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Whites Can Dance Too

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Whites Can Dance Too by Kalaf Epalanga is a vibrant novel that delves into the worlds of identity, culture, and music. The story follows the journey of an Angolan immigrant in Europe who is passionate about Kizomba, a traditional dance with African roots. As the protagonist navigates the complexities of belonging and self-expression, the novel explores how heritage and rhythm unite people across different backgrounds.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3699
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in a vibrant exploration of identity and culture beyond borders. Its rich narrative blends music, history, and personal stories, offering an insightful look into life as a travelling musician. If you appreciate tales that highlight the intersections of African and European experiences, this book may captivate you.

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Whites Can Dance Too

An exhilarating debut novel told through three different voices, Whites Can Dance Too is Kalaf Epalanga's reflection on and celebration of the music of his homeland, the intertwining of cultural roots, and freedom and love.

An exhilarating debut novel told through three different voices, Whites Can Dance Too is Kalaf Epalanga's reflection on and celebration of the music of his homeland, the intertwining of cultural roots, and freedom and love.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

It took being caught at a border without proper documents for me to realise I'd always been a prisoner of sorts. Kuduro had been my passport to the world, thanks to it I'd travelled to places I'd never dreamed of visiting. But the chickens had come home to roost . . .

Whites Can Dance Too tells the story of Kalaf, an Angolan musician stopped at the Norwegian border on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant. While in a holding cell awaiting interrogation, he considers the life he has led and the events that have brought him to his current-day situation.

His story is the story of a musical genre, kuduro, a blistering, high-energy form infused with social and political messages; of Sofia, a white Portuguese girl at the heart of the Lisbon dance scene who agrees to marry Kalaf to help him obtain a European passport; and of Viking, the Norwegian policeman haunted by a previous immigration case who holds Kalaf's fate in his hands and finds himself questioning his own livelihood following the rise of racism and prejudice in Norway.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571371433

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 June 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Export - Airside ed

Contributors:

  • Translated by Daniel Hahn
  • Translated by Daniel Hahn

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 135.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 347g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Kalaf Epalanga is an Angolan musician and writer. Best known internationally for fronting the Lisbon-based dance collective Buraka Som Sistema, he is a celebrated columnist in Angola and Portugal. Whites Can Dance Too is his acclaimed debut novel. Epalanga is currently based in Berlin.

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