The Hairdresser of Harare

By Tendai Huchu

Like very good dark chocolate this is a delicious novel, with a bitter-sweet flavour. Vimbai is a hairdresser, the best in Mrs Khumalo's salon, and she knows she is the queen on whom they all depend. Her situation is reversed when the good-looking, smooth-talking Dumisani joins them. However, his charm and desire to please slowly erode Vimbai's rancour and when he needs somewhere to live, Vimbai becomes his landlady. So, when Dumisani needs someone to accompany him to his brother's wedding to help smooth over a family upset, Vimbai obliges. Startled to find that this smart hairdresser is the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Harare, she is equally surprised by the warmth of their welcome; and it is their subsequent generosity which appears to foster the relationship between the two young people. The ambiguity of this deepening friendship - used or embraced by Dumisani and Vimbai with different futures in mind - collapses in unexpected brutality when secrets and jealousies are exposed. Written with delightful humour and a penetrating eye, The Hairdresser of Harare is a novel that you will find hard to put down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Weaver Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2001
• ISBN: 9781779221520

Tendai Huchu

Tendai Huchu’s work has been translated into German, French, Spanish, and Italian. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Interzone, Wasafiri, and elsewhere. He was shortlisted for the 2014 Caine Prize.

Reviews for The Hairdresser of Harare

[brangwinn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes non-fiction just doesn’t carry the emotion of history. This story of contemporary Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe does a much better job showing the challenges of living under the rule of a crazy man, particularly if you are a gay man, the son of a wealthy compatriot of Mugabe. This was compelling reading, recommended reading for anyone interested in African politics.

[bibrarybookslut · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I admit, coming into The Hairdresser of Harare, I didn’t know much about Zimbabwe beyond its geographical location. Sure, I had some half-formed assumptions and expectations, but nothing upon which to confidently rely in exploring the world Tendai Huchu has so skilfully portrayed.

Like any book that tackles social and political prejudices, this is a dark, heavy, often challenging read, but the language and the vibrancy of the writing lifts us above the world we’re reading about. In a sense, you almost want to be dragged down by stilted, heavy, academic prose . . . to suffer alongside the characters . . . but then the book becomes more about your experience, and less about the story. I think Huchu has done an admirable job here of balancing entertainment with education, making us want to not only care about what we’re reading, but to enjoy the read itself.

Had this just been the story of a gay hairdresser, living and working in an oppressive society, it would have been an interesting read. For those of us raised on North American television and film, the concept of a gay hairdresser is hardly a novel one, but one most likely to be explored either for comic relief, or to reinforce a stereotype. Here the concept is both novel and significant. Dumisani is a well-rounded, exceedingly likeable – and, more importantly, admirable character. Hardly a stereotype, he’s an outcast, with his sexuality a secret to most (including, for a time, the reader), but immediately recognizable once it’s revealed.

What makes this something more than just an interesting read is the complex and delightful presence of Vimbai. Hardly perfect, she serves to develop Dumi’s character, and to provide some intimate insights into the controversy of his homosexuality. She’s a strong character on her own, likeable (in a slightly exasperating way), amusing, and cautiously friendly. She seemed a bit too oblivious to the fact that Dumi is gay, but given the culture in which we’re so expertly placed, and the discretion with which he leads his life, it’s an easily forgivable aspect of the story.

Overall, this is a lovely novel to read, with the casual use of local slang and phrasings serving to enhance, rather than confuse, the experience. We get a lot of colour through the writing itself, and the narrative voice is such that we can ‘hear’ the culture, without the intrusion of an interpreter to explain or offer any unnecessary asides.
If I have one complaint about the novel, it’s the ending. While I knew going in that this would not be a happily-ever-after story, the power of the ending still unsettled me. I think part of the reason is that it seems such an abrupt end, without any of the usual cut-away or wrap-up scenes so often used in Western literature to soften the blow. Having said that, such scenes would have been entirely out of place here – the ending should be unsettling and slightly unsatisfactory, in order to validate everything that has come before.

If you’re open to a different read, a literate story that explores difficult ideas and opinions, this is a book that’s well worth the read. It’s a refreshing addition to the bookshelf, and one that will leave you both entertained and enlightened.

