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The Purple Violet of Oshaantu
“I did not want to be insensitive to my culture, I did not want to be insulting, but I wanted to be as honest and realistic as possible.” Neshani Andreas (1964–2011). Through the voice of Mee Ali, readers experience the rhythms and rituals of life in rural Namibia in interconnected stories. In Oshaantu, a place where women are the backbone of the home but are expected to submit to patriarchal dominance, Mee Ali is happily married. Her friend, Kauna, however, suffers at the hands of an abusive husband. When he is found dead at home, many of the villagers suspect her of poisoning him. Backtracking from that time, the novel, with its universal appeal, reveals the value of friendships, some of which are based on tradition while others grow out of strength of character, respect, and love.
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2001
25 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
Neshani Andreas
1 book10 followersNeshani Andreas was a Namibian writer, who had also worked as a teacher and for the American Peace Corps. She is best known for her novel The Purple Violet of Oshaantu, which made her the first Namibian to be included in Heinemann's African Writers Series. She died at the age of 46, having been diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2010.
From 1988 to 1992, Andreas taught at a rural school in northern Namibia. In 2001, she published The Purple Violet of Oshaantu which was inspired in part by her experiences there] The novel explores the status of women in traditional Namibian society. When the book was published as part of the African Writers Series by publishers Heinemann; the first Namibian author to have a work included.
The work gained her international attention, being one of the first post-independence novels published following the South African occupation. She explained that at the time, the writing culture was not well established in Namibia, describing the work as "lonely". At the time of publishing her first novel, she was 37 years old.
Andreas was working as a programme officer for the Forum for African Women Educationalists at the time of her death at the age of 46. The organisation seeks to educate women and girls.[1] She had been diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2010.
From 1988 to 1992, Andreas taught at a rural school in northern Namibia. In 2001, she published The Purple Violet of Oshaantu which was inspired in part by her experiences there] The novel explores the status of women in traditional Namibian society. When the book was published as part of the African Writers Series by publishers Heinemann; the first Namibian author to have a work included.
The work gained her international attention, being one of the first post-independence novels published following the South African occupation. She explained that at the time, the writing culture was not well established in Namibia, describing the work as "lonely". At the time of publishing her first novel, she was 37 years old.
Andreas was working as a programme officer for the Forum for African Women Educationalists at the time of her death at the age of 46. The organisation seeks to educate women and girls.[1] She had been diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
December 14, 2019
I noticed this in the feed of a friend and here we are. This is a first novel and the author is Namibian. It is set in the village of Oshaantu in a rural area of Namibia and is told by Mee Ali about her neighbour and friend Kauna. They are both women whose husbands work away in the mines whilst they look after the homestead and work the land. The two women have contrasting husbands. Mee Ali’s husband (Michael) treats her well and does not abuse or beat her, but Kauna’s husband (Shange) is very violent and abusive; he also keeps mistresses and stays with them. One day he returns home and dies very suddenly. The story is told in part flashback, part present. The novel revolves around the preparation for the funeral. It is a story of friendship between two women, but it is also an examination of the power of patriarchy. Patriarchy partly built on indigenous culture and traditional practices and partly on colonial Christianity and its firm view of the place of women.
Kauna decides she is not going to follow traditional mourning, she is not going to weep and she is not going to give a widow’s speech at the funeral saying how wonderful he was. It’s a good story, powerfully written which challenges the traditional place of women and the expectation that men can do what they wish as women are property. The novel is realistic about the struggle and about the fact that many women accept their roles, as Kauna did when her husband was alive. Andreas however does subvert the role of victim into which women are placed, by creating a community of women and supportive friendships and in characters like Mukwankala, an older woman who shames Shange in front of his friends.
Andreas explores the themes of women’s agency and victimhood in the context of her novel; challenging traditional values and imposed colonial ones at the same time. Interestingly the one male character known not to beat and abuse his wife (Michael), is regarded as weak and controlled by his wife as a result. Even he does not challenge tradition and does not criticise the men who do beat their wives. The tensions between traditional culture and the modern world are explored. The whole is full of tenderness and humour and is well worth looking out.
Sadly this is Neshani Andreas’s only novel; I liked this one enough to look for more only to discover she died within the last couple of years.
Kauna decides she is not going to follow traditional mourning, she is not going to weep and she is not going to give a widow’s speech at the funeral saying how wonderful he was. It’s a good story, powerfully written which challenges the traditional place of women and the expectation that men can do what they wish as women are property. The novel is realistic about the struggle and about the fact that many women accept their roles, as Kauna did when her husband was alive. Andreas however does subvert the role of victim into which women are placed, by creating a community of women and supportive friendships and in characters like Mukwankala, an older woman who shames Shange in front of his friends.
Andreas explores the themes of women’s agency and victimhood in the context of her novel; challenging traditional values and imposed colonial ones at the same time. Interestingly the one male character known not to beat and abuse his wife (Michael), is regarded as weak and controlled by his wife as a result. Even he does not challenge tradition and does not criticise the men who do beat their wives. The tensions between traditional culture and the modern world are explored. The whole is full of tenderness and humour and is well worth looking out.
Sadly this is Neshani Andreas’s only novel; I liked this one enough to look for more only to discover she died within the last couple of years.
March 21, 2016
3.5 stars
This is one of those books where a narrator with a relatively uneventful life tells us all about a friend who experiences more dramatic events. Ali lives a peaceful life in her Namibian village, though not always an easy one, as her husband (like most in the village) works out of town and she’s left to do the farming and childrearing on her own. But her best friend, Kauna, has an abusive and philandering husband – so when he suddenly drops dead, Kauna isn’t interested in pretending to mourn as the villagers expect.
