Spanning continents and generations, Mbaqanga Nights is a vibrant novel that intertwines Jewish heritage, South African history, and the unifying power of music. The story begins in a Ukrainian shtetl, where two Jewish brothers embark on a perilous journey to South Africa in the late 1800s. Decades later, their grandson, Laurence Jude, opens a mixed-race jazz club in apartheid-era Durban—a bold act of resistance in a time of segregation and unrest.

As the rhythms of mbaqanga music fill the air, the club becomes a haven for unity and defiance. Laurence's narrative, enriched by his reflections on privilege, morality, and the weight of history, bridges his family's past with the tumultuous present. Leonora Meriel masterfully weaves a tale that celebrates cultural fusion, resilience, and the enduring quest for justice.