Hunger Eats a Man

by Nkosinathi Sithole

When Father Gumede, known as priest, loses his job as a farmhand, he realizes he can’t afford to love his neighbor as he does himself. Despondent and enraged, priest cuts off all ties to the church and politics, determined to make a living - at whatever cost. It will take a strange story written by his son Sandile - a comical, terrifying and prophetic tale in which the downtrodden rise up to march on the wealth of a neighboring suburb - to show Priest the hope and humanity inherent in the human spirit. Beautifully poetic, funny and highly relevant, Nkosinathi Sithole’s debut novel highlights the ongoing plight of many rural South Africans and the power of a community working together to bring about change.

Genres: Africa, Fiction, South Africa

170 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ndlalidlindoda, "Hunger Eats A Man". A mirror image of what is happening around us. In our communities. Joblessness. Poor service delivery or lack of. A crumbling public health system. A broken education system. Children learning under trees without proper ablution blocks. Barren land with nothing growing on it. Countless government-funded projects to alleviate poverty and uplift communities but no implementation. Men and women robbed of their dreams by hunger. Hunger. Hunger is a force to be reckoned with. What can you do on an empty stomach? Nothing. Can't sleep. If you get an opportunity to sleep bcause your body is too tired to fight, you don't want to wake up. Wake up to what? To children looking expectantly at you to provide food. A forgotten people. Women abuse. Child abuse. Diseased population. Moral decay and rot. People dependant on "Child Grants" to feed their families. Hunger is like the love you feel when you are sixteen. Massive and physical. The type which love songs are written about.

Majority of our people working in slave-like conditions just so that their families could eat. Let alone buy uniforms so that the children can go to school. No money to pack lunch boxes nor participate in excursions. The plight of the farm labourers is brought to the fore in this book. Priest is employed at an orchard for 14 months. He works 10 hour shifts for less than R300.00 a month. Whoa, black man, exploited at every opportunity. Broken into submission. Broken systematically till his expectations come to nought.

Hunger robs you of progress. Of your dreams. Of making plans. Of seeing beyond your current situation. Hunger robs men of dignity. Hunger robs men of purposeful living. Hunger reduces men to a pitiful existence.

The story centres around Priest, his family, the community of Ndlalindlindoda and the school principal. Bongani. Priest was a proud man. Proud in his vocation and proud of his ability to provide for his family until the great depression. Factories closed down. Mass retrenchments. Confined to his yard at his house he is confronted by abject poverty contrasted against the affluent households of Canaan, a suburb a stone's throw away from his village. Priest derives comfort from the bible. The bible verses continually remind him of God's promise to man that "I will not leave nor forsake you". His wife, MaDuma, reminds him, incessantly, of his responsibilities as a man. To provide for his family. "The time is nigh" is the verse which propels Priest to take decisive action. After another community meeting during which councillors promised jobs, better service delivery and...and..., Priest acknowledges that "God helps those who help themselves". The arrival of "The Destitute encourages the community of "Hunger-Eatsssss" to stand up for themselves and fight for their human rights instead of sitting around moping as if their fate is NOT in their hands.
-

The essence of this book is that the government cannot ignore the plight of the poor ad infinitum. The people will rise and revolt against those they've entrusted to lead them. Against those who continue to plunder the state's resources. Those who continue to divert taxpayers' funds earmarked for the development of the electorate. Those who do not deliver on their promises and instead rub their illegally acquired wealth in the poor's faces.

Well written in "directly translated" English. As a black South African, the language used delivered the message so clearly without any ambiguity. Nkosinathi Sithole is indeed the "Writer for the people". I guess each decade has its own "Voice of the voiceless". The 70's had Steve Biko and now in 2016, we have Nkosinathi Sithole.

I had to read this book at a time such as this. A time where I am just beginning to navigate my way through sociopolitics and coming from "Intergenerational Dialogue" with the Commission for Gender Equality on 26 August 2016, I can attest that the stars are aligned. This is my battle to fight too.

"Hunger Eats A Man" has hallmarks of "The French Revolution". Nothing lasts forever. "We shall do to this government what we did to the apartheid government". A people with a common purpose is more powerful than a government with its grubby hands in treasury's cookie jar.

[SammiKoalaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly funny, and just an honest reflection of the difficulties of balancing cerebral morality and a tangible grumbling tummy.

It also touched on marital dynamics and expectations such as who 'should' provide. I appreciated that the author made the wisest person in this book, Priest's son.

A young person truly grappling with his understanding of religion who was open about it and not keeping up appearances. Lastly, the author explored issues of a living wage and fair pay for farm workers - something I feel very strongly about.

[Alison Smith]

I didn't enjoy the novel, but did write a detailed review on my blog: http://thebooksmithblog.wordpress.com

[Mac Muzvimwe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to bash on fellow African writers but other than the title, this book offers nothing else at all. Several times, I considered quitting. Everything was not in place, story narrative was all over the place.

[Zinhle Ngidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ndlalidlindoda community represents many of our communities. The communities that voted with the hope of a better life, where employment was promised to be a thing of the past, where poverty was supposed to be eradicated, where all basic needs were promised to uplift human dignity. But even today we still have people who sleep hungry, kids who cannot afford to go to school nor to have required school uniforms, where health care is not a priority, where people are losing jobs than getting them, where graduates are loitering around without a promised future, where young and old still line up for lousy government grants to feed their families and they have to accept and appreciate because they are doing a “favour” for them, where farm workers are abused and underpaid and many more.

The above is everything that happens in this community where government officials only remember their existence when it is closer to elections. Where government comes with ideas to eradicate poverty in the form of co- ops to be run by communities and be funded by government which are never implemented. We still have people who lose their dignity in these communities like the Priest in this book who lost his job and could hardly support his family.

