Amaqhawe Oncwadi | Literary Legends | Literêre legendes

Ntsikana (c1760-1821)

UNtsikana wazalelwa eQawukeni kwingingqi yaseAmathole. Emva kombono ngowe-1815 waguqukela kubuKrestu waba yinkokheli enempembelelo phakathi kwamaXhosa. Waziwa njengombhali weengoma zobuKrestu kwakunye nomprofeti wamaXhosa. Owona msebenzi wakhe udumileyo, UloThix’omkhulu (1827) yingoma yokuqala yoncwadi lwesiXhosa eyanikwa umsebenzi wobubhali oyedwa. Amaculo kaNtsikana anxulumanisa iindlela zokuqamba zamaAfrika nemifanekiso yesiXhosa kwakunye nezo zaseNtshona kunye nolwimi lwenkolo yamaKrestu.  

Ntsikana was born at Qawukeni in the Amathole (Amatola) region. After a vision in 1815 he converted to Christianity and became an influential religious leader among the amaXhosa. He is known as a both a writer of Christian hymns  and an amaXhosa prophet. His most famous work, UloThix'omkhulu (1827), is the first isiXhosa literary composition to be assigned individual authorship. Ntsikana’s hymns link traditional African forms of composition and isiXhosa imagery with those of the West and with the language of Christianity.

Ntsikana is in Qawukeni in die Amathole (Amatola) streek gebore. Na ‘n visioen in 1815 het hy hom tot die Christendom bekeer en ‘n invloedryke godsdienstige leier tussen die amaXhosa geword. Hy is beide as skrywer van Christelike gesange en as ‘n amaXhosa profeet bekend. Sy bekendste werk, UloThix’omkhulu (1827), is die eerste literêre komposisie in isiXhosa wat aan ‘n individuele outeur toegeskryf word. Ntsikana se gesange verbind tradisionele Afrika vorms van komposisie en isiXhosa beeldspraak met dié van die Weste en die Christendom.
 

Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi (1875-1945)

US.E.K. Mqhayi wazalelwa eGqumashe kwintlambo yaseThyume ngaseAlice, waza wafunda eLovedale. Ungomnye wababhali neentatheli zesiXhosa zamandulo ezaziwayo eMzantsi Afrika. uMaqhayi wayeyimbongi evunyiweyo kwaye wafumana iwonga lokwaziwa njengeMbongi Yesizwe Jikelele. Iincwadi zakhe ziquka iinoveli USamson (1907), Ityala Lamawele (1914), kwakunye nenye yeencwadi zokuqala zemibongo yesiXhosa, Imihobe Nemibongo Yokufundwa Ezikolweni (1927).  

S.E.K. Mqhayi was born in Gqumashe in the Tyhume valley near Alice, and studied at Lovedale. He is one of South Africa’s most prominent early isiXhosa writers and journalists. Mqhayi was an acclaimed imbongi and earned the honorary title ‘Imbongi Yesizwe Jikelele’ (The poet of the whole nation). His published works include the novels Usamson (1907) and Ityala Lamawele (1914), and one of the first books of poems in isiXhosa, Imihobe Nemibongo Yokofundwa Ezikolweni (1927).

S.E.K. Mqhayi is in Gqumashe in die Tyhume vallei naby Alice gebore en het by Lovedale studeer. Hy is een van Suid-Afrika se mees prominente vroeë isiXhosa skrywers en joernaliste. Mqhayi was ‘n geagte imbongi en het die eretitel ‘Imbongi Yesizwe Jikelele’ (Digter van die Hele Nasie) verwerf. Sy gepubliseerde werke sluit in die romans USamson (1907) en Ityala Lamawele (1914), asook een van die eerste digbundels in isiXhosa, Imihobe Nemibongo Yokofundwa Ezikolweni (1927).

Isaac Williams Wauchope (1852-1917)

UWauchope wayeyimbongi, intatheli, umfundisi-ntsapho kwakunye nomfundisi wakwalizwi. Wazalelwa kufuphi naseTinarha. Wafundela ubutitshala waza kamva wafundela ubufundisi eLovedale. Njengombhali nentatheli, udlale indima ekusekweni kwamaphepha-ndaba aliqela afana neIzwi Labantu kwakunye neImvo Zabantsundu. Ebhala ngesiNgesi nangesiXhosa, uWauchope ufake isandla kumaphepha-ndaba phantsi kwemixholo eliqela, equka imibongo. Umbongo ubalaseleyo othi, 'Zimkile! Mfo Wohangu', wavela kwi-Isigidimi samaXhosa ngowe-1882, kwaye u'To Us a Son is Born', omnye wemisebenzi yoncwadi lokuqala yesiNgesi zombhali ontsundu waseMzantsi Afrika, wapapashwa kwi-Imvo Zabantsundu ngowe-1892.  

