Helper’s Son
R280,00
The Helper’s Son is an exhilarating and suspenseful novel about race, culture and identity.
The story is about the child of a domestic worker, Jongikhaya, who was born black but raised white by his mother’s employers.
Growing up in an apartheid system in South Africa, Jongikhaya revelled in his shifting consciousness; often fluctuating between the comfort of a well-manicured lawn in an opulent suburb in Cape Town, to the fast and furious life in Gugulethu’s dusty streets.
250 in stock
Description
The Helper’s Son is an exhilarating and suspenseful novel about race, culture and identity.
The story is about the child of a domestic worker, Jongikhaya, who was born black but raised white by his mother’s employers.
Growing up in an apartheid system in South Africa, Jongikhaya revelled in his shifting consciousness; often fluctuating between the comfort of a well-manicured lawn in an opulent suburb in Cape Town, to the fast and furious life in Gugulethu’s dusty streets.
Over the years, his blackness became more accentuated, causing his two worlds to collide. Disenchanted, Jongikhaya veered on a dangerous path of resentment and despondency, turning against everyone that loved him.
A tragic family killing plunged him into an abyss of despair. In his quest to find meaning, Jongikhaya embarked on a sojourn across the seas, to a foreign land.
Never one for good omens, a combination of a forfeited scholarship, a tangled love affair and a strange encounter on a bus to work someday, would see him return home to confront his demons.
About The Author
Ayodeji Olaifa is an esteemed and well-travelled professional in the banking industry who enjoys telling stories that impact the world. He’s also the author of Unjani Mfwethu – The Story of a Migrant in South Africa.
15 reviews for Helper’s Son
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Kolibo –
I’m so so excited about this Deji thanks for making us proud as your friend may the lord open your eyes to more possibilities that you can achieve and the grace and strength to fully maximize your potential ijn. I’m proud of you my brother.
Gboyen –
Congrats Dejoore, this is wonderful. It is impressive how you are able to navigate through an obviously busy career schedule, the grind of daily living and yet still able to pen these books….next time I interview you (😆), I will put these questions to you. Well done🍺
Unkown –
How did you even think about all the stuff you wrote? It’s almost as if you lived it. Jongikhaya being a caregiver to Mr Smith with dementia literally resonated with me cause I’m literally living it with my dad
Derin –
Nice to see that you are documenting life from your perspective and creating memories
Lindi publisher –
It’s so weird cause a client of mine said he wants to write a book this week about his culture identity and growing up in an apartheid system. He was always seen as “white”
He doesn’t know about this book!
Bisola –
Good morning! I started reading The helper’s son that is how my weekend went. OMG this is a real book, I’m pretty sure far harder to write than the other one. Waoh, na real work but I can see it coming natural for you. Your travel experiences, your talent in talking lol all being put to use. I was happy when I got to know what that name joghikhaya meant…. the names at the beginning can break one’s teeth😀. Lol at the mix up btw Florida state university and university of Florida. Caregiver things I can relate to his first experience..lol I remember when I got to one of my clients home and her two big grown up sons said oh we have the professional here now..Abby can you help take her upstairs to take a bath lol..I that I don’t even know where to place my hand on her body, i was sweating🤣🤣 . It’s going to get more interesting now that we are in the US part of the story. To God be the glory! This is another talent o, awesome work. I don’t have enough words in my mouth to fill a page not to talk of a chapter 😀.
Mzuki. Author –
Thanks DJ. You are raising the bar and our level of consciousness
Mr Donga –
Just got the best feedback of The Helper’s Son from Fikun. Wished I could record her review. Says it’s so relatable for her especially from the identity point of view .. and when Khaya was elated to speak his local language with the cleaner at his white school. Fikun says she sometimes feel jealous when some of her SA friends speak with the cleaners in school .. and also navigating being Nigerian n SA .. didn’t even know she could really get deep like that .
Just telling my Wife that should Mr Olaifa for some reasin chose to leave Banking, he will be able to give Wole Soyinka and Chinu A Chebe a run for their dime.
Karin –
Dear Ayodeji,
I just could not resist and read the prologue and epilogue of you book – I already love it! You are a wonderful story teller. I am already looking forward to reading “the rest” of it 😉
Kind regards
Jens –
DJ!!!!!!
I have finished your book and I would like to thank you again for the present and even more for the great story. I’ve enjoyed it and was fascinated in reading it from first to last page.
Many thanks for the creating such a story which has a lot of content between the lines which was great and let me think a lot……
Thank you so much!!!
Annonymous –
🇳🇬, 🇩🇪, 🇿🇦…. Who cares? We are one 🌍! 😍
All I can say is wow! What an excellent ride with a cliff hanger.
It brings to the fore the internal battle for acceptance no matter where you are on this journey of life, whether it is the color of your skin or the circumstances of your birth. The helpers son made me understand why racism a bit more because as a black African in Africa, we are all the same and only have to deal with tribalism and elitism. This book didn’t feel like fiction, it felt like someone’s life, you get vested and drawn in and can wait to see how it unravels. I throughly enjoyed it
Annonymous –
Hi there. How are you? I have a new phone as my old phone was stolen. And I wrote all my notes of your book on my old phone. I loved, loved your book. I have recommended that we must add it to our bookclub’s booklist.
I have a question for you. Have you ever though of marketing it to the Education Department so that it can be used as a prescribed literature book.
Annonymous –
Good morning Sir Deji the great wordsmith of our very time.
This is a great feedback and endorsement. We need South African educators to move that motion Honorable Olaifa. Your writings are scintillating and enriching in vocabulary. But your clarity of thought and suspence is magnetic. It says read on and find out what happens next.
You are slowly becoming a Master piece Author.
Thank you for the keeoing me in the loop Sir.
Vincent –
Goodmorning my dearest brother💞thank you again for giving me this breathtaking story book..I couldn’t sleep because it was just saying finish reading me..this is a really true story it gives me goosebumps..as they are so many Thembekas and Jonghikhayas even still today..and the Johnson’s family..I just wondering how you managed to pick the Johnson’s name bcs they are Johnson’s family in real life who played similar parts as in this book..do you remember the Johnson’s family of Savehaven orphanages home? This is a must read book..I wish lots of whites do read it..well said story bro..it it was during Arphathied..you were going to be in jail now for putting this true story in public🔥🔥😂😂😂😂. Yes..hey..but u jotted one of the best true story book I ll say🔥🔥🔥.
Abbeylincoln –
Yes o lovely story. Amazing writing skills. The way the story dey talk about everything about SA. The history, places and culture.