Brief

This biography of an interracial family in Zimbabwe highlights the suffering of the so called "Coloured" people in Rhodesia during the colonial period up to and including the granting of Independence to the Blacks in 1980 and beyond.

What We Liked

This is a unique true story focusing on an area of the world and history that is underrepresented in popular media.

Film: As a film, this could be an impactful period piece showing a tale of triumph over struggle and resolution in the face of injustices.

TV: As a television show, this could be an interesting historical docuseries about the class stratification among races in Rhodesia throughout the early 20th century.

Key points: Based on a true story; Unique setting; Period piece; Action scenes; History heavy

Synopsis

Harry Patrick Holl, Pat, a white man born in England, moved to Cape Town, South Africa in the 1880s in order to learn farming. He met and became engaged to a young Boer woman, but was forced to break off the engagement as the Anglo-Boer war increased in intensity. He went to Rhodesia and met a native woman of the amaNdebele tribe, uMsoli. Although the Colony's administration would not, at the time, formally recognize a union between a black woman and a white man, uMsoli and Pat were married in a ceremony traditional to the amaNdebele's tribe's customs. Together, they had four children, but Pat neglected to register the children as his. They lived together on Pat's farm with their children until Pat met a young woman named Genevieve and married her.

Pat brought Genevieve back to his farm and kicked uMsoli and their children out of the house. Pat sent uMsoli and their children to uMsoli's brother with an inheritance of cattle and goods, but they were forced to live a life of hardship as uMsoli's brother took everything and refused to give any of the inheritance to the children. After a few years, the two eldest went to visit Pat on his farm and tell him of their difficulties. Pat was surprised to see two of his daughters struggling, and promised to set up a Guardian's Fund to ensure that all of his children could receive educations, however, the documents that would have allowed the fund to take effect were destroyed in a fire.

One of Pat's sons with uMsoli, Ben, was resentful towards his father's neglect. When Pat died, Ben assumed that he would inherit the cattle and goods that he was promised by his father, but his uncle prevented him from receiving the inheritance. He left home and married a native woman named uMathoso. As a coloured man, neither able to receive the benefits of being white or African, Ben was unable for a long time to find work until he was finally employed by an asbestos mine in Shabani. He had children with uMathoso, but she soon died while her son Obert was only four years old. Ben married another native woman by the name of uMadhlodhlo. uMadhlodhlo did not care for Ben's children from his previous marriage, and would often leave them with no food or supervision for days at a time. Ava and Obert were taken from Ben and uMadhlodlo in Shabani to live with their aunt, uNkungulu, and her husband, uBishop, because Ben had failed to come up with the required lobola (bride price) when he married uMathoso. They were to remain with their aunt until the bride price was paid off. The children were forced to do backbreaking labor on the farm.

Despite these hardships, Obert was determined to make a better life for himself and get an education. His sister, Ava, helped him escape his aunt uNkungulu’s home and go back to Shabani, where he was able to go to school under a welfare grant. Obert got drafted in the war and met Veronica, who he soon married. Zimbabwe won independence, and Obert, who had been working in the Civil Service, was forced to leave. Obert's father, Ben, dies, leaving behind several orphans, as he had continued siring children well into his 70s. Veronica gets sick and Obert decides to take her to the UK for better medical treatment, however, it is difficult to leave Zimbabwe, until Obert's daughter realizes their family's true genealogy. Obert is able to prove his relation to Harry Patrick Holl, and reunites with his white relatives. Obert's private accounting firm takes off, but he is soon injured in a squash game, and for the rest of his life suffers from a lack of smell and a lack of hearing in one ear. The Zimbabwe dollar crashes and Obert loses his home and pension, just as he learns he has Hepatitis C. He and his wife move to Australia and he is successfully treated and cured of the disease.

About The Author

Obert Holl was born in Shabani (now Zvishavane), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). His father was the half-white son of a Pioneer and his mother an Ndebele woman from the Swazi tribe. Despite the difficulties he faced, Holl was able to become Senior Administrative Officer during the colonial regime and up to Corporate Secretary in the Mugabe Regime. He became the first non-white to own and run a successful accounting firm in Harare during the Mugabe Regime.