Wauchope was a poet, journalist, teacher and minister. Born near Uitenhage, he studied teaching and later theology at Lovedale. As a writer and journalist he played a part in the foundation of a number of newspapers such as Izwi Labantu and Imvo Zabantsundu. Writing in both English and isiXhosa, Wauchope contributed to newspapers on a wide range of topics, including poetry. The now iconic poem ‘Zimkile! Mfo wohangu’ appeared in Isigidimi SamaXhosa in 1882 and ‘To Us a Son is Born,’ one of the earliest works in English by a black South African writer, was published in Imvo Zabantsundu in 1892.
Wauchope was ‘n digter, joernalis, onderwyser en predikant. Hy is naby Uitenhage gebore en het onderwys en later teologie by Lovedale studeer. As 'n skrywer en joernalis het hy 'n rol gespeel in die stigting van verskeie koerante, onder andere Izwi Labantu en Imvo Zabantsundu. Wauchope het in Engels en isiXhosa vir talle koerante oor ‘n wye verskeidenheid onderwerpe geskryf, onder andere oor digkuns. ‘Zimkile! Mfo wohangu’ wat tans as 'n ikoniese gedig beskou word, het in 1882 in Isigidimi SamaXhosa verskyn en ‘To Us a Son is Born,’ een van die vroegste werke in Engels deur ‘n swart Suid-Afrikaanse skrywer, is in 1892 in Imvo Zabantsundu gepubliseer.

Nontsizi Mgqwetho (c. 1900 - unknown)

UNontsizi Mgqwetho wazalelwa eMpuma Koloni waze emva koko wafudukela eRhawutini. Ukusukela ngowe-1920 ukuya kowe-1929 wapapasha imibongo emininzi kwiphepha-ndaba uMteteli wa Bantu, kwaye waba yimbongi yokuqala yasetyhini ukuvelisa iqela lemisebenzi yesiXhosa. Imibongo yakhe iye yabuyiselwa kushicelelo kwincwadi ethi The Nation’s Bounty: The Xhosa poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho, ehlelwe ze yaguqulelwa nguJeff Opland (2007) inemibongo yesiXhosa nesiNgesi. Ukungaqiniseki ngeentsuku zokuzalwa nokufa kwakhe kubonisa ukunqongophala kolwazi ngobomi bababhali besiXhosa abaninzi bamandulo, njengoko kunjalo nangokungabikho kwefoto yakhe.

 
Nontsizi Mgqwetho was born in the Eastern Cape and later relocated to Johannesburg. From 1920 to 1929 she published many poems in the newspaper Umteteli wa Bantu and was the first female poet to produce a substantial body of work in isiXhosa. Her poems have been brought back into print in The Nation’s Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho, edited and translated by Jeff Opland (2007) and with the poems in isiXhosa and English. The uncertainty around her dates of birth and death illustrate the lack of knowledge of the lives of early isiXhosa writers, as does the fact that there is no photograph of her.

Nontsizi Mgqwetho is in die Oos-Kaap gebore en het later na Johannesburg getrek. Tussen 1920 en 1929 het baie van haar gedigte in die koerant Umteteli wa Bantu verskyn en sy is die eerste vroulike digter wat ‘n omvattende nalatenskap van skryfwerk in isiXhosa opgelewer het. Haar gedigte is weer in druk bekendgestel in The Nation’s Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho, geredigeer en vertaal deur Jeff Opland (2007), met die werke in isiXhosa en Engels. Die onsekerheid rondom haar geboorte- en sterfdatum en die feit dat daar geen foto van haar bestaan nie illustreer hoe min daar bekend is oor die lewens van die vroeë isiXhosa skrywers.
 

