Lobola vir die lewe

by André Brink

Lobola vir die lewe is die werk waarmee André P. Brink in 1962 sy eerste enorme bydrae gelewer het tot “die vernuwing van Sestig”. Hierdie e-boekuitgawe bied die eerste e-boekvorm van dié belangrike roman in die Afrikaanse literatuurgeskiedenis. Met Lobola vir die lewe was daar meteens ’n Afrikaanse roman wat in vorm en inhoud iets nuuts gedurf het – ’n roman wat krities staan teenoor die eie en die verlede, eksistensiële temas ondersoek, op verskillende vlakke beweeg, méér van die leser verg. Dit is ’n aanduiding van die roman se trefkrag dat hy vandag nog steeds modern aandoen, die leser nog steeds beetpak op ’n manier wat min latere romans dit kan doen. Lobola vir die lewe vertel die verhaal van François Raubenheimer, ’n buitestanderfiguur wat as jong man uitvind dat hy ’n aangenome kind is. So begin ’n soeke na identiteit wat hom onder meer na Europa neem. Terug in Suid-Afrika maak hy in Kaapstad kennis met die oudsoldaat Hendrik Karel Serfontein en knoop ’n verhouding aan met Marie Groenewald, met noodlottige gevolge.

Genres: Novels

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

André Philippus Brink was a South African novelist. He wrote in Afrikaans and English and was until his retirement a Professor of English Literature at the University of Cape Town.

In the 1960s, he and Breyten Breytenbach were key figures in the Afrikaans literary movement known as Die Sestigers ("The Sixty-ers"). These writers sought to use Afrikaans as a language to speak against the apartheid government, and also to bring into Afrikaans literature the influence of contemporary English and French trends. His novel Kennis van die aand (1973) was the first Afrikaans book to be banned by the South African government.

Brink's early novels were often concerned with the apartheid policy. His final works engaged new issues raised by life in postapartheid South Africa.

Reviews

[Anschen Conradie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#LobolaVirDieLewe – Andrė P. Brink (Human en Rousseau, 1962)
#LobolaForLife – Bester Meyer (Translator: Naledi, 2022)
#RebelSong – Bester Meyer (Naledi, 2022)

‘Lobola vir die lewe’ se eerste uitgawe was reeds in 1962. Dis sedertdien verskeie kere herdruk (myne is ‘n derde hersiene uitgawe van 1964), maar was, vreemd genoeg, tot 2022 een van Brink se weinige werke wat nie in Engels vertaal was nie. Die sinopsis is bedreiglik eenvoudig en word hier herhaal ter wille van geheueverfrissing: Francois Raubenheimer vind uit dat hy as kind in pleegsorg geplaas was en vertrek op ‘n spreekwoordelike soektog na homself en sy eie indentiteit, asook die sin van die lewe in die algemeen. Tydens ‘n drinksessie word hy by ‘n kroeg uitgesmyt en ‘n bejaarde oorlogsveteraan, ene Serfontein, ontferm hom oor die jonger man. Francois ontmoet ‘n vriendin van Serfontein, Marie, met wie hy ‘n kortstondige, maar rampspoedige verhouding aanknoop.

Sixty years after the first publication in Afrikaans, the English translation has been published. The essence of the 1960’s has been retained, however; the language; architecture; social structures and currency all remained true to the era. As was the case with the original Afrikaans, the structure of the novel is of particular interest; the traditional chapter format is replaced by numbered stations. Seen in conjunction with the insertion of so-called little rosaries, the impression of the novel being a detailed Catholic confession, is thereby created.

The third publication, ‘Rebel Song’, is an unusual addition. Originally published in Afrikaans as ‘Die Testament’ in 2020, it is a combined collection of poetry and prose applying past literary voices (mainly that of Brink in ‘Lobola’, but also others like N.P. van Wyk Louw) to our current reality in the 21st century. Language is referred to as the greatest truth and the timeless question of what it is that distinguishes man from brute, is examined. Raubenheimer’s reaction to Serfontein identifying him as a rebel, is at the centre of this anthology: ‘Rebelling?... God, against what can one still rebel? Life - ? I am searching for life, if you like. Or did search, where I could, in any event.’ (67)

‘Rebel Song’ is best read in conjunction with ‘Lobola for life’ and illustrates the basic premise that man’s search remains mostly unaltered – even after six decades.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die boek wat destyds Suid-Afrika op sy kop gesit het. 'n Jong Brink, nog lekker aan die eksperimenteer. In styl, dialoog en kursief. Moeite werd om te lees en te versamel.