New book uncovers the life and legacy of enigmatic writer “Dugmore Boetie”

New book uncovers the life and legacy of enigmatic writer “Dugmore Boetie” Original Apartheid Hustler: The Fiction and Fabrications of Dugmore Boetie, published by Wits University Press, was launched at Mandela University on 8 October, bringing renewed attention to the life and work of Dugmore Boetie, the pen name of journalist, writer and musician Douglas Mahonga Buti (1924–1966). From left, Dr Vusi Kumalo, Professor Pamela Maseko and Prof Benjamin Lawrence A writer ahead of his time FBest known for his posthumously published novel Familiarity is the Kingdom of the Lost (1969), also associated with the title Tshotsholoza, Boetie was a prolific creative whose life was marked by hardship, political uncertainty, disability and an ongoing struggle to establish himself as a writer. Despite his connections to prominent literary and political figures, including Ruth First, Nat Nakasa, Nadine Gordimer and Barney Simon, his story remains largely unfamiliar to South African audiences. His work, however, travelled internationally, with editions published in Britain and the United States and translations reaching audiences beyond the English-speaking world. Beyond the myths and fabrications The book draws on years of archival research and interviews with more than 50 people who knew Boetie or his family. Together, the authors piece together a complex life shaped by multiple identities, disputed accounts and stories that often blurred the boundaries between fact and fiction. Rather than simply portraying Boetie as a liar or con artist, the authors encourage readers to consider why he reinvented himself and how storytelling became a means of navigating the dangers and uncertainties of apartheid. “The most important thing that we want to do in this book is to move away from the story of Boetie being a liar and a con man and to try to reframe him as a hustler, someone who was trying to get by, who was trying to survive, who was trying to make his way through the world,” Prof Lawrance explained. Boetie used different names and versions of his life, including a fictional account in which he lost his leg while fighting the Nazis during the Second World War. The researchers found evidence that challenged this and other elements of his autobiography, suggesting that fiction offered him a way to conceal painful personal experiences and protect himself from further vulnerability. Preserving overlooked histories The research also uncovers questions about authorship, copyright and the preservation of Boetie's literary legacy, particularly the role played by Barney Simon in bringing his work to international attention. While Simon helped preserve Boetie's manuscripts, the authors argue that the history of the book raises important questions about who controls a writer's work and how literary legacies are shaped. For the researchers, restoring Boetie's place in South African literary history also means reconnecting his story with his family. Their interviews revealed that some relatives knew little about their ancestry or the fate of Boetie's writings. Dr Kumalo emphasised the importance of this work, saying: “We are restoring the dignity of this creative, enigmatic author.” The book also aligns with the Faculty of Humanities' strategic thematic focus on African Vernacular Archive and Heritage Studies, which recognises that history is preserved not only in formal archives, but also in family histories, oral accounts and lived experiences. In his welcoming remarks, Prof Pamela Maseko, the Executive Dean of the Humanities Faculty highlighted the book's contribution to understanding the relationship between memory, storytelling and historical representation, particularly where apartheid-era records were shaped by unequal power relations. “The collaboration between Dr Kumalo and Prof Lawrance demonstrates the value of research that connects local histories with international scholarship while bringing overlooked voices back into public conversation,” said Prof Maseko. Ultimately, Original Apartheid Hustler invites readers to look beyond the myths surrounding Dugmore Boetie and reconsider the circumstances that shaped his life, his writing and his legacy. His story raises a question that extends beyond one writer: whose contributions are remembered, whose are overlooked, and what can be recovered when researchers return to the archives and listen to the voices left out of the dominant narratives?