The book's understanding of people made it an enjoyable read; the characters’ social interactions and reactions to their circumstances ring true to me despite the cultural distance. It was easy to imagine actually spending time with these women, which is not always the case for me with foreign fiction. The book immerses the reader in Namibian society in a way that’s accessible to a foreign reader without stopping to explain in a way that would make it feel geared toward foreigners. And it deals with issues that deeply impact the characters and their community, but have global relevance as well. I particularly appreciated Ali’s confusion and frustration at the way others seem to expect her to worship the ground her husband walks on simply because he doesn’t beat her and supports the kids – yes, that’s important, and she loves her husband for more than just those reasons, but are you really going to fawn over someone for meeting minimum standards for a decent human being? How do you respond when your minimum is unattainable for others?
The book’s downside is that there isn’t a particularly strong plot (much of the story consists of Ali reminiscing about past events), and that the writing is simple without being especially graceful; I had the impression the author was writing in her non-native language. Nevertheless, the straightforward style makes it easy to read and the book deserves more attention than it’s received so far.
This is one of those books where a narrator with a relatively uneventful life tells us all about a friend who experiences more dramatic events. Ali lives a peaceful life in her Namibian village, though not always an easy one, as her husband (like most in the village) works out of town and she’s left to do the farming and childrearing on her own. But her best friend, Kauna, has an abusive and philandering husband – so when he suddenly drops dead, Kauna isn’t interested in pretending to mourn as the villagers expect.
The book's understanding of people made it an enjoyable read; the characters’ social interactions and reactions to their circumstances ring true to me despite the cultural distance. It was easy to imagine actually spending time with these women, which is not always the case for me with foreign fiction. The book immerses the reader in Namibian society in a way that’s accessible to a foreign reader without stopping to explain in a way that would make it feel geared toward foreigners. And it deals with issues that deeply impact the characters and their community, but have global relevance as well. I particularly appreciated Ali’s confusion and frustration at the way others seem to expect her to worship the ground her husband walks on simply because he doesn’t beat her and supports the kids – yes, that’s important, and she loves her husband for more than just those reasons, but are you really going to fawn over someone for meeting minimum standards for a decent human being? How do you respond when your minimum is unattainable for others?
The book’s downside is that there isn’t a particularly strong plot (much of the story consists of Ali reminiscing about past events), and that the writing is simple without being especially graceful; I had the impression the author was writing in her non-native language. Nevertheless, the straightforward style makes it easy to read and the book deserves more attention than it’s received so far.
October 31, 2021
A story about the women of Oshaantu, providing a peek into the patriarchal structures of clans, homesteads as well as rthythms and rituals of life in a small rural village in Namibia. Simple but honest, it was a pleasure to be a part of it for a while.
October 27, 2025
#ReadAroundTheWorld #Namibia
This is the debut novel by the late Namibian author Neshani Andreas, who had also worked as a school teacher and for the American Peace Corps.
The story is set in the village of Oshaantu in rural Namibia and features two friends, Kauna and Mee Ali. While Mee Ali has a stable and secure marriage to Michael, Kauna’s marriage is violent and unhappy. Her husband Shange has a string of affairs and beats her regularly, even ending with a hospital admission for the battered Kauna.
One day Shange returns home and unexpectedly dies. Kauna refuses to acquiesce to the traditional behaviour expected of a widow and does not mourn for a husband who she never liked. This adds fuel to the rumours and accusations that she had poisoned Shange.
Mee Ali does her best to support her friend, both understanding her reluctance to mourn her tormentor, but also counselling caution as she does not want to see her friend ostracised by her in-laws and left with nothing. Some of the women prefer to gossip and espouse the traditional patriarchy but Mee Ali manages to mobilise many into helping Kauna.
I really enjoyed this book for its cultural insights, the Oshiwambo words scattered throughout, the female friendships and the tension between traditional and modern values. The writing was simplistic but nevertheless contained a powerful story. Sadly Neshani passed away at age 47, without being able to give voice to more stories.
This is the debut novel by the late Namibian author Neshani Andreas, who had also worked as a school teacher and for the American Peace Corps.
The story is set in the village of Oshaantu in rural Namibia and features two friends, Kauna and Mee Ali. While Mee Ali has a stable and secure marriage to Michael, Kauna’s marriage is violent and unhappy. Her husband Shange has a string of affairs and beats her regularly, even ending with a hospital admission for the battered Kauna.
One day Shange returns home and unexpectedly dies. Kauna refuses to acquiesce to the traditional behaviour expected of a widow and does not mourn for a husband who she never liked. This adds fuel to the rumours and accusations that she had poisoned Shange.
Mee Ali does her best to support her friend, both understanding her reluctance to mourn her tormentor, but also counselling caution as she does not want to see her friend ostracised by her in-laws and left with nothing. Some of the women prefer to gossip and espouse the traditional patriarchy but Mee Ali manages to mobilise many into helping Kauna.
I really enjoyed this book for its cultural insights, the Oshiwambo words scattered throughout, the female friendships and the tension between traditional and modern values. The writing was simplistic but nevertheless contained a powerful story. Sadly Neshani passed away at age 47, without being able to give voice to more stories.
February 19, 2022
Despite its central theme of domestic abuse, this is a touching story of the bond between the two main characters, Mee Ali and the abused younger woman, Kauna, whom she regards as her daughter.
Kauna's refusal to mourn for her dead husband is such a shocking breach of traditional custom that she is suspected of having killed him, but she refuses to hypocritically "honour" a man whom the whole village knows was without honour.
Neshani Andreas draws a vivid picture of rural life, village politics, family obligations, and the tensions between social expectations and slowly changing moral values. It's sad that she died after writing this one novel.
Kauna's refusal to mourn for her dead husband is such a shocking breach of traditional custom that she is suspected of having killed him, but she refuses to hypocritically "honour" a man whom the whole village knows was without honour.
Neshani Andreas draws a vivid picture of rural life, village politics, family obligations, and the tensions between social expectations and slowly changing moral values. It's sad that she died after writing this one novel.
