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ABSTRACT
Unlucky in Love (2005) is Tendayi Westerhof’s autobiography chronicling her life experiences as a gender and HIV and AIDS activist. One of the most intriguing features of the Westerhof’s autobiography is her depiction of how she became HIV positive and the strategies she employed to survive and transcend the stigma associated with HIV. This article, thus, explores the depiction of the relationship between HIV and AIDS, naming and the formation of a survivor identity in Unlucky in Love. Westerhof, through the character Rumbidzai, the main protagonist, arguably a transparent disguise for Tendayi Kateketa, employs the trope of naming as a strategy to praise and celebrate the survivor identity Rumbidzai (re) creates for herself after being diagnosed with HIV. This survivor identity is premised on (dis) closure, tolerance and acceptance of her HIV status.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Terrence Musanga
Terrence Musanga, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of English, North West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa.
Theophilus Mukhuba
Theophilus Mukhuba, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, North West University (Mafikeng Campus), South Africa.