Dudu
Busani Dube
I first heard about Dudu from my cousin who had just read
her first book in the Hlomu series and thought I would like it. And I did! I
was blown away. To be quite honest, at first, I didn't think I would, I thought
it would be a drag, a redundant story about some girl who comes to Jozi seeking
a better life, only to get schooled by life- but boy did I get schooled along
with her?
Dudu brings a refreshing twist to South African literature.
Her ability to turn stories of everyday life into encapsulating mysteries,
horrors, and fantasies is amazing. The Hlomu series has a way of putting
relationships into perspective. The ordeals faced by friends, siblings, and
lovers take on a whole new narrative in her stories. Reading through this
series is like looking at life from a different viewpoint. This, however, does
not take away from how relatable this story is, appealing to readers across
various age groups and offering an escape and a sense of hope for those who
need one. There are 3 books in the series -that I know of- and whilst they are
interlinked, they all bring a unique rendition of the fairytales and horrors of
the characters represented.
First in the series, is the book; Hlomu- The Wife. The story of Hlomu is a heart-wrenching one that
pulls at your heartstrings. Hlomu is a young graduate who comes to Jo’burg to
pursue a career in Journalism. She meets a guy she assumes to be a taxi driver,
who has 7 brothers who all look painstakingly similar. With some resistance,
she finds herself falling in love with him and she happens to be the piece of
the puzzle, his family has been missing. Hlomu's story is one of hope and
growth, a bildungsroman of sorts. She epitomises strength, bravery, and passion,
there is a tenacity about her that just cannot be ignored.
Having joined the Zulu family at a young age and having to
take on the responsibility of becoming an instant mom at age 22, you cannot
help but marvel at her strength and will. Hlomu ends up taking responsibility
for, and practically raising the kids in the Zulu family as her own, despite not
knowing where or who their mothers are. Hlomu and Mqhele decide to get married
a year after meeting. This prospect of marriage forces the brothers to deal
with the gruesome memory of their past, a past they have run away from and have
no need to confront until the issue of marriage arises.
Next in the series is Zandile-
The Resolute. Zandile is the eldest brother Nkosana’s lover. The two’s love
is a long-standing one that could not even be dissolved by 5 years of not
seeing each other or neither of them knowing where the other was. Zandile and
Nkosana are high-school sweethearts who are separated one dreadful night when
the brothers flee their place of birth to save themselves from the wrath of
their father’s nemeses. Their story resembles that of Romeo and Juliet, in that
their families, or at least Zandile’s family wanted nothing to do with the
Zulus. They reconnect when one-day Zandile sees Nkosana driving a GP registered taxi on a highway
and she resolves to go seek him out in Johannesburg, with no idea of where she
would start. Zandile at this time is betrothed to a man named Gaza who was a
childhood friend of hers. Though she does not love him, her parents believe he
would be a fitting match for their daughter. She returns home a year later
pregnant with Nkosana’s child hoping to get forgiveness from her parents and a
blessing upon their marriage. They are instead met with fury and disapproval from
Zandile’s parents. Zandile’s mother calls a lady to come and perform an
abortion on her but Zandile ends up killing her mother in a scuffle to save her
unborn child’s life. She gets apprehended a few years later after fleeing the
scene and is sentenced to life imprisonment.
The last book in the series is focused on Naledi and it is
titled Naledi- His love. Naledi is first introduced in the series as
Qhawe’s -one of the 7 brothers- girlfriend. For Naledi, Qhawe’s love is redemptive
on so many levels. She is forced by circumstance to accept and love her full
figure, so bodily insecurities are overcome. Through Qhawe, her faith and
belief in her deserving love- in its purest form- are restored. Qhawe meets her
just as she is trying to heal from a past relationship that was both
physically and psychologically abusive. Qhawe helps Naledi mend her
relationship with her sisters and suggests to her that she and her sisters
reconnect with their mother who they had not seen since Naledi was a child.
What I find particularly pleasurable about Dube’s writing is
the realness and the bluntness of the stories she tells. While reading Hlomu’s
story, for instance, I found myself mad at her for “making” her stay in an
abusive relationship. When countless things repeatedly occur, some illegal and
some just morally wrong, Hlomu is faced with a seemingly perfect opportunity to
call it quits but she stays. It makes you question your ability to love
yourself and others and discusses the possibility and ability to forgive in the
most raw manner. You sometimes find yourself crying with the character because
the story has forced you to confront issues in your own life you never even
knew existed.
Zandile’s story, for example, is one about resilience,
stubborn faith, and sacrificial love. Yet again, here you find yourself
questioning your own morals as you agree and are drawn to hate and despise,
then forgive all at the same time. I have not read Naledi’s story in full, but
what I can deduce from Dube’s blog and from Zandile-The
Resolute, is that Naledi’s story is one of self-discovery and
self-acceptance. We have all had to heal from one pain or another, and her
story is about restoration, which we can relate to. Naledi’s story also offers
a “voice of reason” when she asks Qhawe to talk to, and encourage her sister’s
high school learners by relating his life story and how he and his brothers
made a success of their lives against all odds -because we all need a bit of
encouragement in our lives, once in a while, and proof that it can be
done.
I have completed the first two books in the series, and I’m
now searching tirelessly for this last piece of the puzzle. The books are not
the easiest to find, but I can assure you that they are a real gem to behold. I
did a bit of research after reading the first book and found out that the first
book was self-published online and the other two are available through a site
called africanbuys.com or click on
this link
for more info. I found out yesterday that Exclusive Books also stocks the books
although they fly off the shelves faster than you can say cheese, the best
thing to do would be to place an order.
P.S. there are typos evident throughout the series. I have
no idea what the desired effect if there is one, is. This, however, is what I
made of them. As I was reading through the first few pages of Hlomu-The Wife, I was taken aback and
thought it was a gross oversight on the part of the editors. As I continued
reading and getting engrossed in the storyline and acquainted with the characters,
the imperfections in the grammar began to foreground a realness in the stories
echoed. The story did not feel overly polished and it complimented Dube’s raw
delivery of pertinent life stories, without the sugar coat. So do not let the
little things stand in your way of experiencing something great.
I do hope that you enjoy these stories as much as I have and
that you find yourself as you peruse through the pages. Dube’s characters offer
a sense of solace and community to its readers. Take a tour with Dube and her
characters in a journey of self-realisation. Have fun…