November 7, 2021
This feminist piece of literature focuses on the struggles of women in a village in Namibia. Through a rather simple storyline, it points to topics such as domestic violence, double standards, unequal share of child care and sisterhood, among others.
Perhaps the only thing I didn’t like was the character of Michael - the husband of the main protagonist. Throughout the whole story, he is absent and we only learn about him through the way other characters describe him, which is as this “ideal perfect man”. At the end of the novel, he quickly appears in the picture as he arrives to the village from the mine where he works. In this short passage, he is once again portrayed as an amazing father, husband, man. This ultimately begs the question, what was the scene needed for? Because in reality, such an ideal man does not exist. All men are inherently sexist, all men struggle (to various extents ofc) with male ego/pride and male fragility. Moreover, with the author putting him on the scene in the last pages of the book almost appears as if she was going back to the stereotype of the man holding the family together, being the main breadwinner, the head of the family, etc. - taking away from the whole point of the book which before that appeared to be about women being the true backbone of the society.
Perhaps the only thing I didn’t like was the character of Michael - the husband of the main protagonist. Throughout the whole story, he is absent and we only learn about him through the way other characters describe him, which is as this “ideal perfect man”. At the end of the novel, he quickly appears in the picture as he arrives to the village from the mine where he works. In this short passage, he is once again portrayed as an amazing father, husband, man. This ultimately begs the question, what was the scene needed for? Because in reality, such an ideal man does not exist. All men are inherently sexist, all men struggle (to various extents ofc) with male ego/pride and male fragility. Moreover, with the author putting him on the scene in the last pages of the book almost appears as if she was going back to the stereotype of the man holding the family together, being the main breadwinner, the head of the family, etc. - taking away from the whole point of the book which before that appeared to be about women being the true backbone of the society.
May 7, 2023
This was a great inside into rural Namibian life, changing so fast in todays world that it's almost too fast for the people there.
A highly feministic story about female friendship, family struggles and womanhood in a still developing country of traditional beliefs... Clashing with the modern world around them.
I really liked it. My only critique is that it was really silent, slowmoving and unexciting at times. On the other hand that's just a personal preference, so it might be the right book for many people interested in feminism and especially how these things are treated in other parts of the world.
Small TW: domestic violence
A highly feministic story about female friendship, family struggles and womanhood in a still developing country of traditional beliefs... Clashing with the modern world around them.
I really liked it. My only critique is that it was really silent, slowmoving and unexciting at times. On the other hand that's just a personal preference, so it might be the right book for many people interested in feminism and especially how these things are treated in other parts of the world.
Small TW: domestic violence
May 20, 2024
Molt bon llibre per conèixer les tradicions de la Namíbia rural, sobre tot pel que fa al tracte a les dones. Dur, però amb un important missatge de sororitat i unes protagonistes amb un caràcter a prova de foc.
April 8, 2024
An insightful look in Namibian society, including marriage, death and gender inequality.
November 19, 2025
Great story telling and informative about life in Namibia.
November 17, 2025
It was quite hard finding a Namibian author to read (my parameters will probably be too western). As a tourist, you don't really experience the local structures en workings of a culture, so I really enjoyed how Andreas opens up that door, if only for a little bit. Sad to have read she passed away with this being her only published book. Her writing style was well-structured and accessible, a feat with all the local words implemented into it.
July 21, 2021
Overall Review: 4*
A narrative describing life in a small village in Africa: A small and sweet book giving a peek into the village of Oshaantu in Namibia. When you read such books, you get a perspective towards life as a whole. It is a story of a woman and her neighbor living in the same village but have totally different lives. The book provides a peek into the patriarchal structure of the village and the total absence of women's rights in these villages.
The narrator is telling the story of her friend and there is a comparison between hers and her friend's life. The entire village is full of women with similar challenges and obstacles in life. Her neighbor and friend is being cheated on, beaten and ignored by her husband. The society just turns a blind eye towards anything that is done to her and just expect her to live on. At the time of the death of her husband though people gather like vultures to take away whatever they can.
An eye opener which tells the plight of women: A behavior which is more or less common across the world. A woman takes care of her family and her in laws. In return her life is so much dependent on how her husband behaves. If the husband is not with the wife, no one is there. The same thought is being shared in the book when suggestion is being made so many times for her to leave the husband and move on. I was angry at how this woman was treated by her husband, the society and his family. At the end however, she chose her peace.
Well written with great thought and flow: It is the first book by this author and she has done a good job and describing the lives of the women in the village. It is well written where each big and small event is being described beautifully. It certainly exposes all things wrong with the society and human mentality.
A narrative describing life in a small village in Africa: A small and sweet book giving a peek into the village of Oshaantu in Namibia. When you read such books, you get a perspective towards life as a whole. It is a story of a woman and her neighbor living in the same village but have totally different lives. The book provides a peek into the patriarchal structure of the village and the total absence of women's rights in these villages.
The narrator is telling the story of her friend and there is a comparison between hers and her friend's life. The entire village is full of women with similar challenges and obstacles in life. Her neighbor and friend is being cheated on, beaten and ignored by her husband. The society just turns a blind eye towards anything that is done to her and just expect her to live on. At the time of the death of her husband though people gather like vultures to take away whatever they can.
An eye opener which tells the plight of women: A behavior which is more or less common across the world. A woman takes care of her family and her in laws. In return her life is so much dependent on how her husband behaves. If the husband is not with the wife, no one is there. The same thought is being shared in the book when suggestion is being made so many times for her to leave the husband and move on. I was angry at how this woman was treated by her husband, the society and his family. At the end however, she chose her peace.
Well written with great thought and flow: It is the first book by this author and she has done a good job and describing the lives of the women in the village. It is well written where each big and small event is being described beautifully. It certainly exposes all things wrong with the society and human mentality.
June 29, 2022
This book is truly a Namibian classic
I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I absolutely loved the friendships between the women and the support some of them provide to each other during the novel.
I felt like the events of the story were to realistic to the environment, but with the relationship between Mee Ali and Kauna, the story became something special.