[danaburgess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In his book, Mr Huchu introduces us to his hometown of Harare in Zimbabwe. We learn of its culture and people through the eyes of Vimbai - the best hairdresser in Harare. The best, that is, until Dumisani shows up and gives her a run for her money. Who ever heard of a male hairdresser anyway?It was so much fun to be the fly on the wall of Vimbai's life. I felt like I was right there with her at work trying so hard to be the best so that her job would be secure. How could she provide for her daughter or run her household if she lost her job?Life isn't all doom and gloom, worry and work, though. There is lots of humour interwoven and it doesn't take long for the reader to fall in love with Vimbai. Or for Vimbai to fall in love with Dumisani.As they say, it's all fun and games until somebody loses and eye. 'The Hairdresser of Harare' starts out fun and the reader is having an enjoyable time learning about Zimbabwe. Pretty soon, though, a feeling of unease creeps up the reader's spine. Is Dumisani keeping a secret? A little black shadow starts sliding around the edges of the story and then it happens - BAM!! 'The Hairdresser of Harare' turns into a powerful, unforgettable novel that challenges everything Vimbai (and maybe you) believes in. It becomes uncomfortable and sad all at once and then moves to bittersweet. Who knew how powerful 14 small words could be? I shall regret the next thing I did for as long as I live (pg 170)I certainly don't regret reading 'The Hairdresser of Harare'. It is an enjoyable and powerful work. There are a lot of foreign words running through the dialog but they are easily understood in context. The level of systemic corruption may be difficult for some readers to accept but (having lived for a time in a corrupt country) is a reality in most third world countries. Although the ending left some unanswered questions, it was satisfying. Hopfully we will hear more from Tendai Huchu (and maybe Vimbai) in the future!

[bookdivasreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Every now and again I read a book that makes me stop and appreciate all that I have. One such book was The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu. This isn't nonfiction and isn't filled with dark themes in general. It tells the story of two hairdressers in Harare, Zimbabwe and societal prejudices. One is a male and from a privileged urban family, Dumisani. The other is female, a single mother, and from a poor rural family, Vimbai. Theirs is a story of endurance, jealousy, friendship and betrayal.Vimbai is a 26-year-old single mother. She works reasonably hard at her craft and considers herself the best hairdresser in Harare. Her goal is to eventually own and operate her own salon, but for now she plods away working for Mrs. Khumalo. Vimbai has her own personal issues to deal with, such as becoming a single mother at age 19, raising her daughter alone because the father is married, and an estrangement from her family because her elder brother died and left her his home in Harare. She, and everyone else in the working 10%, must also deal with the overwhelming inflation rate and search for basic staples like sugar and cornmeal not to mention flickering electrical service and exorbitant utilities. Vimbai's status and security is threatened when Dumisani walks in to Mrs. Khumalo's salon, requests employment and gets it. Most of the new clients and a few of the older established clients all vie for Dumisani to work on their hair. Dumisani goes out of his way to befriend Vimbai, eventually becoming a tenant in her home and before long a very good friend. He invites her to a family wedding and their relationship moves from friendship to an engagement. Dumisani's family openly embraces Vimbai and her daughter because they feel that the relationship between Vimbai and Dumisani mean's he is "cured" (this is the first reference to Dumisani's homosexuality). Dumisani has kept a secret and it is a secret that could get him killed and threatens Vimbai's new found security. I actually enjoyed reading The Hairdresser of Harare. I presumed it would be depressing given that it deals with prejudices, but it wasn't. Mr. Huchu incorporates the topics of racism, poverty, and prejudice in a very circumspect manner but he gets the point across. Vimbai isn't easy to like as a character but I think that's because of her flaws more so than anything else. Dumisani isn't as developed as Vimbai but he is likable. Both Vimbai and Dumisani have a certain naïveté about life and family that was actually refreshing. The only problems I had in reading this book was in understanding the names and foreign terminology (a personal hang-up...I like to not only understand but also know how to pronounce everything when reading). If you haven't read anything that might be classified as African Literature and want to start, then I recommend The Hairdresser of Harare. This was my first foray into this genre and I hope it won't be my last.

