Monkey's Wedding

Adolescents Elizabeth and Tururu--shes white hes black--share an uneasy friendship on a sisal plantation in Colonial Zimbabwe when Britain declares the country part of a Federation without consulting the natives. Festering resentment to white rule is about to erupt. Elizabeth cant wait for the birth of her baby brother while Tururu reluctantly helps his witchdoctor grandmother Anesu cast spells to drive out the whites.In a bid for power and with a plan to kill the whites Anesus heir apparent Karari tries to steal her magic amulet. She confronts him and he inadvertently sets the ngozi powerful fire spirits against her not realizing that he has tapped into their evil energy. Badly injured Anesu manages to control the ngozi and banish Karari.Unaware of his new power Karari poisons the whites food supply but only Elizabeth is poisoned. Tururu saves her with a magic potion and is accused of being part of the plot. He escapes steals his grandmothers amulet and sneaks it back to Elizabeth to protect her from Karari. Although suspicious and afraid Elizabeth feels drawn to the amulets mysterious power and reluctantly takes it. Tururu goes into hiding at his grandmothers invisible hut bitter at Elizabeths lack of gratitude for the risks hes taken for her.When Elizabeths mother gives birth to a son with debilitating medical problems Elizabeth is not allowed near him. Desperate she steals her brother away and sets off across the hot African veld along with the amulet to seek a cure from Anesu. She gets lost and the amulet is of no help at all. At the end of her tether she digs deep inside herself and reaches out with her mind and heart to Anesu pleading with the old woman to reveal her invisible hut. The hut appears. Impressed a still ailing Anesu helps Elizabeths brother and after consulting her magic bones allows Elizabeth to keep the amulet.Karari with his increasing new powers seeks to impress rebel leaders but they reject him afraid of his unpredictable magic. When he learns that Elizabeth has Anesus amulet he spirits himself to her parents party while his followers set fire to the veld. In the confusion he grabs Elizabeth.Tururu goes to Elizabeths aid and is almost killed. A debilitated Anesu spirits herself to the scene but in her weakened state alone shes no match for Karari. She calls on Tururu and Elizabeth for help. Despite her fear Elizabeth finds the courage to stand up to Karari. The amulet comes to life transforming into a massive spirit bird and Karari is destroyed.As Elizabeths parents make plans to leave Zimbabwe Anesu gives Elizabeth her own amulet and tells her that the magic is in her not the amulet and that she must believe in herself. She also tells Elizabeth that she and Tururu will meet again. They are the future of Africa.