It is such a sad truth that even after so many years of democracy we still have such communities. While these communities exist, we do have those that are still black and staying just a stone throw away from these poverty stricken communities, yet badla “izambane lampondo”, the rich and privileged ones. They do not fight the same battles with their brothers and sisters because they have made it in life. While they throw piles of food away and clean their fridges, these communities sleep with nothing but water in their stomachs.

The story though it is made a novel it is the truth of many communities. It has farm workers that are over worked but paid peanuts by a white man. It also has a black school principal that lives in a double story house who gets tenders left right and centre and he gives nothing to the community that he comes from, not just giving but steal from them in the process by not using the money intended for service delivery for its purpose. Is this not what our leaders do in most communities and throw these monies in their pockets?

Is this not what leads to most strikes we see in our communities. The crime rate that is not capped to such an extent that people take law into their own hands? Get all these facts from this book. See how hunger does to our people. It takes away their dignity, they lose value of life and whatever they believe in. They believe ancestors are doing nothing though they slaughter cows and goats yearly to appease them. Those who believe in God, they see their prayers not being answered and leave Him too. They have no hope for future.

But I loved the end of this novel. At the end of the day, as people, we need to fight and take responsibility for our own lives. No one will do anything for you, it has been proven. We need to unite against poverty and deal with issues that affect us head on. The future is in our hands.

Sithole outdid himself in this novel that is based on the truth of many communities. He did this so effortlessly with so much humour in between. He deals with issues like child rape, poverty, service delivery and many more. Siyabonga Jobe!!!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've wanted to read this book for a long time and it certainly did not disappoint. Not only did it tell the story of so many South Africans who face hardship, hunger, unemployment and poverty - while living alongside others who appear to have more than they will ever have use for - but it spoke to the deep issues and psyche of individuals in each of these situations. Yes, South Africa has a complicated and saddening history, and yes it still faces many challenges - but this author managed to talk to the inequality and classism in a way that gives me continued hope for my country. I want to read more by this author!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not an easy book to read but I'm glad I persevered because it carries an important message. It's written in English but the prose carries a Zulu rhythm and cadence, giving the story an authenticity that feels rooted in rural South Africa. The result is a voice that can feel unusual at first, but ultimately becomes part of the novel’s power.

Set in the poverty-stricken community of Ndlalidlindoda (translated as “Hunger Eats a Man”, where the novel gets its title) the story follows Father Gumede, known simply as Priest. We see as unemployment, retrenchment and grinding hunger strip away his faith in both church and politics. Most striking is the gradual erosion of dignity and Priest is not alone in his experiences.

Sithole paints a bleak picture of rural life where white farmers, local elites and opportunistic politicians all exploit the poor, noticing them only when votes are needed.

The novel is equally unflinching when confronting the topics of violence against women and children, and Sithole chooses to focus on yet women’s resilience in supporting one another, seizing control of their lives and quietly pushing back against oppression.

Threaded through the narrative is the strange, prophetic story written by Priest’s son, Sandile, hinting at rebellion and revolution. By the end, the novel leaves readers with a troubling question: if injustice is so clear, what stops the poor from rising up against it?

Bleak, angry and thought-provoking, this is a challenging but rewarding four-star read.

[Weziwe Duma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book informs the reader about the poverty levels of some communities in South Africa. It shows the hopelessness some people find themselves in after living through them for years. One can't help but sympathize with them and hope things will change for the better.

[Ntuthuko Sokutu · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about the book for me is the humour. The synopsis of google sold me dreams. I was 60% through the book and still waiting for Priest to do what ever it took to feed his family. In reality all he did was get angrier and talk to himself more and more.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst the book is wonderfully written it is a waste of time. The story has no proper ending it just leaves you hanging and annoyed! There is no resolution to the problems faced by the people of the community, Pastor's confliction is unresolved ....its just messy

[Penny de Vries · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hunger Meets a Man is the English meaning of Ndlalidlindoda, a village situated in the foothills of the Drakensberg, not too far from Estcourt. The wealthier blacks live in Canaan, an area where the whites used to live, and look down on those who live in the informal settlement of Ndlalidlindoda. The community struggles and still lives in extreme poverty with little chance of employment. The white farmers continue to exploit their vulnerability and there is no one to protect their interests.

The narrative follows the lives of several families as they wrestle with their circumstances. Many of them are a strange mixture of modernity and traditionalism, especially when it comes to belief. Furthermore, even in this rural community, there are divisions according to class, or perhaps it is rather that class is defined by wealth. Some have gained their wealth and position through corruption and do not want the poverty stricken to infiltrate their domain. Notwithstanding the bleak nature of the topic, there is a healthy injection of humour mixed in with the pathos but some events were a little far-fetched which detracts from the whole.

On the one hand, I think the book tackles too many issues and therefore does justice to none of them but on the other hand, the characters are colourful and extremely passionate and the dark humour underscores the tragedy of life in this poverty-stricken community rather than trivialising it. It is refreshingly unusual despite its flaws and worth reading.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Hunger Eats a Man (Ndlalidlindoda), there are no jobs. Even Priest, who used to be a respected man, has to go and work for less than nothing at a farm, digging holes and planting trees. The white man exploits them, the politicians lie and throw dust in their eyes, women complain about the lack of food and constant assaults, neighbours stop helping neighbours... And then a tale written by Priest's son makes him notice the beauty around him once again. Not a funny topic, but definitely written with humour.

[Molobeng Serame · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, funny and thought provoking

This book really painted the socio-economic issues we are facing in South Africa. I like how he uses religion and culture at some different extremes. Good humour used. I wish he could have written more about Sandile.

[Eszter]

written by one of our program's brilliant Fellows! yeah!