I also enjoyed the writing. It was simple, yet it added so much to the characters.
I definitely feel a little jealous for the kids that now get to read this book as a prescribed book for school.
I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I absolutely loved the friendships between the women and the support some of them provide to each other during the novel.
I felt like the events of the story were to realistic to the environment, but with the relationship between Mee Ali and Kauna, the story became something special.
I also enjoyed the writing. It was simple, yet it added so much to the characters.
I definitely feel a little jealous for the kids that now get to read this book as a prescribed book for school.
October 28, 2012
Very believable description of life in a small village in Namibia, and the way women cope with obstacles from both traditional culture and Christianity. The ending was a bit anti-climatic and left unresolved questions. For me it was interesting to note that many characters had Finnish first names (Oiva, Hilma), dating back to Finnish missionaries that used to work in the area.
August 14, 2018
I’ve loved this book, the way it’s written and the issues it dealts with.
January 10, 2025
Quando pesquisamos sobre a Namíbia, a imagem recorrente é de seu deserto com dunas de areias vermelhas contrastando com o céu azul: o deserto da Namíbia. O pais fica no sudoeste da África juntinho a Angola, a África do Sul e ao Oceano Atlântico. É um país de população de 2,5 milhões de habitantes de várias etnias que foi um protetorado alemães, mas após a primeira guerra foi anexado a África do Sul. Talvez isso explique que o inglês é a língua oficial do país, apesar de sua diversidade linguística.
Então para esse desafio, foi em inglês que li o livro que escolhi para esse desafio: The Purple Violet of Oshaantu de Neshani Andreas, publicado em 2021. A narrativa se passa em uma vila rural na Namíbia e a história é contada através da perspectiva de Kauna e sua amiga narradora, Mee Ali, que refletem sobre a vida, os papéis tradicionais das mulheres e a busca por dignidade em meio às dificuldades.
Kauna é uma mulher forte e resiliente que enfrenta abusos físicos e emocionais em seu casamento com Shange, um homem cruel e autoritário. Ao lado de Kauna está Mee Ali, cuja vida conjugal é mais harmoniosa com seu marido Michael, mas que observa com dor e frustração os sofrimentos de sua amiga. O contraste entre as duas vidas oferece uma visão rica sobre os papéis das mulheres na sociedade rural da Namíbia e os diferentes caminhos que elas trilham diante das adversidades.
Andreas compõe muito bem essas dinâmicas entre os valores tradicionais daquela comunidade e e a luta por justiça e autonomia feminina da sociedade moderna. Ela também nos apresenta o modo como a família, o casamento e a economia daquele país se relacionam naquelas famílias.
Um dos momentos mais marcantes, é quando Kauna não consegue trabalhar a terra, responsabilidade das mulheres enquanto os maridos trabalham (em uma mina, principal produto da economia namibiana), e Ali sugere a organização de um okakungungu, uma espécie de festival, ritual feminino onde enquanto as mulheres comem, também trabalham a terra e cantam canções, uma irmandade. Todas as mulheres juntas num objetivo.
A experiência de ler em inglés foi muito boa. A narrativa não é linear, então passamos por momentos passados que se relacionam com o momento presente, a morte de Shange e as consequências para Kauna. Fiquei encantada em conhecer a Namíbia através da escrita de Andreas e espero que um dia traduzam esse livro para o português. Vale a pena!
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu de Neshani Andreas para African Writer Series publicado pela Heinemann Educational Publisher em 2001. 188p. Leitura de Janeiro de 2025.
Então para esse desafio, foi em inglês que li o livro que escolhi para esse desafio: The Purple Violet of Oshaantu de Neshani Andreas, publicado em 2021. A narrativa se passa em uma vila rural na Namíbia e a história é contada através da perspectiva de Kauna e sua amiga narradora, Mee Ali, que refletem sobre a vida, os papéis tradicionais das mulheres e a busca por dignidade em meio às dificuldades.
Kauna é uma mulher forte e resiliente que enfrenta abusos físicos e emocionais em seu casamento com Shange, um homem cruel e autoritário. Ao lado de Kauna está Mee Ali, cuja vida conjugal é mais harmoniosa com seu marido Michael, mas que observa com dor e frustração os sofrimentos de sua amiga. O contraste entre as duas vidas oferece uma visão rica sobre os papéis das mulheres na sociedade rural da Namíbia e os diferentes caminhos que elas trilham diante das adversidades.
Andreas compõe muito bem essas dinâmicas entre os valores tradicionais daquela comunidade e e a luta por justiça e autonomia feminina da sociedade moderna. Ela também nos apresenta o modo como a família, o casamento e a economia daquele país se relacionam naquelas famílias.
Um dos momentos mais marcantes, é quando Kauna não consegue trabalhar a terra, responsabilidade das mulheres enquanto os maridos trabalham (em uma mina, principal produto da economia namibiana), e Ali sugere a organização de um okakungungu, uma espécie de festival, ritual feminino onde enquanto as mulheres comem, também trabalham a terra e cantam canções, uma irmandade. Todas as mulheres juntas num objetivo.
A experiência de ler em inglés foi muito boa. A narrativa não é linear, então passamos por momentos passados que se relacionam com o momento presente, a morte de Shange e as consequências para Kauna. Fiquei encantada em conhecer a Namíbia através da escrita de Andreas e espero que um dia traduzam esse livro para o português. Vale a pena!
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu de Neshani Andreas para African Writer Series publicado pela Heinemann Educational Publisher em 2001. 188p. Leitura de Janeiro de 2025.
March 17, 2023
Unpolished, heart-felt and revealing novel about women in rural Namibia. I found it rather moving.
December 29, 2021
Mee Ali has a happy marriage but for some in her village marriage becomes a loveless entrapment. Young Kauna defies convention by making it no secret of ger suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. But when he is found dead at home villagers and relatives are quick to suspect her of poisoning him or witchcraft.
