The ones with purpose

by Cynthia Jele (contributor)

“I imagined a dying person’s last breath as something resembling an exclamation mark, distinct and hanging mid-air like an interrupted thought. My older sister Fikile’s last breath before she dies is nothing of the sort. There is no rattling noise at the back of her throat. No relentless twitching. No clinging to life. Fikile dies with no more fuss than a switch of a light bulb.” With her sister, Fikile, dead from breast cancer, her father long gone, her mother emerging from years of slumber, and her younger brother, Mbuso, consumed with rage that refuses to settle, Anele Mabuza has no choice but to collect herself and grow up. Or does she? Because, if truth be told, she has not signed up to be her family's caretaker. Surely her dreams are valid? The Ones with Purpose is a remarkable story of family, disappointment, sacrifice, forgiveness, and love.

Genres: South Africa, African Literature, Fiction

Paperback

First published April 20, 2018

Reviews

[Puleng Hopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story set in New Hope township . The Mabuzas , whilst still affected and had barely recovered from the tragic and unexpected death of their father, are confronted with a blow of having to navigate through the terminal illness and subsequent passing of their first born daughter.The immediate family , middle child Anele, the aggrieved last born Mbuso, and Ma, despite the loss of their pillars of strengths, are tasked to either sink or swim .

A great depiction of storytelling skill by Jele. The narration is free flowing, sad, with a sprinkle of humor. Rich in themes of love, family, friendship, terminal illness, survival, grief, poverty, teenage pregnancy, miscarriage , rape, divorce, primogeniture, infidelity, money, employers, secrets, suicide, forgiveness, post partum depression, miscarriage , alcoholism and setbacks.

Jele captured Black family life to the tee. The dodgy uncles , the sarcastic aunts, the neighbor who is virtually a part of the family, community, and our funerals. I loved how she does not spoon feed the reader and encourages participatory reading. No unnecessary padding, straight to the point, without taking away from the text. For instance on Page 21 " I woke up with a jerk an hour or so later, Fikile is dead"
Page 157 " a few weeks later, Thiza came to apologize . Ma told him to fokof "

What spoke to me the most from the book was that: We are all fallible. No family is perfect. Mothers are human too. We are all striving for the illusive perfection. Forgive while at it as you might need to be forgiven too at one point. And the most significant of all is self forgiveness.

The Jele of 2018 is more mature, self-assured and deliberate. She tackles heavy emotive themes without leaving the reader an emotional wreck. She managed to take me on a melancholic trip that inevitably is part of our lives and we have to confront at one point or the other.

[Zinhle Ngidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it very difficult to review this book bcz its too heavy for my little heart, but because its in my nature to always share my thoughts and lessons, let me try...i fail to read and keep quiet. Hloni I know u have been waiting for this

The Ones With Purpose by Nozizwe Duduzile Cynthia Jele

About the book:

A very emotional but excellently written book that touches on issues like cancer disease, alcoholism, child headed families, family secrets, teenage pregnancy, lies, cheat, anger and aggression etc

The story is about a painful journey of a young lady, Anele, who firstly lost her father who kept the family functional and after his funeral her mother was consumed with grief and couldn’t cope, ended up neglecting her kids and depended on alcohol to numb her broken heart. She ended up losing her job and kids were forced to grow up. Youngest being 4 yrs old grew up under his 2 sisters care and later consumed with anger left his family behind to study further and started his own life without them.
Anele’s eldest sister, Fikile, ended up having a relationship with a married teacher just to get food on the table.

• This is a sad reality to most families where kids are forced to prostitution, forced to date older guys because they want to take care of their siblings. We as the community judge them and do not even check and try to assist where we can.

The author also takes us through the viciousness of cancer. Though we have many breast cancer survivors many also do not make it. To some it goes and comes back, some do not have good support system when they going thru this. Some are lucky enough to have. Fikile was one of those that was rejected by his husband but luckily enough her family took care of her until her last breath. As u read the book u feel the pain that Fikile is going through, her being positive that she will beat cancer and the next doctor’s visit says” u are lying to urself Fikile, am going no where and infact I am now spreading to other parts of ur body”. Even good cells that were promising u that they will fight the evil ones give up as well.

