When his mother and father become victims of 'the curse' which is destroying his remote African village, nine-year-old Musa, a Zulu boy, is determined to find his long-lost uncle and earn enough money to help his grandmother to buy a new cow. The old one, that guaranteed their survival, has been sacrificed in the attempt to save Musa's father life.

The boy embarks into a journey to the heart of Aids-torn Africa. After crossing the African wilderness, he finds himself in the teeming metropolis of Johannesburg. His only possession is his wit, determination, and a small drum, a gift from his dying father. His courage and resourcefulness are tested in the concrete jungle of the big city. He finds himself surrounded by violent street gangs and the indifference that keeps thousands of children orphaned and homeless. His friendships with a local truck driver and a street-wise young girl help him survive and confront the realities of the new plague.