It is these sexual escapades that eventual brought him down.
While he was still at school, and staying with relatives, he slept with his own aunt.
This aunt had caused the death of his uncle by hiring a murderer.
When the aunt was in throes of passion, she confided in Limba about the murder of his uncle.
To his credit Limba wasted no time but reported her to the authorities.
She was arrested, tried and sentenced to long time imprisonment.
It was in prison that she gave birth to a babygirl named Nosipho (a gift) conceived during her sexual encounter with a teenage boy Limba.
In his rise to the top, Limba became an acting principal.
It was during this period that he slept with his learners.
One of them was Nosipho.
She later reported Limba for sexual harassment.
After an inquiry Limba was demoted.
This demotion had a ripple effect on his life - leading to his resignation as a local councillor.
It later emerges that Nosipho is also HIV positive.
In a twist, Limba's wife, Thuli happens to be Nosipho's social worker.
When Thuli finds out all the details of Limba's sexual excursions, she is livid.
She demands they both test for HIV.
Limba refuses, and the wife lives their home.
It was during the long absence of his wife and daughter that Limba took a long introspection of his life choices.
To add salt to his open wounds, he learns that Nosipho is his daughter.
At that moment he decided to face his demons head-on.
As part of regaining his dignity and pride in his community he decides to speak at Nosipho's funeral to fulfil the girl's last wish.
It was during his address at the funeral when he cried, and asked for forgiveness.
This act alone restored some semblance of order in his life.
His wife was so touched by his public display of emotion that she considered taking him back.
When a Man Cries is poignant portrayal of human capacity for ecstasy, pain and forgiveness.
An important manuscript that challenges the concept of manhood, while interrogating the dynamics of life in the post-apartheid South Africa.
At once it is a sociological study of neglect, of poverty and the appalling socio-economic conditions of black South Africans despite 18 years of democracy and economic growth.
Simultaneously, it challenges the notion that a man never cries.
Overall, When a Man Cries is a beautifully written account of a man, his passion, his indiscretion, his fall and revival.
It is a testament to human's capacity for redemption.