Nation's Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho
Nation's Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho
eBook
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
A beautiful study of the incredible life of Nontsizi Mgqwetho
For nearly a decade Nontsizi Mgqwetho contributed poetry to a Johannesburg newspaper, Umteteli wa Bantu, the first and only female poet to produce a substantial body of work in Xhosa. Apart from what is revealed in these writings, very little is known about her life. She explodes on the scene with her swaggering, urgent, confrontational woman's poetry on 23 October 1920, sends poems to the newspaper regularly throughout the three years from 1924 to 1926, withdraws for two years until two final poems appear in December 1928 and January 1929, then disappears into the shrouding silence she first burst from. Nothing more is heard from her, but the poetry she left immediately claims for her the status of one of the greatest literary artists ever to write in Xhosa, an anguished voice of an urban woman confronting male dominance, ineffective leadership, black apathy, white malice and indifference, economic exploitation and a tragic history of nineteenth-century territorial and cultural dispossession. The Nation's Bounty contains the original poems alongside English translations by Jeff Opland. It was the first of a number of new titles planned for release in the African Treasury Series, a premier collection of texts by South Africa's pioneers of African literature and written in indigenous languages. First published by Wits University Press in the 1940s, the series provided a voice for the voiceless and celebrated African culture, history and heritage. It continues to make a contribution by supporting current efforts to empower and develop the status of African languages in South Africa.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781776143184 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Wits University Press |
| Publication date: | 06/01/2007 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
Jeff Opland, visiting professor of African Language Literatures in the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and visiting professor in the School of Languages, Rhodes University, is an acclaimed scholar specialising in Xhosa literature. His recent works include The Nation’s Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry
of Nontsizi Mgqwetho (Wits University Press, 2007) and editions and translations of the work of Isaac Williams Wauchope (Van Riebeeck Society, 2008) and S. E. K. Mqhayi’s historical and biographical writings (Wits University Press, 2009).
Ntongela Masilela is Professor of English and World Literature, Professor of Creative Studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, California. He is Director of the H. I. E. Dhlomo Center for African Intellectual History at Pitzer College. He is Adjunct Professor of African American Studies at the University of California in Irvine.
Phyllis Ntantala-Jordan was a South African political activist and author.
Table of Contents
Foreword Isabel Hofmeyr x
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction xiv
Imbongi u Chizama: Chizama the poet 2
Imbongikazi Nontsizi u Chizama: Nontsizi Chizama, the woman poet 8
[Uqekeko Iwe Congress]: [The split within Congress] 16
Imbongikazi No "Abantu-Batho": The woman poet and Abantu-Batho 24
Iziko le Nyembezi: The vale of tears 30
