Zandile the Resolute – Dudu Busani Dube

Book Two of the Hlomu series. A word of advice, if you have not read Hlomu the Wife, this book won’t make much sense. One thing though that never left my mind throughout the book is though book two still has the same conversational style as Hlomu, the two are so different.

The focus is on Zandile and Nkosana (head of the family). Zandile has been around since before Hlomu. She is Nkosana’s ‘wife’ and mother to two of Nkosana’s sons (whom Hlomu raised). Zandile is mature. Matured by life’s cruelty, experiences from her younger self and by a lost 17 years. She is filled with a mixture of good memories and nightmares of past events. After 17 years, of course much has changed – the one constant is and has been the love Zandile and Nkosana share. In Hlomu, Xolie and Gugu (wives to Mqhele, Sambulo and Nqoba), Zandile has found sisters, they share their stories, lives and laughter with one another, they even know where what stays in each others’ houses.

Zandile has somewhat adjusted to life living with the Zulu brothers, the money; media and the rules of do’s and don’ts. She’s a lady (emphasis on hair – it must always look good), stubborn but knows how to pick her fights. She learns of how judgemental people can be (the media ofcourse) but she doesn’t let that shake her, in fact, she takes matters into her own hands and demands to be listened – telling her own story, her own way. She becomes accustomed to a life of always getting what you want, remains humble, confident and returns the love Nkosana has and gives her.

As with Hlomu, I was going through the motions of living but looked forward to reading again. A great book, it sort of makes you take a break from the world.

– Phumzile Z