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is mostly told from the point of view of Ali, Kauna’s best friend and neighbour. Ali is older than Kauna and has taken on a nurturing role for her, especially as all of Kauna’s family leaves in a different town miles away. Their relationship is great and it’s clear to see how much they care about one another.
It’s not just the friendship between the main two women that’s the focus of The Purple Violet of Oshaantu. Female friendship is a big theme in this book and it shows the value of that friendship and respect in ways I wasn’t expecting. It shows how women (like anyone) have many different facets to their personalities. These women might gossip about Kauna and how her husband sleeps around but that doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily abandon her and refuse to help in her time in need.
As well as friendship being a huge part of The Purple Violet of Oshaantu, so was the conflicts between tradition and modernity. The Purple Violet of Oshaantu was published in 2001 but a lot of the action takes place in a village with few modern amenities. It’s not the technology (or lack thereof) that stands out, it’s the conflicting opinions of younger generations verses older ones. Older generations want to do things in a certain way for Kauna’s husband’s funeral and when Kauna doesn’t act as a grieving widow traditionally should, she starts to get ostracised.
It’s tradition to not speak ill of the dead and for the widow to put on a huge performance but no matter how her husband died, Kauna didn’t love him anymore for how he treated her – he even put her in hospital once. She doesn’t see why she should do certain things and while Ali agrees with her in some ways, she doesn’t want her friend to be shut out by her in-laws and be left with nothing.
The writing is pretty simple but often effective and I liked how words in Oshiwambo and Afrikaans were used throughout the book. Sometimes there was an asterisk and a translation at the bottom of the page and others they weren’t. There was a glossary at the back of the book to check the meaning of these words but sometimes you could have a good guess at what they meant due to context of the characters conversation.
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is a story about love, relationships and friendships. It shows both the best and worst in people and how tradition can hurt people but also provide comfort to others.
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is mostly told from the point of view of Ali, Kauna’s best friend and neighbour. Ali is older than Kauna and has taken on a nurturing role for her, especially as all of Kauna’s family leaves in a different town miles away. Their relationship is great and it’s clear to see how much they care about one another.
It’s not just the friendship between the main two women that’s the focus of The Purple Violet of Oshaantu. Female friendship is a big theme in this book and it shows the value of that friendship and respect in ways I wasn’t expecting. It shows how women (like anyone) have many different facets to their personalities. These women might gossip about Kauna and how her husband sleeps around but that doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily abandon her and refuse to help in her time in need.
As well as friendship being a huge part of The Purple Violet of Oshaantu, so was the conflicts between tradition and modernity. The Purple Violet of Oshaantu was published in 2001 but a lot of the action takes place in a village with few modern amenities. It’s not the technology (or lack thereof) that stands out, it’s the conflicting opinions of younger generations verses older ones. Older generations want to do things in a certain way for Kauna’s husband’s funeral and when Kauna doesn’t act as a grieving widow traditionally should, she starts to get ostracised.
It’s tradition to not speak ill of the dead and for the widow to put on a huge performance but no matter how her husband died, Kauna didn’t love him anymore for how he treated her – he even put her in hospital once. She doesn’t see why she should do certain things and while Ali agrees with her in some ways, she doesn’t want her friend to be shut out by her in-laws and be left with nothing.
The writing is pretty simple but often effective and I liked how words in Oshiwambo and Afrikaans were used throughout the book. Sometimes there was an asterisk and a translation at the bottom of the page and others they weren’t. There was a glossary at the back of the book to check the meaning of these words but sometimes you could have a good guess at what they meant due to context of the characters conversation.
The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is a story about love, relationships and friendships. It shows both the best and worst in people and how tradition can hurt people but also provide comfort to others.
October 28, 2021
“We called her the purple violet of Oshaantu. She was so delicate and she came when these flowers were in bloom.”
Neshani Andrea’s “The Purple Violet of Oshaantu” operates as a shockingly sad tale of Namibian village culture and the patriarchal structures that dominate these social spheres. Ultimately, this makes for a gripping and enjoyable read, one that clearly focuses on the plot at hand and the surrounding factors rather than the characters and discourses themselves.
The book opens with a major death. Shange, husband of Kauna, has seemingly dropped dead of no accord. The book follows Ali as we witness the village and surrounding group’s reactions to this sudden death. The first thing most suspect is witchcraft, with Kauna being placed directly in the town’s sights.
Thankfully, Andrea’s perfect execution of social ongoings ensures that there is no boring longevity added to the story of Kauna and her circumstances. There is a real humanising element to the relationship between Kauna and Ali, one that is often brought in relation to their contrasting circumstances. Ali was beaten, degraded and often brought to the brink of death by Shange, while her polar opposite Kauna is happily married with the “perfect man” in Michael. Ultimately, this dynamic works to question the inner-workings of what makes a marriage work. Kauna arrived to Michael already with child, and yet, he treat her well and took her in (something that would have been hard to find in these social spheres). Kauna, the “purple violet of Oshaantu”, was married off as a virgin, with many commenting on how lucky any man would have been to wed her.
These often-depressing conversations about ‘luck-of-the-draw’ make for difficult reading, especially when coming from Kauna. Shange is philandering, abusive and a downright prick. He’s dead the entire novel and I hate him.
Ultimately, however, Andrea’s writing and structure lets the text down ever-so slightly. The language is simply and ungratifying, the structure is simple and there is constant over-reliance on flashbacks to navigate some of the muddier waters of the plot. Although easy to read, it never really ‘pushes the boat out’ in it’s writing and lexical choices. However, it maintains a steady flow and is easy to read.
I can recommend this easily, if only on the premises that it’s something a bit different and I enjoyed it immensely.
Neshani Andrea’s “The Purple Violet of Oshaantu” operates as a shockingly sad tale of Namibian village culture and the patriarchal structures that dominate these social spheres. Ultimately, this makes for a gripping and enjoyable read, one that clearly focuses on the plot at hand and the surrounding factors rather than the characters and discourses themselves.
