The Hlomu Series

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…