Archibald Campbell Jordan (1906 - 1968)

UA.C. Jordan wayengumbhali weenoveli, utitshala kwakunye noNjingalwazi weeLwimi zesiNtu. Waziwa kakhulu ngenoveli yakhe ethi Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (1940) nethathwa njengenye yeenoveli ezibalaseleyo eMzantsi Afrika. Ekunye nenkosikazi yakhe, uPhyllis, wayiguqulela esiNgesini lenoveli yaze yapapashwa njenge-The Wrath of the Ancestors (1980). UJordan wafudukela e-USA ngowe-1962 kwaye wayefuna ukwazisa iintsomi zaseMazantsi eAfrika kubafundi bamazwe ngamazwe. Waguqulela uthotho lwamabali emveli akwingqokelela ethi Tales from Southern Africa neyapapashwa emva kokusweleka kwakhe ngowe-1973.  

A.C. Jordan was a novelist, teacher and professor of African languages. He is best known for his novel, Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (1940), considered one of South Africa’s greatest novels. With his wife, Phyllis, he translated it into English and it was published as The Wrath of the Ancestors (1980). Jordan moved to the US in 1962 and wanted to introduce southern African folklore to an international audience. He translated a series of traditional stories, collected in Tales from Southern Africa and published posthumously in 1973.

A.C. Jordan was ‘n romanskrywer, onderwyser en professor van Afrika-tale. Hy is mees bekend vir sy roman, Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (1940), wat as een van Suid-Afrika se grootste romans beskou word. Hy het dit in samewerking met sy vrou, Phyllis, na Engels vertaal en in 1980 as The Wrath of the Ancestors publiseer. Jordan het in 1962 na die VSA getrek en wou folklore van Suidelike Afrika aan ‘n internasionale gehoor bekendstel. Hy het ‘n reeks tradisionele stories vertaal wat na sy dood in die bundel Tales from Southern Africa (1973) publiseer is. 
 

David Livingstone Phakamisa Yali-Manisi (1926-1999)

UD.L.P. Yali-Manisi wayeyimbongi yesiXhosa. UYali-Manisi wazalelwa kwintlambo iKhundulu kwesabaThembu eMpuma Koloni, wafunda kwizikolo ezahlukeneyo eziquka iLovedale. Ngowe-1949 waba yimbongi yasebukhosini kaNkosi uKaiser Matanzima, isikhundla awayesibamba ngamaxesha athile. Iincwadi zakhe ezipapashiweyo ziquka Imfazwe kaMlanjeni (1983), kwakunye nemibongo yakhe yesiXhosa ethi Iimbali Zamanyange: Historical Poems (2015), ineenguqulelo zesiNgesi.  

D.L.P. Yali-Manisi was an isiXhosa imbongi. Yali-Manisi was born in the Khundulu valley in Thembuland in the Eastern Cape and attended various schools, including Lovedale. In 1949 he became the official praise poet to Chief Kaiser Matanzima, a position he held intermittently. His published works include Imfazwe kaMlanjeni (1983) and a posthumous version of his poems in isiXhosa, with English translations, Iimbali Zamanyange: Historical Poems (2015).

D.L.P. Yali-Manisi was ‘n isiXhosa imbongi. Yali-Manisi is in die Khundulu vallei in Thembuland in die Oos-Kaap gebore en was by verskeie skole, insluitend Lovedale. In 1949 het hy die amptelike pryssanger van Chief Kaiser Matanzima geword. Hy het hierdie posisie met tussenposes beklee. Sy gepubliseerde werke sluit in Imfazwe kaMlanjeni (1983) en ‘n weergawe van sy gedigte in isiXhosa wat na sy dood met Engelse vertalings publiseer is as Iimbali Zamanyange: Historical Poems (2015).
 

Walter Benson Rubusana (1858-1936)  

URubusana wazalelwa eMnandi kwisithili saseSomerset East. Ufunde eLovedale kwaye wadlala indima ebalaseleyo kwicandelo lezenkolo, imfundo, uncwadi nezopolitiko. Ubeliqhawe likamakulinganwe ngokobuhlanga kwaye waba ngundoqo ekusekweni kwephepha-ndaba lesiXhosa elithi Izwi Labantu ngowe-1898. Ngowe-1905 wongamela ukupapashwa kwebhayibhile yesiXhosa ehlaziyiweyo eLondon. Eyona mpumelelo yakhe yoncwadi kukuhlanganisa leyo ithi Zemk’inkomo Magwalandini (1906), neyingqokelela yemibongo, iprozi, nezaci nezibe nefuthe elikhulu ekuveleni kwenkcubeko yoncwadi lwesiXhosa.

