A young boy makes a journey of survival and self-discovery across the awe-inspiring African landscape. Maji and his father are shipwrecked off a deserted coastline, and only Maji survives. Captured by two fierce emissaries, Bere and Ingwe, he is taken to the legendary Kingdom of Gold, ruled by the Great Mambo. On the journey Maji discovers that he has the gift of water-divining. A crippling drought has struck the Kingdom, and Maji is commanded to find water, but there is none, and he fears for his life. He meets Mukonikoni, Ingwe's sister, also a captive and destined to become one of the Mambo's many wives. On a night of flame and fire, when Mukonikoni dances, the Mambo unexpectedly dies, and Mukonikoni is accused of witchcraft. There is only one punishment for witches - death by fire. Escape is the only chance for Maji, Mukonikoni and Ingwe. And in the process Maji learns his inner strength, and that while collectively we may be victims, in our individual lives we can choose to be survivors.

This is the book to buy ... a fatherless boy in peril, called Maji, is captured by slavers, who understand his Magical skill before he does. Lyrically told. -- The Guardian 20030423 '... filled with the vivid imagery and rich mysticism of ancient Africa.' -- South Africa Times, in London 20030423 'An intriguing and mystical book with an exotic setting. Highly recommended' -- BfK 20030901 'A sweeping novel in lyrical prose that enchants, while also concealing overwhelming emotions and terrifying realities ... What a joy.' -- Die Burger 20030901 A story with depths like myth, beautifully told, language exact and with a lovely cadence -- Armadillo 20030701 The Stone (picture book) '... the words of Dianne Hofmeyr lend themselves to reading aloud in cadences that are more like music than preaching.' -- New York Times Book Review 20030701 Boikie You Better Believe it (teenage novel): 'wonderfully entertaining and lyrical' -- Sunday Times, South Africa 20030701

Dianne Hofmeyr grew up next to the sea, on the southern tip of Africa, and has travelled just about everywhere in Africa since. Her father was a mapmaker - helping her to plot not only the stars and unfamiliar terrain but also the texture and smell of new experiences. Her writing is a result of journeys with notebook and camera through places like Eygpt, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. Her teenage fiction has won the prestigious M-Net Book prize, judged with adult fiction, the Sanlam GOLD for Youth Literature (twice), the Sanlam SILVER award, the YOUNG AFRICA AWARD, and an IBBY HONOURS BOOK award.