The book opens with a major death. Shange, husband of Kauna, has seemingly dropped dead of no accord. The book follows Ali as we witness the village and surrounding group’s reactions to this sudden death. The first thing most suspect is witchcraft, with Kauna being placed directly in the town’s sights.
Thankfully, Andrea’s perfect execution of social ongoings ensures that there is no boring longevity added to the story of Kauna and her circumstances. There is a real humanising element to the relationship between Kauna and Ali, one that is often brought in relation to their contrasting circumstances. Ali was beaten, degraded and often brought to the brink of death by Shange, while her polar opposite Kauna is happily married with the “perfect man” in Michael. Ultimately, this dynamic works to question the inner-workings of what makes a marriage work. Kauna arrived to Michael already with child, and yet, he treat her well and took her in (something that would have been hard to find in these social spheres). Kauna, the “purple violet of Oshaantu”, was married off as a virgin, with many commenting on how lucky any man would have been to wed her.
These often-depressing conversations about ‘luck-of-the-draw’ make for difficult reading, especially when coming from Kauna. Shange is philandering, abusive and a downright prick. He’s dead the entire novel and I hate him.
Ultimately, however, Andrea’s writing and structure lets the text down ever-so slightly. The language is simply and ungratifying, the structure is simple and there is constant over-reliance on flashbacks to navigate some of the muddier waters of the plot. Although easy to read, it never really ‘pushes the boat out’ in it’s writing and lexical choices. However, it maintains a steady flow and is easy to read.
I can recommend this easily, if only on the premises that it’s something a bit different and I enjoyed it immensely.
February 9, 2022
I've been reading a lot of mediocre books lately, so I am very happy to have finally read this book of quality and authenticity. "The Purple Violet of Oshaantu" is a story set in a village in Namibia. The narrator has a neighbour and friend called Kauna, whose husband Shange is very abusive and openly cheats on his wife with another woman. One day, this abusive husband suddenly dies of a heart attack and the whole village starts to gossip that Kauna poisoned him. Kauna doesn't behave like a typical widow due to the abuse, she doesn't feel the urge to cry or to pretend in front of the public that she misses Shange. His family is very offended by this behaviour and the narrator tries her best to support her friend. This short book managed to transport me to Namibia. I really enjoyed reading about the different women in the village and how they support and hurt each other. On the one hand, the villagers knew about Shange's bad behaviour and unfortunately many just accepted it. It was heart-breaking to read how a female church elder insisted that Kauna not complain about her marriage because abuse is just a part of the difficulties in maintaining a marriage. But on the other hand, there were a few very exceptional women who didn't like to see Kauna suffer at her husband's hands. In particular I loved Mukwankala and Kauna's aunt Mee Fennie. On top of that, it was eye-opening for me to read about village life, their customs of calling each other familiar terms (mother, daughter, namesake...), what they eat and how they live. Women's lives and rights are difficult around the world, that's why it is important to share these stories.
September 6, 2017
This was an interesting and well written book but is more interesting people who are interested in Namibia. I liked it but had a context to the story.
February 26, 2025
At African Queens’ Ink, we celebrate the voices of African women in literature, and this book is a perfect example of why their stories matter.
Neshani Andreas’ The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is a beautifully written, deeply moving novel that captures the complexities of friendship, marriage, patriarchy, and silent resistance. Set in a Namibian village, it follows two women:
Mee Ali, who enjoys a happy marriage.
Mee Kauna, trapped in an abusive one.
When Kauna’s husband dies suddenly, she refuses to mourn him—an act that sends shockwaves through the village. Her story highlights inheritance injustices, societal expectations, and the resilience of women in male-dominated spaces.
💜 What I Loved:
✔️ Authentic Namibian storytelling, blending English with Oshiwambo for a rich reading experience.
✔️ Feminist undertones, showing women’s quiet but powerful resistance.
✔️ The power of female friendship, as Mee Ali supports Kauna in the face of judgment.
✔️ The cultural depth, as the book explores village life, gender roles, and traditional norms.
💡 About the Author:
Neshani Andreas was a trailblazer in Namibian literature and the first Namibian writer to be included in the Heinemann African Writers Series. Inspired by her experiences as a teacher in rural Namibia, she wrote this novel to shine a light on the everyday struggles of African women. Sadly, she passed away at just 46 years old, but her work remains a vital part of African literature.
📚 If you love books that explore women’s resilience, cultural traditions, and gender roles, this is a must-read!
✨ Follow @AfricanQueensInk for more reviews celebrating books by African women.
#GoodreadsReview #AfricanQueensInk #ThePurpleVioletOfOshaantu #NeshaniAndreas #AfricanLiterature #NamibianStories 🇳🇦 #WomenInLiterature #FeministReads #SupportAfricanAuthors #ReadAfricanWomen #AmplifyingAfricanVoices
Neshani Andreas’ The Purple Violet of Oshaantu is a beautifully written, deeply moving novel that captures the complexities of friendship, marriage, patriarchy, and silent resistance. Set in a Namibian village, it follows two women:
Mee Ali, who enjoys a happy marriage.
Mee Kauna, trapped in an abusive one.
When Kauna’s husband dies suddenly, she refuses to mourn him—an act that sends shockwaves through the village. Her story highlights inheritance injustices, societal expectations, and the resilience of women in male-dominated spaces.
💜 What I Loved:
✔️ Authentic Namibian storytelling, blending English with Oshiwambo for a rich reading experience.
✔️ Feminist undertones, showing women’s quiet but powerful resistance.
✔️ The power of female friendship, as Mee Ali supports Kauna in the face of judgment.
✔️ The cultural depth, as the book explores village life, gender roles, and traditional norms.