• There are a lot of people that have been affected by this disease. They have seen their loved ones fighting until they lose the battle. Even hospitals end up releasing them because they have nothing more they can do for them. Reading this book has improved my knowledge of how ruthless this disease can be and how it has affected families all over the world. The therapies that are meant to kill bad cells end up causing more physical harm than helping(in most cases).

About the author
• A matured author that has a very rare writing skill. She writes about a very disturbing, devastating story but she throws sense of humour when u least expect. So u find urself laughing while u still wiping tears about the painful scene u just read.
• Another skill is how she connects flashbacks and the current without u losing the story.
• The research done here is amazing. Though this issue was touched on but I wished the fallout of Mbuso and her mom was discussed deeper as we have lot of broken men out there who come from such families, who carry with them anger and resentment and fail to head their families and their wives suffer bcz of this. (Maybe in one of ur short stories such issues can be dealt with, bakhathele odadewethu ukuthwala amacala abangawazi).

Thank you maJele for educating us about such issues, ur book forces one to do more and more research about this disease that has suddenly invaded our black communities. Thanks for letting us know that all of us are here for a purpose. Sometimes our purpose is not what we signed up for but if its urs take the baton and run along. It doesn’t mean it will be easy, it doesn’t mean u will not feel like giving up, but run along...

[Omphile Raleie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely relatable book. Worth the 8 year wait from beautiful writer Nozizwe, thank goodness to the book-gods for her gift.

The themes she touched on in this book were so close to home. A story of loss, love, family, betrayal and reconciliation.

Will definitely be recommending this book to my book club for days on end.

[Nkesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have a special place in my heart for writing that takes me back home no matter where i am. im not a nostalgic person bc my childhood wasn't at all ideal, but nozizwe cynthia jele's writing made the ugly seem bearable and weaved with her words the bittersweet memories back into what i believed was a lost cause for me.

so much here paralleled my life, my own life story. in this book i saw my mother lying there in her deathbed, sick with very little hope of recovery; i saw 12 year-old me, young and confused, helpless as to why my mother wasn't getting better, seeing her smiles and casual banter attempting to lighten the load, i saw myself sad and angry trying to make sense of it all. it is in this book that i was taken back to those last few years of my mother's life, in mbuso's character i see my uncle and all that he could've been had he broken that cycle like he did and was selfish with his dreams, with all he wanted and defied expectations and somewhat preordained narratives. i am transported back to kwamashu in the year 2009 when my mother died and shook the whole foundations of what little life i had known to have and hold dear and the entire structure of my family; finally looking and understanding people as tho seeing them for the first time - seeing my grandmother battling with alcoholism something we paid very little mind to bc it was something we'd somehow been born already happening. you don't question why someone is behaving a certain way when you've watched them behave that way all your life. i won't say i was represented in nozizwe cynthia jele's the ones with purpose, but i was shown the transcendence of storytelling, the richness of our stories and interception of our lived experiences. the book made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me cuss and question things, it invoked feelings and emotions inside and outside of me. fikile's life, her sacrifices and feeling like she had to step up when her father died, anele's sense of obligation and indebtedness, and the anger and resentment mbuso feels towards his life and upbringing are but few of the themes and motifs i identified fully with, structural keywords set around the story that i relate to. it's funny, the ones with purpose read like my life, both currently and the past.

[Nondumiso · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ones with Purpose is a story about Anele and her sister, Fikile, who dies fighting breast cancer. We follow a deeply broken family in New Hope Township, the Mabuzas.

Can the death of their older daughter Fikile bring them closer together?

Anele our protagonist is burdened by responsibilities. Jele captures survival, poverty and the effects of Black Tax effortlessly, as Anele takes on the responsibilities of her sister. Memories of Fikile, who sacrificed her youth to take care of their household – and trapped herself in a marriage with Thiza – haunt Anele. Will familial burdens bury her?

With her sister gone, her father long passed away, her mother a born-again Christian with a rather un-sober past and her younger brother Mbuso consumed with rage that refuses to settle, Anele has no choice but to collect herself and grow up. But if truth be told, she has not signed up to be the family caretaker. Surely her own dreams are valid?

