The Suit Graphic Adaptation

AFRICAN CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED CAN THEMBA’S

The Suit

Drum Writers of the 1950’s

CAN THEMBA’S

The Suit “In the lightening flash that the eye can whip, he saw it all ... the man beside his wife ... the chestnut arm around her neck ... the ruffled candlewick bedspread ... the suit across the chair. But he affected not to see.”

CAN THEMBA was born in Marabastad in 1924. He won a scholarship to study at the University of Fort Hare and, in 1947, he graduated with a first class degree in English. He taught at a number of schools around Johannesburg before entering a short story competition run by Drum magazine. His entry, ‘Mob Passion’, won first prize.

This success inspired him to change career, and he became a journalist for Drum and Golden City Post. He was later appointed associate editor on both of these publications.

In 1963, after being banned from publishing or being quoted in any South African publication, Can

Themba went into exile in Swaziland with his family. He died in Manzini in 1968.

‘The Suit’ by Can Themba from The World of Can Themba edited by Essop Patel, Ravan Press, 1985. © Mrs Anne Themba. Adapted by permission of Ravan Press and Mrs Anne Themba.

How Philemon enjoyed taking breakfast to his wife cuddled up in bed. He was not one of those husbands who believed in keeping a wife in her place.

Here you are, my love!

Can I get you something else, Tilly?

No - off with you!

1

Hi Maphikela.

Dumela mora.

Fuduga! ...

Stir the pot!

You are very quiet this morning, baba... money troubles?

Son, if I could avoid this...

That wife of mine swears you don’t know...

Go ahead, baba.

There is a young man visiting your wife.

What is it, baba?

2

Well, for three months now...

I - I have to go back!

Steady son, steady!

Philemon heard gears grinding and screaming in his head...

Toby Street, Sophiatown.

The calm he achieved was tense... but he could think now...

He could take a decision...

3

Fancy, Tilly, I forgot my dompas.

I had already reached town...

Hy mansch sy outfit!

If it hadn’t been for Mr Maphikela...

HA!

I see we have a visitor!

4

We have a visitor, Tilly.

He will sleep in here with us.

You will look after him well.

He will eat every meal with us and share all we have.

If he vanishes... or anything happens to him...

Put the fellow in the wardrobe for now.

Matilda, I’ll kill you!

No, there will be no violence in this house, if you and I can help it...

5

My baas, I can’t come to work today. My wife is not well.

For hours Philemon wandered, indifferent to what was taking place around him.

Ons dak nie!

Ons pola hier!

Die gatas kom!

He found himself outside a beer hall at the tail end of Western Native Township.

One beeah.

6

He had never been inside before.

They won’t move us!

Congress has a plan...

Ag, we’ve heard their promises before.

The boere are here again.

Tilly... Tilly...

Somehow the thunderous din soothed his bruised spirits.

7

Later...

My wife hasn’t come home yet.

But Thandi doesn’t know Meadowlands...

Hurry up, man! Vat your things!

Stop, wait!

I can’t leave without her.

Philemon, I’m sorry.

8

I’ve cooked you a meal.

Matilda!

Our visitor!

That’s how I want it, every day, every meal.

Seat our friend on that chair!

Dish up for him!

9

So it was. After that first breakdown, Matilda began to feel that her punishment was not too severe, considering her crime. She tried, for herself, to make it into a private family game. But one Sunday afternoon...

Our visitor needs an outing.

Tearfully Matilda dressed for the occasion.

Matilda felt as if every eye was turned on her.

Hoe mak’t broer?

Matilda wondered how long things could go on like this.

I’m trapped.

But where can I go?

Home?

No - I couldn’t tell my mother.

10

Nurse Kakile left her husband... now she drinks and men pass her around.

Then...

Phil, they are forming cultural clubs for married women.

The Cultural Club was wonderful. Tilly made friends and attended meetings.

Things were different.

She felt like a new person.

Some weeks later...

What can I do to restore my self-respect?

Yet no one knows of my shame.

What’s a cultural club?

Now playing that silly game seemed a little thing...

... a very little thing.

Can I have a party for my new friends?

Well, we can’t have you moping around all day...

11

Congress is asking women to arrange fetes and sports and...

Ntyelo, Ntyelo.

Just this once, please, Phil?

Matilda! The Guest of Honour!

12

GET OUR VISITOR!

What’s the idea, Philemon?

Why must she serve the suit?

Ask her - she knows the fellow best!

It’s just a game.

After the party Philemon went off with one of the guests.

13

Much later, reeling drunk, he came back.

Then he saw her.

Matilda...

There she lay, curled as if, just before she died, she had begged for a little love, for someone to cuddle her a little... just this once... just this once more.

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AFRICAN CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED A Storyteller Group Project The African Classics Illustrated project adapts works of great African literature into the graphic - or comic story format. Our aim is to bring the treasures of African literature alive and within the reach of as many people as possible.

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