💡 About the Author:
Neshani Andreas was a trailblazer in Namibian literature and the first Namibian writer to be included in the Heinemann African Writers Series. Inspired by her experiences as a teacher in rural Namibia, she wrote this novel to shine a light on the everyday struggles of African women. Sadly, she passed away at just 46 years old, but her work remains a vital part of African literature.
📚 If you love books that explore women’s resilience, cultural traditions, and gender roles, this is a must-read!
✨ Follow @AfricanQueensInk for more reviews celebrating books by African women.
#GoodreadsReview #AfricanQueensInk #ThePurpleVioletOfOshaantu #NeshaniAndreas #AfricanLiterature #NamibianStories 🇳🇦 #WomenInLiterature #FeministReads #SupportAfricanAuthors #ReadAfricanWomen #AmplifyingAfricanVoices
August 31, 2024
3,5 ⭐
En el pueblo rural de Oshaantu, Ali cuenta sus vivencias, y en particular las que están relacionadas con su vecina y mejor amiga Kauna, quien soporta con una particular dignidad el maltrato de parte de su marido y su familia.
Se presentan las dificultades que genera el respeto de las tradiciones, en algunos casos manipulados para beneficio propio; la ley civil y las enseñanzas del cristianismo aparecen como alternativas para atenuar la dominación del varón y su familia sobre la vida y propiedades de la mujer y los hijos, aunque muchas veces las víctimas no se atreven a recurrir a ellas, ya que constituye un peligroso desafío a la tradición y el poder establecido.
La historia está poblada de muy buenos personajes; la enfermera, la beata, el pastor, la familia de Ali, y la de Kauna, así como la de sus maridos; personajes que en algún momento parecen estereotipados, pero que van revelando su profundidad a medida que transcurren los hechos.
Una buena novela, muy amigable. En su afán explicativo, casi escolar, con sus largos diálogos y descripciones, por momentos resultó muy lento para mi ansiedad.
Pero es una buena obra, y además de la historia, presenta un panorama muy ilustrativo de la realidad de muchos pueblos africanos (y muy probablemente de muchos otros pueblos del mundo también), en el que las reglas y leyes no escritas, tácitas, siguen teniendo un gran poder a pesar del desarrollo y la civilización.
Neshani Andreas nació en Namibia en 1964 y fue maestra, escritora y trabajó en organizaciones para la educación.
En el pueblo rural de Oshaantu, Ali cuenta sus vivencias, y en particular las que están relacionadas con su vecina y mejor amiga Kauna, quien soporta con una particular dignidad el maltrato de parte de su marido y su familia.
Se presentan las dificultades que genera el respeto de las tradiciones, en algunos casos manipulados para beneficio propio; la ley civil y las enseñanzas del cristianismo aparecen como alternativas para atenuar la dominación del varón y su familia sobre la vida y propiedades de la mujer y los hijos, aunque muchas veces las víctimas no se atreven a recurrir a ellas, ya que constituye un peligroso desafío a la tradición y el poder establecido.
La historia está poblada de muy buenos personajes; la enfermera, la beata, el pastor, la familia de Ali, y la de Kauna, así como la de sus maridos; personajes que en algún momento parecen estereotipados, pero que van revelando su profundidad a medida que transcurren los hechos.
Una buena novela, muy amigable. En su afán explicativo, casi escolar, con sus largos diálogos y descripciones, por momentos resultó muy lento para mi ansiedad.
Pero es una buena obra, y además de la historia, presenta un panorama muy ilustrativo de la realidad de muchos pueblos africanos (y muy probablemente de muchos otros pueblos del mundo también), en el que las reglas y leyes no escritas, tácitas, siguen teniendo un gran poder a pesar del desarrollo y la civilización.
Neshani Andreas nació en Namibia en 1964 y fue maestra, escritora y trabajó en organizaciones para la educación.
May 7, 2019
The first novel I've read set in Namibia: it was cool to see the portrayal of Namibian culture, particularly homesteading.
The main character Kauna is used as an example of how a husband's abusive behavior can be widely known but still not condemned. After being beaten, cheated on, and neglected, it's still scandalous for Kauna to show any resentment to her husband. I think that this is common across the world. But it was interesting to see how it interacts with Namibian culture, especially how strict Christianity is combined with pre-Christian beliefs. People go to church and still look for witches. There are areas I wish I knew more about, for example it is mentioned that some men have multiple wives, while other women are referred to as "mistresses," and the narrator Ali's husband is somewhat looked down on for marrying a girl whom he got pregnant.
The dichotomy between Ali's "good husband" Michael and Kauna's "bad husband" Shange was a little too black-and-white for me, and I often forgot that they were supposed to be childhood friends. The chronology of the book was also a bit confusing, there were many hard-to-place flashbacks. Overall I thought Ali and Kauna's friendship was well-characterized, and Andreas also did a great job on characters like Mee Fennie and Mee Maita.
The main character Kauna is used as an example of how a husband's abusive behavior can be widely known but still not condemned. After being beaten, cheated on, and neglected, it's still scandalous for Kauna to show any resentment to her husband. I think that this is common across the world. But it was interesting to see how it interacts with Namibian culture, especially how strict Christianity is combined with pre-Christian beliefs. People go to church and still look for witches. There are areas I wish I knew more about, for example it is mentioned that some men have multiple wives, while other women are referred to as "mistresses," and the narrator Ali's husband is somewhat looked down on for marrying a girl whom he got pregnant.
The dichotomy between Ali's "good husband" Michael and Kauna's "bad husband" Shange was a little too black-and-white for me, and I often forgot that they were supposed to be childhood friends. The chronology of the book was also a bit confusing, there were many hard-to-place flashbacks. Overall I thought Ali and Kauna's friendship was well-characterized, and Andreas also did a great job on characters like Mee Fennie and Mee Maita.
