In a perfect world, everyone would chronicle their lives, each with all its unique vicissitudes and ups and downs. That way, those who stand at the foot of life’s path would have multitudes of first-hand reference manuals from which to pick and discard life’s lessons, as their own circumstances dictate. As dynamic as the world is, with its ever-changing seasons, circumstances, and situations, our individual life journeys have enough similarities and commonalities for younger generations to learn from their elders and, better still, to read their life stories and gain insights that might help them plan and pave their own paths. 

This book chronicles the life story of Dan L Nkosi (‘Shabangu’ to others). It aims to respond to the universal quest for an ideal utopian world, where individuals leave clear tracks for those who wish to follow behind them. Many readers will find resonance in some of the episodes contained herein – for there are stark similarities in all of our stories. This is the value of a life recorded.

A Memoir to Sons and Daughters is a story of the remarkable power of God’s guiding light in an otherwise simple life and the assurance of the triumph of good and persistence over adversity.

The book adopts a simultaneously episodic and phasic approach, traversing the different stages of the life of one Dan Nkosi; his childhood, student days and working life, shining the torch on his moderately tumultous life, stretching from Daveyton in Benoni, to Piet Retief, Amersfoort, in the present, Mpumalanga, to Katlehong, in Germiston, and back to Daveyton, Springs, with a final working stint in Soweto and the West Rand. In all of these places, Dan’s life episodes and how he navigated these leave a discernible trail of valuable life lessons. Importantly, many of the experiences that Dan shares through his life story are not totally unique to his life, as they resonate with the lives of many others, for as the book emphasizes, there are shades of all of our stories in each of our stories. This is just one of the many elements in the story itself which make this a book for everyone.