Manche, The African Martyr

A South African born in the early 1900s when culture was religion, Manche Masemola died for her Christian beliefs at the age of 15. Having become widely popular after her death and being depicted in a statue above Westminster Abbey, London’s Great West Door, this intriguing documentary examines the events surrounding her death through interviews with the people who were familiar with the story and those from her village. Manche’s martyrdom sparks an important discussion about the arrival of German missionaries in South Africa and their impact on indigenous beliefs during the initial days of contact. As a descendant of Manche, Letebele Masemola, who drives the narrative, reflects on this bold story as a journey to her ancestral homeland to rediscover her identity in relation to her cultural beliefs