Imbongi ye Zibuko: The poet of the ford 38
Umpanga ka Mama: Mama's death 42
Ingxoxo yo Mginwa ku Magqoboka!: A Red debates with Christians 50
Unyikimo Lomhlaba-E-Rautini: Johannesburg earthquake 54
Maibuye! I Afrika! Awu!: Come back, Africa! Awu! 58
Yacombuluka! Inamba u 1923 ebisoloko ifukamele ukunduluka: A long lying-in, then the python uncoils and leaves! (1923) 64
Ufikile! Udubulesendlwini bac'ol'i nto emnyango! Kuse beyifanisa (New Year): Its here! Find-at-the-Door-What-you-Shot-from-Inside and only later identified! (New Year) 70
Pulapulani! Makowetu: Listen, compatriots! 76
Abaprofeti benyaniso-nabo-buxoki: Prophets false and true 82
Zatsha! Inkomo Nomazakuzaku!: Something's coming! 88
Induli ka Xakeka!-Enyukwa ngu Ntu!!: The hill Difficulty the black man scales 94
Umanyano! Basebenzi Abantsundu!!: Unity black workers! 100
Umpanga! ka Rev B.S. Mazwi: The loss of Rev B.S. Mazwi 106
Vumisani! kwi Nyange Lemihla!!: Consult the ancient sage! 112
Ingwe Idla Ngamabala!!: Spots feed the leopard 118
I Afrika ihleli Ayiyangandawo!!: Africa stayed! She's nowhere else!! 122
Ikona na Intaba Oyaziyo? Kwezi Zimiyo Eyaka Yafuduka?: Show me the mountain that packed up and left 126
Isimbonono Saba Zali!!: Lament of the parents 130
Zipina Inkokeli Ezinje ngo Daniel?: Where are leaders like Daniel? 134
Ifikile! Ingqongqo Yomnqamlezo!! (Good Friday).: He's here! The Drum of the Cross!! (Good Friday) 138
Sicope Emasebeni Emiti Njengentaka!!: We perch like birds on twigs 142
Iziko Lenyembezi!!: The vale of tears 146
Sahluke Pina Tina ku Kayin?: How do we differ from Cain? 150
Izibuko!!: A ford! 154
Ukutala! Ikwakukuvuma!!: Silence implies consent 158
Umanyano! Nomfela ndawonye!!: Prayer Union and Die-As-One 162
Kuguzulwa Okumkani! Kumiswe Okumkani!!: The king is dead! Long live the king! 166
Isizwe! Esingavaniyo! Nesingavelaniyo! Siyadwatywa Zezinye!!: Strangers strip a squabbling nation 170
Utywala Sisiqu Sempundulu!: Liquor's the lightning-bird itself 174
Siyayibinza!-I Afrika!!: We're stabbing Africa! 178
Imimiselo ye Zizwe! Iwugqwetile Lomhlaba ka Palo!: Foreign laws have upended this land of Phalo! 182
Izililo! Ze Afrika!!: Africa's wailings 184
Emva! Kumasiko Andulo!!: Back to age-old ways! 188
Abafazi! Bomtandazo!! Pulapula!!!: Women of the Prayer Unions. Listen! 192
Saxulutywa!-Ngamatye Omsebenzi!!: Our efforts stone us! 196
Mene! Mene! Tekele! Ufarsin!!: Mene! Mene! Tekel! Parsin!! 200
"Masizake"!! Yin' nale!!!: What's this? Let's build for each other! 204
"Ub'inqo"! We-Afrika!!: Africa's petticoat 208
Umfula! Wosizi!!: The stream of despair 212
Ziyazaliseka-Ngoku! Izihlabo ko Ntsundu!! Pulapula!!!: The prophecies about blacks have now come to pass! Listen! 216
Ingonyama! Yobumnyama Isagquma!!: The lion of blackness still roars 220
Amaqaba! Pulapula.: Reds! Listen 224
Singu-Ndabamlonyeni!: We're the topic of talk 228
Lunguza! Ku-ya-sa: Take a look, dawn's breaking 232
Sesanina? Esisimb'onono?: What's this lament? 236
Lityumtyum! E-Afrika!! Pulapula!!!: Something's rotten in Africa. Listen! 240
Inyikima e Rautini! Gqala esase Sodom!!: Joburg earthquake: remember Sodom 244
Wabutwana-Afrika? Njengezitungu-Zesanda?: Are you bundled for threshing, Africa? 248
Yintsomi yo Nomeva!!: The tale of the wasps 252
Ukuba Umntu! Akakawazi!! Ukuyongamela Eyake-Indlu!!! Angatinina Ukupata Isizwe Sika Tixo?: If a man can't rule his own house, how would he manage God's nation? 256
