First Love’S Embrace

It is 1973 in Livingstone, Zambia, and seventeen-year-old Liseli Mwenda has overcome insurmountable odds to become a beautiful, well-behaved young woman with superior intelligence. Normally swarmed with suitors, Liseli detests them all. But when Liseli falls ill and steps outside a church service for fresh air, she meets Banda Zulu, the handsomest man she has ever seen in her life. As they begin to create their own unique love story, Banda and Liseli seem destined to be together forever.

But life soon intervenes and disrupts all their seemingly certain plans. When Banda receives a bursary to study abroad, he asks for Liselis hand in marriagecertain that his proposal will ensure happy future together forever. As he meets with Liselis family, he feels hopeful, even though their families come from two different tribes. Unfortunately, Banda has no idea he is about to be forbidden from seeing his one true love ever again.

In this poignant love story, Liseli must wrestle with contradictions between her culture and her dreams as she decides whether to follow her heart or her head.