A review by readingnomad
The Gold Diggers by Sue Nyathi

3.0

This is a story of migrants from Zimbabwe forced to leave home due to economic hardship and now seek refuge in South Africa and the UK. I like that The Gold Diggers explores immigration within the African continent because contrary to popular narrative, most of migration in Africa occurs within the continent. The story is rich in characters whose backgrounds are revealed to show their motivations. Leaving home is NOT easy. The journey is tumultuous and legal documentation is hard to come by. What I found intriguing is the role some state actors play in the documentation process. Nyathi maps out how permits and citizenship can be purchased. You will be sad, shocked, and ultimately be empathic to their plight because they are humanised. Although the themes explored are heavy, this was an engaging read. Migration is currently a chat dominating topic and this is a must read. We need more stories on Africans migrating within the continent.