Mhudi by Sol T. Plaatje, first published in 1930, is widely regarded as the first novel written in English by a Black South African.

Set in the early nineteenth century against a backdrop of war, migration and upheaval, it tells the story of Mhudi, a courageous young woman who survives the destruction of her people and embarks on a journey of resilience, love and rebuilding. Alongside her husband, Ra-Thaga, she navigates a changing and often hostile landscape, forging unexpected alliances and holding onto hope in the face of profound loss.

Both an epic romance and a powerful historical narrative, Mhudi is a pioneering work of South African literature. Rich in imagination and insight, it offers a deeply human perspective on a turbulent period in the country’s past, and remains as significant and moving today as when it was first published.