By Nomusa Xaba (CLEARWATER PUBLISHING)
This is a memoir written by a mother, story teller, percussionist, social activist, educator and motivational speaker affectionately known as Mama Nomusa by her fans. Mama Nomusa Xaba was born in the United States, in the small village of Robbins, Illinois. Her book is one of hope and courage which will plunge the mind of the reader into a pool of words and shoot it straight through to new ideas.
It’s been a long time coming (Clearwater Publishing) is a book of faith and belief, and most importantly love. The book not only focuses on the journey of Mama Nomusa’s life but it also tells the history of South Africa in a unique, compelling way. The journey of life of Mama Nomusa has echoes for a number of women who went through the same things during the woeful times of apartheid.
“Some admiring fan once asked a successful woman how she got to her position in life,” says Mama Nomusa. Her simple reply,” I left where I was!” The point is that sometimes we have to leave where we are in all forms of living, because as the great Moms Mabley once said,” If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.” This is an inspiring book which will stimulate a reader to want to change the world in every way possible; instead of giving you answers, the book provokes questions.
It’s Been A Long Time Coming has the message that hardships, tests and tribulations are just phases that will pass and when that happens, victory is certain. In the book, Mama Nomusa tells the testing blood journey of her family. But the book not only focuses on the life and challenging times of Mama Nomusa, but also has echoes for the many families who lost their family members to exile during the apartheid times in South Africa. Without any shadow of the doubt many families still don’t know what happened to their loved ones who were forced to leave the country and sent in exile for they were labeled as “threats” or terrorists by the apartheid government.
In the book Mama Nomusa uses her own experiences while in exile and tells an inspiring story to many South Africans by relating to her moving life story. It’s Been a Long Time Coming…..contains the idea that ‘My life is My Message!’. It is a good read.