Rubusana was born in Mnandi in the Somerset East district. He studied at Lovedale and played a prominent role in the fields of religion, education, literature and politics. He championed the cause of racial equality and was central in establishing the isiXhosa newspaper Izwi Labantu in 1898. In 1905 he oversaw the publication of the revised isiXhosa Bible in London. He was the compiler of Zemk’inkomo Magwalandini (1906), an anthology of poetry, prose and proverbs that had a great influence on the emergence of isiXhosa literary culture.

Rubasana is in Mnandi in die Somerset-Oos distrik gebore. Hy het by Lovedaly studeer en 'n prominente rol gespeel in godsdiens, opvoeding, letterkunde en politiek. Hy het rassegelykheid voorgestaan en 'n sentrale rol gespeel in die stigting van die isiXhosa koerant Izwi Labantu in 1898. In 1905 was hy aan die hoof van die hersiene vertaling van die isiXhosa Bybel in London. In letterkunde was sy bydrae hoofsaaklik as samesteller van Zemk'inkomo Magwalandini (1906), 'n versameling gedigte, prosa en slagspreuke wat 'n groot invloed gehad het op die ontwikkeling van isiXhosa literêre kultuur. 
 

James James Ranisi Jolobe (1902-1976)

UJ.J.R. Jolobe wazalelwa eNdwe, wakhula futhi wafunda eMpuma Koloni. Wafundela ubutitshala waza wafundisa iminyaka eliqela ngaphambi kokuba aqeqeshelwe ukuba ngumfundisi. Inoveli yokuqala kaJolobe ethi UZagula yapapashwa ngowe-1923. Wabhala iinoveli, imibongo, izincoko, kwakunye nomidlalo weqonga,wenza noguqulelo. Waguqulela kwisiNgesi eyakhe ingqokelela yemibongo ethi Umyezo (1936), yangu-Poems of an African (1946). Uphinde wancedisa ekwenziweni kwesichazi-magama sesiXhosa-nesiNgesi ngowe-1963.

 
J.J.R. Jolobe was born in Indwe and raised and educated in the Eastern Cape. He studied teaching and taught for several years before training as a minister. Jolobe’s first novel UZagula was published in 1923. He wrote novels, poetry, essays and a play, as well as translating. He translated his own collection of poems, Umyezo (1936), into English as Poems of an African (1946). He also assisted with the creation of an isiXhosa – English dictionary in 1963.

J.R.R. Jolobe is in Indwe gebore en in die Oos-Kaap opgevoed. Hy het onderwys studeer en vir etlike jare onderrig gegee voor hy as predikant opgelei is. Jolobe se eerste roman, UZagula, is in 1923 uitgegee. Hy het romans, gedigte, essays en ‘n drama geskryf en ook vertalings gedoen. Hy het sy eie digbundel Umyezo (1936) na Engels vertaal as Poems of an African (1946). Hy was ook betrokke by die opstel van ‘n isiXhosa-English woordeboek in 1963.
 

Guybon Bundlwana Sinxo (1902-1962)

UG.B. Sinxo wazalelwa eBhofolo. Uqeqeshelwe ubutitshala waze wasebenzela umzi woshicelelo iLovedale. Imisebenzi yakhe yamandulo iquka iinoveli UNomsa (1920), UMfundisi WaseMthuqwasi (1922) noUmzali Wolahleko (1924), kwakunye nengqokelela yemidlalo yeqonga ethi, Imfene kaDebeza (1925). Wazibandakanya neBantu World eRhawutini njengomhleli wesiXhosa ukusukela ngowe-1934 ukuya kowe1938. Waye wabandakanyeka ekupapasheni iincwadi zokufunda zesiXhosa ekunye noW.G. Bennie, waza waguqulela iinoveli zesiNgesi esiXhoseni. Indima yakhe kuncwadi lwesiXhosa ibesekuvezeni kwakhe ubomi basezilokishini ngendlela obuyiyo kwakunye nezimvo zabantu nje abaqhelekileyo, eshenxisa isimbo soncwadi esixhomileyo kwiinoveli zesiXhosa.  

G.B. Sinxo was born in Fort Beaufort. He qualified as a teacher and worked for Lovedale Press. His early works include the novels UNomsa (1920), UMfundisi WaseMthuqwasi (1922) and Umzali Wolahleko (1924), and a collection of plays, Imfene kaDebeza (1925). He joined Bantu World in Johannesburg as editor of its isiXhosa pages from 1934-1938. He was involved in publishing isiXhosa readers with W.G. Bennie, and translated English novels into isiXhosa. His significance to isiXhosa literature lies in his realistic portrayal of township life and the voices of ordinary people, displacing the typical high literary style of isiXhosa novels.