[jamesterck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review: When I agreed to review this book, I figured it would just be an interesting read. What I didn't expect is how much I would love the smooth writing style and humor that make up the story! 1) Character Development: Vimbai is the main character and the story is told completely from her point of view (first person). She is very witty and her humorous opinions and observations had me smiling while reading. She's definitely what you could call a "diva"; for a long time she's been Mrs. Khumalo's best hairdresser at the salon, so she knows no matter what she they won't fire her. They need her because she brings in business and she uses this to her advantage, coming in late to work most of the time and doing whatever she pleases. Here's a good example of Vimbai's attitude at the beginning of this book:Everyone knew I was the goose that laid the golden eggs. If I left, half the customers would follow me. In any case letting them wait made them realise how lucky they were to be served at all, so I was actually doing the business a favour. (pg. 2)As the story progresses, we get to see Vimbai grow and change, becoming more humble as the days go on. When Dumisani, "Dumi" for short, comes on the scene Vimbai is extremely jealous at how talented he is. For lack of better words, she acts like a spoiled brat; she doesn't want to get to know Dumi or have anything to do with him. He ends up stealing a lot of her customers, but he is so charming and genuinely nice that even though Vimbai remains jealous she starts to enjoy his company. It's very interesting to see how much their relationship changes through the course of this book, which makes the ending even more shocking as a major betrayal on both sides is revealed.2) The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly: First, The Good - I loved the characters immensely in this book. They were so believable and I was able to see them change, especially Vimbai, through the course of reading. I enjoyed the humor; even though this book tackles a very real and serious issue, it still managed to make me laugh at times. The whole book flowed very smoothly and I had trouble putting it down because I just wanted to see what happened next with these characters. The Bad - I don't really have many negative things to say about The Hairdresser Of Harare. Since this story was set in Zimbabwe, I had trouble with some of the non-English words throughout. Luckily some definitions were given immediately following the unfamiliar words, but occasionally there were words or phrases that were not readily defined. A glossary of words at the back of the book might have helped in that situation, but it didn't affect my overall opinion of the book much at all. Also, I felt like the ending was a bit abrupt. Maybe I'm the only one that felt that way, but I wanted to know more about what happened with the characters later in life. The Ugly - Absolutely nothing horrible to say about this book, I thought it was pretty amazing!3) Romance Sizzle Or Fizzle?: This question does not really suit this book, so I'm not going to answer it. Dumi and Vimbai do develop sort of a relationship, yet Vimbai is extremely blind and naive to things that might be obvious to anyone else. Especially when she accompanies him to his brother's wedding and his parent's make a huge deal out of him bringing his "girlfriend" to meet them. Vimbai finds it strange but decides not to think too much of it; I think that with her past unhealthy relationship she just wanted so much to be loved that she was willing to overlook what was right in front of her the whole time. The very first line of the book pretty much sums it all up:I knew there was something not quite right about Dumi the very first time I ever laid eyes on him. The problem was, I just couldn't tell what it was. Thank God for that. (pg. 1)That's a very strong statement, because I think if she had learned Dumi's secret at the beginning the outcome might have been even more tragic; with her jealousy, I think she might have exposed his secret out of spite to anyone who would listen. 4) Uniqueness Of Plot: I feel like the story was fairly unique. I've definitely never read anything quite like it and wasn't sure what to expect when I started, but it turned out to be a fresh and engaging read. 5) Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book, it certainly exceeded my expectations. The characters were interesting and felt genuine and Harare was described very vividly. The writing was superb and gripped me until the very last page. I'm so glad the author gave me a chance to read/review this book!

[reads4pleasure · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu is the story of what can happen when you refuse to see what's right in front of you. Vimbai is a single mother raising a child that's the result of an affair with a married man. Working in Mrs. Khumalo's salon, she's the best hairdresser in Harare. All of that changes the day Dumisani appears.Though male hairdressers are unheard of in Harare, Dumi's charming ways with both Mrs. Khumalo and the customers immediately makes him the star of the salon. Feeling put off by this, Vimbai avoids him. However, the need for extra income prompts her to offer him a room in her house when she learns that he has no place to stay.Both are cut off from their families, though for different reasons, and, as a result, become quite close. Dumi sends confusing messages to Vimbai when he invites her to attend a family wedding with him. His family is immediately drawn to her and embraces both her and her daughter. I really feel that Vimbai and Dumi use each other to legitimize themselves to others.Earlier when I talked about not seeing what's in front of you, I was referring to Vimbai's refusal to acknowledge that perhaps there was something Dumi was hiding. As a reader going in knowing the back story, it was obvious by what the family was saying that there was something about Dumisani that he hadn't shared with Vimbai. However, I think even without knowing what the family was referring to or why, had she been paying attention, there were plenty of hints and signs for Vimbai to see.When Vimbai is finally confronted with the truth, her reaction is such that she outs Dumi to those that intend to do him harm. Ultimately he must leave Harare and Zimbabwe altogether. It's not until she realizes that she will lose every aspect of him that she truly grasps the consequences of her actions.What did you like about this book?I loved the author's use of words and their flow. He does a wonderful job of describing not only the characters, but their surroundings.What didn't you like about this book?Honestly the only thing that I can find wrong is that it's not available to a wider audience of readers.What can the author do to improve this book?Find a publisher in the states! This is definitely a story that needs to be told.