May 2, 2024
It's interesting seeing how often the exact same themes and events are common across all cultures. here we have a story of piece of shit man who beats his wife and cheats on her openly, staying in the homes of his mistresses and she has no power to do anything about it because women aren't humans, they're property of her husband and his family. In this story, the husband finally comes home then immediately drops dead, lol. the response of the community and the wife are what the story is about. It represents patriarchy in both the traditions of the people as well as those of the christian faith they've been forced into by their earlier colonizers. There's really no winning, but it's interesting to watch the wife decide not to follow any of the rules and not honor her extremely dishonorable dead husband just because he's a man.
At times this book was quite compelling at other times a bit dry and boring. The structure was unusual, and it made it a little hard to follow sometimes. Generally interesting, and the characters were relatable and unique. Not a bad book, although not extremely unique either. It's told by a kind of boring person with a boring life, watching the much more interesting life of her friend. It did take me quite a while to finish it, as I wasn't riveted enough by it.
At times this book was quite compelling at other times a bit dry and boring. The structure was unusual, and it made it a little hard to follow sometimes. Generally interesting, and the characters were relatable and unique. Not a bad book, although not extremely unique either. It's told by a kind of boring person with a boring life, watching the much more interesting life of her friend. It did take me quite a while to finish it, as I wasn't riveted enough by it.
September 23, 2021
In my quest to read around the world, this was one of the few novels I could find based in Namibia, particularly by a local author. It’s a quick 183 pages - an easy and enjoyable read. Where I found the book to be lacking in terms of literary quality and style (particularly in comparison to some African authors a generation or two before like Chinua Achebe or Camara Laye), I found it rich with culture and texture.
The story centers around best friends Mee Ali and Mee Kauna in a rural Namibian village called Oshaantu. Through the story of the sudden death of Mee Kauna’s abusive husband and the funeral proceedings that follow, we are taken on an unvarnished journey through both the beauty and cruelty of traditionalism. As the author, Neshani Andreas, said of her own book “I did not want to be insensitive to my culture…but I wanted to be as honest and realistic as possible.” Indeed, this book tells a Namibian story with an authenticity that only an insider could tell it. And for that glimpse of another culture from within, this book is well worth the read.
It’s a pity that Andreas left this Earth well before her time should have been up - at the young age of 46 - as there was surely much more storytelling left for her to give to the world.
The story centers around best friends Mee Ali and Mee Kauna in a rural Namibian village called Oshaantu. Through the story of the sudden death of Mee Kauna’s abusive husband and the funeral proceedings that follow, we are taken on an unvarnished journey through both the beauty and cruelty of traditionalism. As the author, Neshani Andreas, said of her own book “I did not want to be insensitive to my culture…but I wanted to be as honest and realistic as possible.” Indeed, this book tells a Namibian story with an authenticity that only an insider could tell it. And for that glimpse of another culture from within, this book is well worth the read.
It’s a pity that Andreas left this Earth well before her time should have been up - at the young age of 46 - as there was surely much more storytelling left for her to give to the world.
July 19, 2019
3.5 stars. An inspirational book that taught me a lot about Namibian traditional culture. I did not expect this book to have such a feminist touch. I found it so strong that Kauna decided to break traditions and NOT cry (during the burial) over the death of her husband who turned her life into hell. That she decided not to give a speech in which she had to lie what a fantastic husband and father her husband was.
I also found the dialogues between the women in the village very interesting. How some women agreed with the traditional belief that women are the property of their husbands and must always put themselves in second place and how some (symbolic) put their middlefinger into the sky and fuck stereotypical rules and let their husbands know that they should be treated as an equal.
What also moved me was how women stood up for Kauna by saying how terrible her husband was. That no man should beat a woman and should not be celebrated when he is dead because he was an horrible man.
I love to read about women supporting women. And especially if the book takes place in a time and in a country where it was not expected that women could already be emancipated.
I also found the dialogues between the women in the village very interesting. How some women agreed with the traditional belief that women are the property of their husbands and must always put themselves in second place and how some (symbolic) put their middlefinger into the sky and fuck stereotypical rules and let their husbands know that they should be treated as an equal.
What also moved me was how women stood up for Kauna by saying how terrible her husband was. That no man should beat a woman and should not be celebrated when he is dead because he was an horrible man.
I love to read about women supporting women. And especially if the book takes place in a time and in a country where it was not expected that women could already be emancipated.
June 15, 2023
This was my read the world selection for Namibia.
Mee Ali is a lucky woman. She has a respectful and thoughtful husband….unlike her best friend Kauna, whose husband beats and abuses her. Kauna is frequently covered in bruises and he also goes off for days with another woman.
When Kauna’s husband Shange arrives home one day and promptly dies, his family and the rest of the village are quick to accuse Kauna of poisoning or witchcraft.
This book was not quite what I was expecting! It sounds like it’s going to be an investigation into the death of Shange, but in reality it’s more about death and funeral rituals, customs and beliefs. It also travels backwards in time to Mee Ali’s experiences meeting and marrying her husband Michael (the story is told by Mee Ali), but overall this is more about women being the property of men than anything else.
This is also a story about friendship and the differences between relationships. Whilst it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, it was interesting nonetheless as it gave a great insight into traditional beliefs and customs in Namibia. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Mee Ali is a lucky woman. She has a respectful and thoughtful husband….unlike her best friend Kauna, whose husband beats and abuses her. Kauna is frequently covered in bruises and he also goes off for days with another woman.
When Kauna’s husband Shange arrives home one day and promptly dies, his family and the rest of the village are quick to accuse Kauna of poisoning or witchcraft.
This book was not quite what I was expecting! It sounds like it’s going to be an investigation into the death of Shange, but in reality it’s more about death and funeral rituals, customs and beliefs. It also travels backwards in time to Mee Ali’s experiences meeting and marrying her husband Michael (the story is told by Mee Ali), but overall this is more about women being the property of men than anything else.
This is also a story about friendship and the differences between relationships. Whilst it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, it was interesting nonetheless as it gave a great insight into traditional beliefs and customs in Namibia. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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