Nthikeng Mohlele’s most recent novel, Breasts, etc. (2023), is written in the genre of Apocalypse. The free-thinking focalizer and narrator, James Baldwin (Motsamai), a photographer, ponders about the world in which women are extinct. In this text, it seems, the reader is cleverly constructed into an eavesdropper. This is where, having been turned into a male, the reader is also made to imagine what constitutes womanhood and what it would be like if and when it is emptied out of the world, assuming that consigning a pair this irreducible and fundamental to nurturing to nothingness is possible.
The book cover has been artistically and cleverly crafted and designed, where the title is embossed in almost 3D style, giving the image of protruding breasts. The title itself piques a curiosity about what could have possibly motivated the author to write about such a provocative and feminine phenomenon. This curiosity is soon understood upon a deeper reading of the novel- for it goes both into and beyond the physical breast. James Baldwin’s initial encounter with breasts informs his subsequent relations with women when his experience of the anatomical breasts transcends into the metaphorical. And this is where radical, if not abstruse forms of Feminisms and politics are re-feminized. For, very modestly if not innocently, the novel, in its title, announces womanhood in terms of breasts, and also appears to accord them the truths that will not undergo some kind of différance. To elaborate; the concept of the female breast in the novel is central and symbolic of womanhood, femininity, and of women as nurturers and the reason behind life and the existence of humanity. Without women, the world would be doomed.
When the narrative begins, the unspeakable appears to have already happened, as presented also through the imagination of the focalizer; injustices to women, as mothers and as lovers at the hands of callous and reckless menfolk such as ‘useless footballer’ Erwin and ‘mad’ Rajesh Mohammed have occurred.
However, Baldwin upends all this to some degree. In being a photographer, he stands for narrative, itself a metonym of the womanhood violated and repressed. This is so, thanks to his non-realist depiction of the Apocalypse. Paradoxically, he will arise from the Apocalypse to protect Esmeralda from being hurt by not telling her about Winnie. He further takes it upon himself to care for Winnie’s children, but later stops- even though here his kindness and compassion are not fully exercised.
Told with intricacy and delicacy, Breasts, etc. captures the reader’s attention and appreciation of the level of thought processes that went into the development of this masterpiece. Mohlele is well-known for not simply throwing words around on a piece of paper for the sake of it but for artistically weaving and creating a pattern with words which makes his articulation of ideas dance to the rhythm of the music on a page. This image and style of writing are further captured in the ever-present reference to music in the novel, as is often the case in Mohlele’s other previous works such as Small Things (2013).
Breasts, etc. is further told with intersections between equal doses of seriousness and tinges of occasional humour, touching on pertinent aspects worth pondering- but without losing focus of the seriousness of the intended message. The novel strikes a delicate and calculated balance between the seriousness of the matter at hand (an imminent Apocalypse in the form of Motsamai’s nightmares about life in the Frontier, without women) and his conscious reality in an occasionally humorous manner. The novel is highly thought-provoking and paints a grim picture of an impending dystopia that threatens mankind/humanity with a world totally devoid of women.
This, in conclusion, brings this review to how to tease out a conversation between this text and his previous works. In other words, how can the reader enter into his oeuvre? Reminiscent of his Small Things (2013), Breasts, etc. (2023) is told as if by a troubadour. In both Mohlele’s works, the storytellers are carefree, but not at all careless in framing the audience’s view into hyper-masculinities; in their obsession, they hold the power to destroy the world and, with it, the eulogies that must be accorded to beauty. Typical of City novels in the sense of Michel de Certeau, the narrators enable a reading of discourse beyond its power. Breasts, etc. is a masterpiece, a work of art in the true sense of the word, an absolute must-read!
Author Biography
Novelist, short story writer, playwright, Nthikeng Mohlele authored critically acclaimed novels and two short story collections. His work includes: The Scent of Bliss (2008), Small Things (2013), Rusty Bell (2014), Pleasure (2016), Michael K (2018), Illumination (2019), Breasts, etc. (2023), Revolutionaries House (2024). The two short-story collections, The Discovery of Love (2021) and A Little Light (2023).
Mohlele is the winner of the University of Johannesburg Main Prize for South African Writing In English for Pleasure, the K Sello Duiker Memorial Prize and was also long listed for the Dublin International Prize. The Discovery of Love won the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences Award 2022 for Best Fiction: Short Stories. Breasts, etc was recently shortlisted for both the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences and University of Johannesburg Main Prize Awards (2024). He dabbles in journalistic writing and literary reviews.
Mohlele’s theatre writing credits include and The Affairs of State and I Am A Woman, which debuted at the Market Theatre, one of South Africa’s mainstream theatre circuits during 2022. His work is taught at leading South African universities, including at his alma mater, the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of South Africa and University of Johannesburg and of Pretoria. Mohlele’s other interests include music, photography, technology, film and design. He lives and works in Johannesburg.
