The Madonna of Excelsior – Zakes Mda

Set in the small Free State town of Excelsior, The Madonna of Excelsior is a haunting and beautifully told novel that delves into one of apartheid South Africa’s most controversial episodes—the Immorality Act trials of the 1970s, where black women and white men were prosecuted for interracial relationships.

At the heart of the story is Niki, a young woman whose affair with a prominent white politician leads to scandal, shame, and the birth of a mixed-race child, Popi. Years later, Popi grows up unaware of the full truth of her origins, and as secrets begin to unravel, both mother and daughter are forced to confront the legacy of repression, silence, and survival.

With lyrical prose and emotional depth, Zakes Mda explores themes of identity, motherhood, race, and political hypocrisy. The Madonna of Excelsior is both a personal and national reckoning—a powerful reminder of the human cost of systemic injustice and the quiet strength of those who endure it.