An Analysis of Mr Lugisani’s Struggles in Aifheli Wilson Magau’s Novel, ‘Bulayo ḽo ṱalifhaho’ (2008) – Human Rights Violations and Ethical Leadership
Mmbulaheni Lawrence Mudau 
Issue: Vol.6 No.10 Article 9 pp.2354 -2368
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256109 | Published online 17th September, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This qualitative study examined the human rights violations experienced by Mr. Lugisani in Aifheli Wilson Magau’s novel “Bulayo ḽo ṱalifhaho,” with a focus on the systemic injustices that erode the foundations of ethical leadership and moral integrity. Grounded in Human Rights Theory, the research employed thematic textual analysis to examine instances of injustice, discrimination, and abuse of power that Mr. Lugisani encounters as he navigates the complexities of a corrupt political landscape. By analysing key events within the narrative, the study highlighted how corrupt officials systematically violate Mr. Lugisani’s rights, revealing the profound implications of these actions on his identity, community, and quest for justice. The findings highlight the broader societal impacts of these violations, telling a narrative rich in themes of resilience, moral courage, and the pursuit of truth in the face of adversity. This research emphasises the importance of understanding these human rights violations within the context of Tshivenḓa literature, offering a critical lens through which to explore ethical considerations and the ramifications of leadership failures. It advocates for further studies on human rights themes in diverse literary contexts to deepen awareness of social justice issues and inspire collective moral reflection. Ultimately, this study aims to expand African literary scholarship by demonstrating how Tshivenḓa literature serves as a site of political resistance and ethical reflection in the face of injustice.
Keywords: Human Rights Violations, Mr. Lugisani, Ethical Leadership, Social Justice, Resilience.
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Mmbulaheni Lawrence Mudau is a Lecturer in the Department of African Languages at the University of South Africa (UNISA). He lectures in Tshivenda and supervises both master’s and doctoral students. His areas of specialisation include modern literature, sociolinguistics, semantics, and morphology. M. L. Mudau has presented numerous papers at national conferences and has published several research articles in reputable academic journals. His work continues to contribute to the growth of African languages scholarship, particularly in advancing knowledge of Tshivenda literature and linguistics.
Mudau, Mmbulaheni Lawrence.“ An Analysis of Mr Lugisani’s Struggles in Aifheli Wilson Magau’s Novel, ‘Bulayo ḽo ṱalifhaho’ (2008) – Human Rights Violations and Ethical Leadership,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 10 (2025): 2337 – 2353. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256109
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
