Botlhodi: The Abomination

A Postcolonial Setswana Novel by T.J. Pheto

by T.J. Pheto

edited by Keith Phetlhe

Botlhodi – The Abomination is a powerful story about
British colonialism and its aftermath in Molepolole, Botswana. It is a
compelling juxtaposition between Traditional Setswana ways and
Christianity. The protagonist, Modiko, finds himself conflicted when
both his strict father, a pastor of Motlhaoetla church, and his
grandfather, an unapologetic traditionalist, expect him to choose
between Setswana tradition and Christianity. Torn between the two
worlds, Modiko at the end makes an informed personal decision. The road
is not smooth though, as he experiences persecution, bullying, abuse,
witchcraft and nightmares along the way. Other characters in the novel
engage in some serious conversations that allude to some important
historical developments.

In this work, T.J. Pheto presents to his
readers a hilarious story pregnant with themes of identity, social
change, discrimination, racism, colonialism, love and, ‘tradition’
versus ‘modernity’. This pioneering literary response to British
colonialism in Botswana is an outstanding postcolonial fiction of
resistance. Pheto’s humor makes the book all the more hard for a reader
to put down.

£18.00

About the author

T.J. Pheto

T.J. Pheto is a novelist and teacher from Botswana. He is the author of
Botlhodi Jwa Nta ya Tlhogo, hereby translated into English as The
Abomination.

About the editors

Keith Phetlhe

Keith Phetlhe, BA, PGDE, MA, is a poet, teacher and translator. He is a
Ph.D candidate in African Literature & Film Studies at Ohio
University. His research focuses on postcolonial theory and criticism,
African languages and literature.