G.B. Sinxo is in Fort Beaufort gebore. Hy het as onderwyser gekwalifiseer en vir Lovedale Press gewerk. Sy vroeë werk sluit in die romans UNomsa (1920), UMfundisi WaseMthuqwasi (1922) en Umzali Wolahleko (1924), en ‘n bundel dramas, Imfene kaDebeza (1925). Van 1934 tot 1938 het hy as redakteur van Bantu World in Johannesburg se isiXhosa blaaie gewerk. Hy was betrokke by die publikasie van isiXhosa leesboeke in samewerking met W.G. Bennie en het ook Engelse romans na isiXhosa vertaal. Sy beduidende rol in isiXhosa letterkunde lê in sy realistiese uitbeelding van township lewe en die stemme van gewone mense, wat die tipiese hoë literêre styl van isiXhosa romans verplaas het. 

John Knox Bokwe (1855-1922)

UJohn Knox Bokwe wayengunondaba, umfundisi wakwalizwi, imvumi kunye nomqambi wamaculo. UBokwe lo wazalelwa kwaNtselamanzi ngaseLovedale Mission. Kwesi sikolo semishini yasekuhlaleni ufundiswe nguWilliam Kolbe Ntsikana, umzukulwana womprofeti uNtsikana kaGaba. Ukususela ngowe-1870 uBokwe uye wancedisa ngokupapashwa kwejenali Isigidimi samaXhosa, ze ukusukela ngowe-1897 wasebenza njengomhleli we-Imvo Zabantsundu kunye noJohn Tengo Jabavu. Lo mqambi wamaculo esiXhosa onendumasi, uBokwe, wapapasha incwadi yokuqala yamaculo esiXhosa ngowe-1884, kwaye Amaculo ase Lovedale (1922) ayingqokelela yamaculo aqanjwe nguye. Ukwashicilele ngosiba ingoma kaNtsikana ethi UloThix’omkhulu, kananjalo wabhala ibali lobomi ethi Ntsikana, The Story of an African Convert (1914). Ubokwe wahlala kwikomiti eyathi ngo-1916 yaseka iKholeji yoMthonyama yoMzantsi Afrika, ethe kamva yaba yiYunivesithi yaseFort Hare.

John Knox Bokwe was a journalist, minister, musician and hymn writer. Bokwe was born at Ntselamanzi near Lovedale Mission. At the local mission school he was taught by William Kolbe Ntsikana, grandson of the prophet Ntsikana ka Gaba. From 1870 Bokwe assisted with the publication of the journal Isigidimi samaXhosa, and from 1897 worked as an editor at Imvo Zabantsundu with John Tengo Jabavu. A celebrated hymn writer, Bokwe published the first isiXhosa hymnbook in 1884, and Amaculo ase Lovedale (1922) is a collection of his own compositions. He set to music Ntsikana’s UloThix’omkhulu and wrote the biography Ntsikana, The Story of an African Convert (1914). Bokwe sat on the committee that in 1916 established the South African Native College, later the University of Fort Hare.

John Knox Bokwe was ’n joernalis, predikant, musikant en gesangskrywer. Hy is in Ntselamanzi naby die Lovedale Sendingstasie gebore. By die plaaslike sendingskool is hy deur William Kolbe Ntsikana, die kleinseun van die profeet Ntsikana ka Gaba, onderrig. Vanaf 1870 het Bokwe hulp verleen met die publikasie van die tydskrif Isigidimi samaXhosa, en vanaf 1897 het hy saam John Tengo Jabavu as redakteur aan Imvo Zabantsundu gewerk. As ’n gevierde gesangskrywer het Bokwe die eerste isiXhosa gesangboek in 1884 gepubliseer en die werk Amaculo ase Lovedale (1922) is ’n versameling van sy eie komposisies. Hy het Ntsikana se UloThix’omkhulu getoonset en die biografie Ntsikana, The Story of an African Convert (1914) geskryf. Bokwe het gedien op die komitee wat die South African Native College, later Universiteit van Fort Hare, in 1916 gestig het.
 

