Two sisters’ escape from DRC rebels and their pursuit of freedom
By Popina Khumanda
In the heart of a village untouched by the world’s chaos, five-year-old Popina found solace in the simple joys of childhood.
She climbed mango trees, chased baby baboons and explored the open fields with carefree delight. However, her innocence shattered in an instant when a group of strangers invaded the village. They brought a terror that a young girl could never have imagined.
The Smallest Ones is a harrowing and powerful account of survival and resilience in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo in the early 2000s. Rebel soldiers captured Popina, her family and her friends. They subjected them to torture and rape.
The smallest ones escape
After enduring several years in captivity, Popina and her older sister escaped. They began an epic journey that eventually led them all the way to South Africa. However, even there, their nightmare continued.
Written with raw emotion and unflinching honesty, The Smallest Ones takes readers on a journey through the darkest corners of human experience. Yet, it also celebrates the enduring power of hope and the will to survive. This story does not merely recount tragedy. It also offers a poignant exploration of the human spirit’s capacity to endure and overcome.
Eventually, Popina found refuge in a children’s home in Despatch in the Eastern Cape. There, she began building the life she had once only dreamed of as a child. She had never attended school before. Now, she found herself in a classroom and held a pen for the first time. Thus began her journey toward education and freedom.
About the author
Popina Khumanda was born in 1995 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When she was five years old, rebels attacked her village. They captured her and her twenty-one-year-old sister. After spending five years in captivity, they escaped. In search of safety, they walked all the way to South Africa. Despite facing many challenges including no formal schooling, language barriers and financial hardships, Popina completed matric in 2013.
She went on to earn a degree in IT from Nelson Mandela University and later specialised in cybersecurity at the University of Cape Town. Today, she works as a cybersecurity lecturer at a tertiary institution. She uses her incredible journey to inspire and empower others through education.
- PUBLISHER | Penguin Random House SA |
- ISBN | 9781776392209 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R300.00 |
- Classification | Thriller |