Hosanna!! Melkizedek!!! (Xmas): Hosanna! Melchizedek!! (Xmas) 260
Zemk' Inkomo Zetafa! Zeza Nenkungu!!: They are stealing our cattle on misty plains! 264
Yaqengqelekana Iminyaka Umi Ndaweninye?: Will the years roll by while you mark time? 268
Watsha Umzi! Lupawu Luka Kayini!! (Passport): The mark of Cam (the pass) enflames the land 272
Ubusuku-Bunzulu! Ekuzeni-Kokusa!!: The night is deep before the dawn 276
Wazinyatela na? Intombi Zezwe Lako Zibe Ngamakoboka?: Are you trampling your nation's girls to enslave them? 280
Lipina Iqula Lamanzi e Afrika?: Where's a well in Africa? 284
Tabata! Naso Isitshixo!! Esikinxe Izwe Lako!!!: There's the key to the lock on your land: take it! 288
Vumani! Siyavuma!!: "Agree!" "Agreed!!" 292
Zapela Inkomo! Luqaulo Lwemitshato!!: Cattle are lost in divorce 296
Mazibhange! Izikumbuzo Ezingenalo u Manyano: Stop the divisive commemorations 300
Wapulwana Afrika Njengesitya Esingananziweyo?: Africa, are you trashed like a worthless plate? 304
Siyavuma!!: Agreed! 308
Ngubani Oti Ukuvumisa Akufuneki?: Who said there's no need of divination? 308
Tsheca-Lomgibe!!: Snap this snare 312
Ukuxoka! Pulapula!!: Gossip! Listen!! 316
Nantso-Igushakazi! Pantsi Kwabaguguli!! (Good Friday): Behold the lamb set for shearing (Good Fiiday) 320
Qengqa!-Elolitye!! (Easter): Roll back the stone! (Easter) 324
Tixo Wam! Tixo Wam! Undishiyelanina?: My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me? 328
Hambani! Niyekuzenza Abafundi Zonke Intlanga!!: Go forth and teach all nations 332
Siyakuzizekela Ninina Uzuko?: When will we gain ourselves glory? 336
Hosanna! Cibi Elino Mnqwazi Ngapezulu!! (Xmas): Hosanna, Lake with a bonnet on top! (Xmas) 340
Zemk' Inkomo Zetafa!! 1925: On the plains they're stealing our cattle! 1925 344
Yaqengqelekana Yonke Iminyaka Umi ndaweninye? (1926): Will the years all roll by while you mark time? (1926) 348
Ilizwe-Liyakutungwa-Njengengubo!!: The country will be patched like clothing!! 352
Umanyano! Mihlamb' Eyalanayo!!: Unity, diverse sheep!! 356
Nalo Igazi! Lidyob' Umzimba Wake!! (Good Friday): Look at his blood-flecked body (Good Friday) 360
Vuyani! Uxolile u Tixo Wezulu! (Easter): Agree! God in heaven's reconciled!! (Easter) 364
Umona! Pulapula!!: Envy! Listen!! 368
Simi pina?: Where do we stand? 372
Isizwe Esingena Tixo Siyatshabalala: A godless nation perishes 376
U-Yehova Uyasivana?: Does Jehovah hear us? 380
Namhla Izwi Lake Lise Zaqwitini!! (Usuku loku Nyukela): Today he roars in a whirlwind! (Ascension Day) 384
Isimbonono se Afrika!!: Africa's lament!! 388
Utando!!: Love!! 392
Umanyano Nomfela Ndawonye!: Prayer Union and Die-As-One 396
Yeyapina Lemfundiso?: Where does this teaching come from? 400
Siyayikumbula Njena Indlala?: Do we remember the famine? 404
Uvelwano! Pulapula!!: Sympathy! Listen!! 408
Yacombuluka Inamba Ebisoloke Ifukamele Ukunduluka (Abefundisi): A long lying-in, then the python uncoils and leaves (Ministers) 412
Umonde!!: Patience 416
Yayisenzelwa Ntonina i Bhaibhile?: Why was the bible created? 420
Azi Le Afrika Iyakuze Ibuye na?: Will this Africa ever come back? 424
Vumani! Siyavuma!!: "Agree!" "Agreed!!" 428
Lomzi Wakona na Sawubizana?: Did we invite this nation of theirs? 432
Sabelani Niyabizwa Balindi: Watchmen, respond: you're summoned!! 438
Gqumani Zilwandle! Gcobani Mihlaba! (Xmas): Roar, oceans! Frolic, continents!! (Xmas) 442
Zemk'Inkomo Zetafa-Vula Ndingene!: On the plains they're stealing our cattle! 448
Notes 452
Bibliography 476