Nii, a young boy from the West Coast of Africa stows away on a ship to the land of dreams, America. He is thrown overboard to sharks. Protected by a mysterious rainbow fish he washes up on the shores of the South Coast of the Zulu Kingdom. After a misunderstanding over language and culture he is accepted into the cattle herding community. He teaches them to fish because "sea never dry". They, in turn, teach him about cows because "cattle is wealth". When Nii finally goes home, Tofi, the little girl who fought for his acceptance into the community, again fights for his return to Zululand. She is compelled to go on a pulsating search for the magic rainbow fish, and has to dance in fire.