[Thelma Melk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Two sisters live their relationship through life, death and after death. It’s honest,in part raw, but mostly a kaleidoscopic of the facets of love. It’s a great read. Do not be deceived. It’s a bit about death but mainly about how the dealing with the mortality of a terminally ill person and your relationship with them, churns out a wealth of secrets, intrigue, deception and ultimately forgiveness. Well written, easy and certainly worth the 4 stars

[Charlie Minglez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captured by the great writing skills and how the author narrates this beautiful but sad story of a woman who was diagnosed with cancer. Throughout the book, I shared the joyful and painful moments which the family went through to a point where I became part of their family somehow. The connection was strong and I found myself relating to the content in most of the chapters as it's based on a black household and family lifestyle. I also walk away with some valuable lessons and knowledge about cancer. Now I have a better understanding of what those affected might go through and how it affects their loved ones, colleagues and every one close to them.
I truly enjoyed this book and will find a way to share more copies with others so they can also indulge as much as I did.
#localtalent ✊🏿
#ourstories

[Anelile Gibixego · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful work of South African literature. I am happy that we are writing so brilliantly and that our real stories are being told.

I have clear pictures of Bafana, Anele, Thiza, aunt Betty, aunt Ntombi, Mbuso etc. because they were sculptured in my mind by Cynthia's deliberate wordsmith-ship.

I am happy though that this book is over because it really tormented my emotions. Simply because it is centred around death caused by cancer which is too close to home for me.

I did get confused by the flashbacks in the text at times had to read twice. Interesting way of writing by Jele. Its a yes from me otherwise.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhueyBLF4Ci/

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Review to come!

[Vuvu Vena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anele is by far my favourite fictional character this year! I just want to hug her!

[Zoleka Mbilini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nozizwe narrates so beautifully, a story about a deeply broken family. She captures the many intricate realities faced by most black households in the townships. Families battling grief, poverty, substance abuse, rage, survival, and unwanted responsibilities. I noted in dismay how much of these challenges are met and dismissed. Grief strikes, whether anticipated or sudden, and the trauma it leaves is one that's never really dealt with. I reflected on my personal experience with grief, It is a conversation that's never had. It is as if, life simply moves on and past experiences are too raw to be brought up. The aftermath of death is rarely dealt with in most black households.

Perhaps it may be because we do not know how one approaches this delicate and inevitable part of life, especially with children closely affected by this. It's almost as if we simply find solace in believing children are too young to feel. Too young to comprehend their emotions and therefore life continues as though no wave has hit. Ultimately these neglected emotions show so clearly in most adults. The unfortunate repercussion of ignorance never strays, always there waiting to rear its ugly head - you see this so clearly in one of the characters, uMbuso. There are far too many pointers to delve into about this book, needless to say, a beautifully written book about life - an indepth analysis into a considerable number of black lives.

[Noria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was steeped in grief. The grief of a death in the family, of terminal illness, of broken dreams, and lost family. It also explores what the choices people make, to live a more individualistic and self-serving life, that although would bring you accomplishments, could also be isolating, or to choose to be more collective and go the route of saving and serving the interests of your family which might be rewarding but will eventually leave you with unfulfilled dreams.

We also examined how grief changes the very core of family, how it births addiction and rage and survival and the different things and choices people make to survive. It deals with how we all react to death differently and how it eventually shapes us.

We also catch a glimpse of the cultural sexism of society and how it not only prides men over women but also gives men the entitlement to take decisions that leave women shattered.

It wasn't an easy read. Nozizwe has a simple voice and beautifully captures the town of New Hope and the feeling of helplessness that the residents feel.

The ending was left unresolved and open-ended which I had a problem with, although I am sure some people would probably like it that way. But I like my stories ending, even if they are being true to life.

[Lungile Ntsele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful work of South African literature. I am happy that we are writing so brilliantly and that our real stories are being told. The grief of a death in the family, of terminal illness, of broken dreams, and lost family. It also explores what the choices people make, to live a more individualistic and self-serving life, that although would bring you accomplishments, could also be isolating, or to choose to be more collective and go the route of saving and serving the interests of your family which might be rewarding but will eventually leave you with unfulfilled dreams.

