Haunted Identities: Trauma, Naming, and Supernatural Symbolism in Pule’s “The Boy Who Attended His Own Funeral”

Josephat Mutangadura; Buhle Ntokozo Mahlangu

doi:10.25159/2663-6565/20381

Authors

Josephat Mutangadura Tshwane University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4197-1041
Buhle Ntokozo Mahlangu Tshwane University of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7502-5458

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6565/20381

Keywords:

intergenerational trauma, sexual violence, intersectionality, African literature

Abstract

This paper examines intergenerational trauma as the central psychological and cultural force shaping identity, sexuality, and spiritual disillusionment in Karabo Given Pule’s short story “The Boy Who Attended His Own Funeral” (2023). At the centre of the narrative is Lefifi, a boy born into a family haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his siblings, whose tragic journey is shaped by inherited ancestral pain, patriarchal violence, and societal neglect. The analysis identifies intergenerational trauma as the primary issue, with sexual violence and supernatural symbolism emerging as intersecting consequences of this foundational wound. Drawing on intersectionality theory and psychoanalytic trauma theory, particularly trauma theory, the paper contextualises the story within broader African sociocultural settings, particularly how race, gender, sexuality, and class intersect to shape vulnerability to violence and silencing. By integrating scholarly perspectives and cultural critiques, this study highlights how the narrative reflects systemic failures in protecting marginalised identities, while also providing critical insights into the cycles of violence, silence, and unaddressed pain that continue to affect vulnerable communities. The paper concludes by suggesting directions for future research in African literary trauma studies, with an emphasis on culturally rooted expressions of mental health and resistance.

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