Full Description
All the clearly identifiable writings of Jonas Ntsiko, the 'national harp' of South Africa, in English and in isiXhosa
In the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Xhosa literature was dominated by two writers: William Wellington Gqoba and Jonas Ntsiko. Gqoba's status and reputation are today assured, and he is well known and recognised by authorities who have written on the early history of Xhosa literature. In sharp contrast, Ntsiko's contribution to Xhosa literature is almost entirely overlooked. Very little is known about him and his substantial contribution to early Xhosa literature; not one of the items included here has subsequently been republished. Ntsiko is a ghostly presence, defined by his absence, an ancestral shade invoked by none.
Ntsiko (1850-1918) wrote under the pseudonym 'Hadi waseluhlangeni', the National Harp. This volume contains two substantial essays, by Marguerite Poland and Jeff Opland, that offer an account, for the first time, of Ntsiko's life and times, his early schooling in Grahamstown, his three years of study in England, his ordination as a deacon in the Anglican Church and his ten-year career in church service, ending abruptly in the termination of his licence. Thereafter, he grew progressively blind and ended his working life serving the magistrate in the rural village of Tsolo.
This book assembles for the first time all the clearly identifiable writings of Ntsiko in English and in Xhosa: journals, narrative and lyrical poetry, obituaries and polemical articles on the bible translation, politics and church affairs. It seeks to claim recognition for him as a major voice in the history of Xhosa literature, as an outspoken social critic and as a leading intellectual in the early formulation of African nationalism.
University of KwaZulu-Natal Press: Southern African Development Community
Contents
Foreword by Marguerite Poland
Introduction
1. Journal of Rev Jonas Ntsiko (1873)
2. Abashumayeli: Preachers (1873)
3. Pesheya kwe Nciba: Beyond the Kei (1875)
4. Umboniso: The Show (1876)
5. Ependula uMzalwana: In response to my brother (1877)
6. Uguqulo olutsha lwe Testamente: The new bible translation (1878)
7. Journal (1880)
8. U "Hadi" nengxoxo: Hadi and the debate (1883)
9. U "Hadi" ngemfundo: Hadi on education (1883)
10. Isupu zolunye uhlanga: Another nation's soup (1883)
11. U "Hadi" nomhlambi owalanayo: Hadi and the squabbling flocks (1884)
12. U "Hadi" nemicimbi yelizwi: Hadi and matters of the Word (1884)
13. Isitutuzelo: Consolation (1894)
14. Umfanekiso, umfanekiselo, &c: Umfanekiso, umfanekiselo, etc. (1894)
15. EBhodini ye zi Bhalo: At the Bible Revision Board (1894)
16. "Omnye we Bhodi": "Board Member" (1894)
17. "Isitunywa": Isitunywa (1894)
18. Usapo lwase Jerusalem: The children of Jerusalem (1894)
19. Impendulo ngenguqulo: A response on the translation (1895)
20. Ungase kunene kum: You're at my right hand (1895)
21. Umphunga wokungevani: The spirit of discord (1895)
22. Isibongozo so sana: A baby's plea (1895)
23. The Revised Xhosa Bible (1895)
24. The Xhosa Revised Bible (1895)
25. The Xhosa language (1896)
26. The Revised Xhosa Bible (1896)
27. The Xhosa language (1896)
28. Uhlungulu: Raven (1897)
29. Uhlaziyo lwe Zibhalo: The bible revision (1897)
30. U Charlie: Charlie (1897)
31. Uhlaziyo lwezi bhalo: The bible revision (1897)
32. Imbeko kumfundisi: Respect for a minister (1897)
33. Ngomfi u Ben Sakuba: The late Ben Sakuba (1898)
34. Isipelekezelelo: A postscript (1899)
35. Unyulo luka 1898: The 1898 election (1899)
36. The African National Anthem (1899)
37. Makukanye: Let there be light (1899)
38. Impendulo: A reply (1899)
39. Isitunzi sosizi: The shadow of grief (1899)
40. Incanda: Porcupines (1899)
41. Umzekelo: An example (1899)
42. Amaculo: Hymns (1900)
43. Subwarden Maclear (1900)
44. Umpanga: A bereavement [Elda Sakuba Jabavu] (1900)
45. Ikatsi: A whip (1900)
46. Ukulila: In mourning [Queen Victoria] (1901)
47. Elakusasa: At dawn (1901)
48. Elokuhlwa: At dusk (1901)
49. Umfi u George Nongalaza: The late George Nongalaza (1903)
50. [U Sipoti]: [Spot] (1905)
51. Ilifu le xhala: A cloud of concern (1906)
52. Ilifu letemba: A cloud of hope (1906)
53. I-Pasika: Easter (1906)
54. I-Koleji ne Sikumbuzo: The College and the Memorial (1906)
55. Umphanga: A bereavement [Jotelo Festiri Soga] (1907)
56. Klaas Maduna (1907)
57. Umbulelo: Gratitude (1907)
58. Umfi Rev. Canon Masiza: The late Rev. Canon Masiza (1908)
59. Umhobe: Song of joy (1908)
60. Umpanga: Bereavement [Jerry Alfred Ntsiko] (1908)
61. Isaac Wauchope (1908)
62. Isintsompoyiya: An inscrutable article (1909)
63. Usizi: Sorrow [Annie Maria Blakeway Stanford] (1909)
64. Ukungcwatywa kwentsana: Burying babies (1909)
65. I Pentekoste: Pentecost (1910)
66. U-Lizwi: The Word (1913)
67. I bhili ka Sauer: The Sauer Bill (1913)
68. Amaculo Nokubhalwa kwawo: Hymns and their composition (1914)
69. Incwadi yombulelo: A letter of thanks (1915)
70. Uvuko: The resurrection (1915)
71. Unyulo: The election (1915)
72. Umfi Gqira Soga: The late Dr Soga (1916)
Appendices
Sources
Bibliography
