Lindiwe Laughs
author H.I.E Dhlomo
Genre social
Narrator Hangwi Liphadzi
Language english
Lindiwe Laughs is a striking poem by H.I.E. Dhlomo that uses the image of a Black woman’s laughter as a metaphor for defiance, inner strength, and the subversive power of joy. In this layered and evocative work, Lindiwe’s laughter is not trivial — it is bold, unsettling, and disruptive to the social and racial expectations placed upon her. Set against the backdrop of a colonized society where African voices—especially women’s—are expected to be subdued, Lindiwe’s laugh rings out as an act of radical agency. Her laughter cuts through the silence imposed by patriarchy and white supremacy. It challenges the hypocrisy of a system that demands dignity from those it dehumanizes. Dhlomo, one of South Africa’s early literary pioneers, uses rhythmic language, controlled structure, and subtle irony to portray Lindiwe’s laughter not as foolish or mocking, but as a form of resistance and freedom. It confounds those who hear it — educators, religious figures, colonial officials — because it cannot be contained or interpreted by their narrow worldview.