This is a simple story. It's a week in the life of a family planning to bury a loved one. During this week, everything comes undone. The characters are complex, flawed but loveable. The author says so much without having to say much at all. This novel delves into the discussions around cancer, the way black people shy away from discussing death. It's about love, failure, deferred dreams, social ills and success. A beautiful story that is told in the most wonderful and sensitive way

[Jayne Bauling · Rating 5 out of 5]

“… Family has a way of weighing you down, placing your dreams on pause, sometimes indefinitely…”
A novel about family. The ties that bind, the responsibilities we cannot escape.
The ritual attending death in a family will always gather the members together, with differences, issues, and betrayals necessarily if temporarily covered over or set aside, out of respect.
Anger, affection, pain and deep love are all here in an honest and moving novel, with characters who enter the reader’s heart. Anele’s sister Fikile has died, and with those who loved her come to mourn and send her on her way, Anele feels new and weighty responsibilities crowding in on her. An aunt’s view is that we all have responsibility towards family, but one of Anele’s big questions is – why? Why should we be held back by family? Impossible to answer, when family comes with so much love and history.
A simple story, unpretentious writing, and real people. I loved this book.

[Deece de Paor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was long listed for the Dublin literary award 2020 which is how I found out about it. There were lots of African books on this list that I didn’t connect with but this one was special.
It’s all about grief and familial discord (my thesis topic albeit in a different setting).
Fikile, our narrator’s sister dies within three lines of breast cancer. From this point onwards Jele weaves a story that creates a rich tapestry of life in this South African township. We meet all the people Fikile’s lives touched. No one is deified - everyone is flawed and in different ways. There’s the prodigal brother, alcoholic mother, useless cheating lying partners, mystery men and women coming out of the woodwork.
The pacing of the twists and reveals was done well, to hold reader interest but sometimes I thought the whole story would have benefitted from a concurrent subplot. Sometimes it felt dreary to pick up and still be caught in the pre funeral waiting game that is grief.
Still, a great read.

[Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ones with Purpose by @jelecynthia ‘I imagined a dying person’s last breath as something resembling an exclamation mark, distinct and hanging mid-air like an interrupted though. My older sister Fikile’s last breath before she dies in nothing of the sort’ —@jelecynthia

This is one of the best novels I’ve read in 2018. I cried towards the end of the book because it made me relive very painful memories. This book is a beautiful story about painful topics such as death, betrayal, love and disappointment. It also allows us to see grief in the living and the death. A must read.

Here is the podcast with the author: https://soundcloud.com/user-404664175...

[Lungile Mashele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple story. It's a week in the life of a family planning to bury a loved one. During this week, everything comes undone. The characters are complex, flawed but loveable. The author says so much without having to say much at all. This novel delves into the discussions around cancer, the way black people shy away from discussing death. It's about love, failure, deferred dreams, social ills and success. A beautiful story that is told in the most wonderful and sensitive way.

[Nolitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart warming family stories

Human story of family, love, mistakes, growth, risks, living, resilience. Above all family first through all the good and bad times. Well written book about the destruction of cancer to life, relationships, family and the power of the human spirit and love.

[Chantelle Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Could of written it myself as my story. So similar and so real. Same story from a different perspective and culture. No matter what colour, sex or race we all face the same obstacles.

[Zakithi Sidu · Rating 5 out of 5]

. My mother is currently battling with breast cancer so i related to to this book so much. Also this book captures the experience of life in the township and the concept of Ubuntu so beautifully. Love it 10/10⭐️

[Yolie Mdiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad story but beautifully written. It is an amazing book.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! Totally relatable and recommended as a great read!

[Gaongalelwe Tiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible!!!

[Candice Herodotou · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really different to read a story written by a local author about an African girl to whom, despite her life being in complete contrast with mine, I could relate. Very insightful journey.

[Sane Majola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know where to stamina <]

[Enhle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was refreshing to be able to pick up a relatable non-Westernised Souh African read.
Simple, powerful, easy to read and oh so real.

[Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“the ones with purpose are dying”
What an enjoyable read. Sad but very relatable.

[Elohor Egbordi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad book to read 😩😩😩

So gut-wrenching. I'm in tears.

[Dama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal writing and story telling. So beautifully relatable.