Butterfly Burning Summary
Yvonne Vera

Butterfly Burning Overview

Butterfly Burning is a novel by Yvonne Vera. The story takes place in the post-war, colonial Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and illustrates the perspectives of the African people living outside Bulawayo. The novel focuses on the poignant and tragic relationship between Fumbatha, an older man whose father was lynched by white settlers, and Phephelaphi, a younger woman who dreams of becoming a nurse. The novel explores themes such as violence, ambition, freedom, and self-love.