Broken Men, Redeemed Love: Masculinity in Dudu Busani-Dube's Hlomu Series

Abstract

Through an examination of Dudu Busani-Dube's Hlomu series, Hlomu the Wife (2015), Zandile the Resolute (2015), and Naledi His Love (2015), Iqunga (2020), Mess (2020) and The End (2022), this study is positioned within major discourses about the construction and evolution of masculinity in the country today. Situated within contemporary South African socio-cultural contexts, the study examined how masculine identity is shaped by power, provision, emotional discipline, and relational dynamics, and how these elements become destabilised throughout the series. Using masculinity studies, trauma theory, and intersectionality, the research employed qualitative textual analysis to show a shift from hegemonic masculinity to psychological fragmentation and relational repair. Early novels depict masculinity through authority, financial success, and emotional restraint, aligning with dominant models of male power. In contrast, later texts highlight emotional vulnerability, unresolved trauma, and existential crises, leading to the concept of the “broken man”, where characters who appear dominant yet struggle internally. As the series progressed, masculinity was neither fully condemned nor redeemed; instead, it was reimagined through confession, accountability, and emotional expression. The dissertation introduced the concept of “narrative repair” and illustrated how fractured identities are reconstructed through relational engagement and self-reflection. Ultimately, the study argues that the Hlomu series challenges rigid patriarchal norms while recognising their enduring presence in post-apartheid South Africa. By analysing popular romance-crime fiction as a site of gender critique, this research contributes to scholarship on African popular literature and contemporary masculinities, showcasing Busani-Dube’s nuanced examination of power, vulnerability, and transformation in masculinity.