Award-winning Sepedi author Phuti Jorries Seboni has added another title to his growing body of work with the release of his fourth book, Gobaneng hle, Tate? (Why, Dad?), a poignant exploration of father-son relationships and the emotional impact of absent fathers.
The Bochum-born writer, whose debut novel Lesogana La Mahlale earned him an African Honoree Authors’ Award in 2023, says his latest work addresses issues affecting many young people growing up without fathers.
Written in simple Sepedi and aimed primarily at high school learners, the book tells the story of Thokolowa Bokone, a man who abandons his family in a rural village and starts a new life with another woman in Gauteng.
“Gobaneng hle, Tate? is about the relationship between a father and his son,” Seboni explained. “It talks about a man called Thokolowa Bokone who left his family in a rural area and stayed with another lady in Gauteng. He decided to stay with the new one and take care of her children while his own children suffered at home.”
The title, which translates to “Why, Dad?”, captures the essence of the story.
“The whole book is basically the son asking questions, and the father trying to answer honestly,” he said. “It’s written in simple Sepedi so that high school learners can relate and actually enjoy reading in their home language.”
Seboni said the inspiration for the book came from witnessing the emotional struggles of young men who grew up without fathers.
“I saw a lot of young men growing up with anger and never getting a chance to express their feelings. Deep down they were suffering from the situation of growing up without a father,” he said.
“Too many sons are angry at their fathers but never ask, ‘Gobaneng hle Tate?’ and too many fathers shout but never explain why.”
Through the book, Seboni hopes to encourage dialogue and understanding between fathers and sons.
“The message I want out there is that fathers and sons must talk. Communication heals. Respect goes both ways. Discipline without explanation creates rebellion, but love without boundaries creates chaos. If one father and one son read this and start talking afterwards, then the book has done its job.”
While the primary target market is Grade 10 to 12 learners, particularly boys in Sepedi-speaking schools, Seboni believes the themes explored in the book are universal.
“Honestly, I wrote it for any father and son. Growing up without a dad can cause huge damage to children and can also cause trauma. A lot of kids who grew up without fathers struggle with anger issues,” he said.
The release of Gobaneng hle, Tate? marks another milestone in a literary journey that continues to gain momentum. Seboni’s debut novel, Lesogana La Mahlale, which encourages young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to make the most of opportunities presented to them, has recently been cited in a provincial examination question paper in Mpumalanga.
For the author, seeing his work included in an education assessment is the fulfilment of a long-held dream.
“I feel very happy. To me it’s an honour,” he said. “When I was starting my writing career, I wanted to see my name printed on a question paper. I wanted my book to be read at schools because my purpose is to spread the message to the youth.”
He believes the inclusion of Lesogana La Mahlale in the examination paper demonstrates that the lessons contained in the book are reaching the audience for whom they were intended.
“To me it’s a win because the message arrived to the right people, which is the youth. Surely the message delivered to the Mpumalanga learners will help them become better people in future as they learn from the behaviour and lessons in the book.”
From an aspiring writer from rural Limpopo to an award-winning author whose work is now being studied in schools, Seboni’s literary growth reflects both his commitment to promoting the Sepedi language and his determination to use storytelling to address social issues affecting young people.
With four books now to his name, the author continues to build a reputation as one of the emerging voices in Sepedi literature, using his writing to educate, inspire and spark important conversations within families and communities.
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