Bhuti tells the untold story of Ndebele nation
The book deeply dive into the history, but it's also a story from his heart.
Bhuti didn't just tell the untold story of the Ndebele nation, he even told the story behind his inspiration to write the book.
Bhuti's journey to writing the book started almost a decade ago. Between 2006 and 2010, Bhuti spent a lot of his time in archives, including those at the University of Pretoria and Wits, looking for information about the history of KwaNdebele.
According to Bhuti, that's where he realised that a full story of the Ndebele people hadn't really been told.
In 2012, he made a documentary film about the Ndebele nation's history.
According to Bhuti, his passion made him speak to important people, like former government officials, to get their stories for his documentary.
The film was successful, but Bhuti felt there was more to share than a movie could cover.
'I realised that the story didn't have to end with just a film,' said Bhuti.
That feeling led him to start writing his book in 2023.
For 'What We Lost In The Fire,' Bhuti didn't just look at old textbooks or timelines that begin in the late 1800s.
He went even deeper. He decided to include oral memory, the stories and knowledge passed down through generations by word of mouth.
To give the book 'soul', Bhuti specifically focused on his mother's family, the 'BakwaMgidi.'
He wrote using stories he heard from his grandmother.
Some were tales she told him directly, others were things he saw and experienced growing up. So, he emphasised that his book is not just about historical facts.
'I wasn't just writing history, I was tracing memories,' said Bhuti.
The book unpacked how the Ndebele nation has survived through quiet strength, difficult times, and a will to continue.
Bhuti inked the untold story of the Ndebele nation.
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The Citizen
12-07-2025
- The Citizen
Bhuti tells the untold story of Ndebele nation
Filmmaker and TV director Bhuti Mopai, born in eMalahleni, well known for his many hours of work on shows such as eTV and Mzansi Channel, has now written a personal book, 'What We Lost In The Fire: The Untold Story of the Ndebele Nation.' The book deeply dive into the history, but it's also a story from his heart. Bhuti didn't just tell the untold story of the Ndebele nation, he even told the story behind his inspiration to write the book. Bhuti's journey to writing the book started almost a decade ago. Between 2006 and 2010, Bhuti spent a lot of his time in archives, including those at the University of Pretoria and Wits, looking for information about the history of KwaNdebele. According to Bhuti, that's where he realised that a full story of the Ndebele people hadn't really been told. In 2012, he made a documentary film about the Ndebele nation's history. According to Bhuti, his passion made him speak to important people, like former government officials, to get their stories for his documentary. The film was successful, but Bhuti felt there was more to share than a movie could cover. 'I realised that the story didn't have to end with just a film,' said Bhuti. That feeling led him to start writing his book in 2023. For 'What We Lost In The Fire,' Bhuti didn't just look at old textbooks or timelines that begin in the late 1800s. He went even deeper. He decided to include oral memory, the stories and knowledge passed down through generations by word of mouth. To give the book 'soul', Bhuti specifically focused on his mother's family, the 'BakwaMgidi.' He wrote using stories he heard from his grandmother. Some were tales she told him directly, others were things he saw and experienced growing up. So, he emphasised that his book is not just about historical facts. 'I wasn't just writing history, I was tracing memories,' said Bhuti. The book unpacked how the Ndebele nation has survived through quiet strength, difficult times, and a will to continue. Bhuti inked the untold story of the Ndebele nation. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: [email protected] At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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