THE LARGER THAN LIFE FELICIA MABUZA

Book: Dare to Dream
Author: Felicia Mabuza

One of Africa's most remarkable and stunning successes - that is the author of this work. Think Oprah Winfrey of USA (and indeed the world) and then Felicia of South Africa. She is not just a copycat, she has been a marmoreal, relevant success in her own right. Hence a book touching on her life, an autobiography, would always appeal. Like Ramphele's.

Felicia's awesome talent as a communications guru was forged in the USA, where she not only studied, but initially distinguished herself in her niche. But even earlier in this book, the author tells us about her earlier years in South Africa, how she was not too impressed with many things, including the conditions in which certain male workers lived. She was always imbued with the urge to be successful in life, and going overseas was ideal for her.

Here, she comments on her initial impressions of 'God's own country" and from the female perspective some of these vignettes are quite illuminating, eg how women would even invest everything they had just for their hair to look good, to look appealing etc. Americans apparently, when confronted with different accents might find the same fascinating, or think you are from England!

Through it all, we are impressed with the determination, passion and earnestness of the author, as she finishes her studies and begins to carve a niche for herself in the world of communications, including when America hosted the 1996 Olympics which many might remember for Boxing great Muhammad Ali striving to light the torch...

That Felicia would decide to come back home to SA and contribute her own quota to her mother country with Nelson Mandela in the saddle was indeed fortuitous. She has been a household name for decades now in her South Africa thanks to her marvellous talk-show. A magnificent communicator, she has the knack to make everybody feel at ease with her laid-back style; why, even her quiet, always polite voice pulses with empathy and sympathy during sombre editions of her show; and the fact that she speaks virtually all the major African languages complements her multiple award winning show.

 





This book contains some of the plaudits that have come Felicia's way, thanks to the show. But she is a larger than life personality, a brilliant, endearing lady - and mother - in so many ways. This is one of those books that everybody, African or not, really should read...
- Malome E. B