Davidson Don Tengo Jabavu (1885 – 1959)

UD.D.T. Jabavu wazalelwa eQonce. Uyise uJohn Tengo Jabavu wayengumseki wephephandaba lesiXhosa Imvo Zabantsundu, kwaye intombi yakhe uNoni Jabavu nayo yayingumbhali nentatheli. UJabavu ufundiswe kwiziko lemfundo iMorija eLesotho, kwiKholeji yaseLovedale nase-UK. Ufundise iilwimi zesiNtu kwiYunivesithi yaseFort Hare ngowe-1916-1944. UJabavu waqulunqa icwecwe lemibongo yokudumisa elithi Izithuko (1954), kwaza kwavela eyakhe imibongo kwi-IziDungulwana (1958). Ubhale ngesiXhosa iimbalisani ezimbini zohambo, kutyelelo lwakhe eMelika nase-Indiya: E-America (1932) ne-E-Indiya nase East Africa (1951, yaze yaphinda yapapashwa ngo-2020 nenguqulelo yesiNgesi). Imibhalo yakhe iquka imbali yobomi kayise, The Life of John Tengo Jabavu (1922), esebenza ngezifundo ngezizwe, izifundo zolwimi kunye nomzabalazo wokulwa ubuhlanga. Ngowe-1953 uJabavu wawongwa ngesidanga lobugqirha yiRhodes Yunivesithi. 

D.D.T. Jabavu was born in eQonce (King William’s Town). His father John Tengo Jabavu was the founder of the isiXhosa newspaper Imvo Zabantsundu and his daughter Noni Jabavu was also a writer and journalist. He was educated at the Morija Institution in Lesotho, at Lovedale College and in the U.K. He taught African languages at the University of Fort Hare from 1916-1944 and compiled an anthology of praise poetry, Izithuko (1954). His own poems appear in IziDungulwana (1958). He wrote two isiXhosa travelogues, E-America (1932) and E-Indiya nase East Africa (1951, and re-released in 2020 with an English translation), a biography of his father, The Life of John Tengo Jabavu (1922), as well as works on ethnology, language studies and the struggle against racism. In 1953 he received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University.

D.D.T. Jabavu is in eQonce (King William’s Town) gebore. Sy vader John Tengo Jabavu was die stigter van die isiXhosa koerant Imvo Zabantsundu en sy dogter Noni Jabavu het ook as skrywer en joernalis naam gemaak. D.D.T. Jabavu het sy opvoeding by die Morija Institute in Lesotho, by Lovedale College en in die VK ontvang. Van 1916 tot 1944 het hy by die Universiteit van Fort Hare onderrig gegee in Afrika-tale. Jabavu het ’n bundel prysgedigte Izithuko (1954) saamgestel en sy eie gedigte het in IziDungulwana (1958) verskyn. Hy het twee isiXhosa reisverslae geskryf, E-America (1932) en E-Indiya nase East Africa (1951, heruitgegee in 2020 met ’n Engelse vertaling). Sy skryfwerk sluit in ’n biografie van sy vader, The Life of John Tengo Jabavu (1922), en werk in etnologie, taalstudies en die stryd teen rassisme. In 1953 het Jabavu ’n eredoktorsgraad van Rhodes Universiteit ontvang.

Tiyo Soga (1829 – 1871)

UTiyo Soga wayeyintatheli, umfundisi, umguquleli-lwimi, umshumayeli wevangeli, kunye nomqambi wamaculo. Uqale ukufunda eTyhume Mission waza xa eneminyaka eli-15 wafumana imali yokufunda eLovedale. Ngowe-1847 uSoga wahamba nomxhasi wakhe kunye nenqununu yaseLovedale, uMfundisi William Govan, ukuya eSkotlani esiya kuqhuba imfundo ephakamileyo. Ngowe-1856 wamiselwa yinkonzo yamaRhabe, waba ngumntu wokuqala omnyama waseMzantsi Afrika ukumiselwa. USoga uye wasebenza kwinguqulelo yesiXhosa yeeVangeli kwaye wasebenza kwibhodi yabacebisi ukuhlaziya iBhayibhile yesiXhosa. Waguqulela incwadi yakudala kaJohn Bunyan ethi, The Pilgrim’s Progress wayithiya Uhambo Lomhambi (1867). USoga uzibhalele ezakhe iingoma, ze wakhuphela ngosiba ingoma kaNtsikana ethi UloThix’omkhulu. Ngowama-2006 uSoga wawongwa ngewongale-Order of Ikhamanga ngegalelo elikhethekileyo kuncwadi nakumzabalazo wenguqu kwezentlalo.

Tiyo Soga was a journalist, minister, translator, missionary evangelist and composer of hymns. He was educated at Tyhume Mission and then at the age of 15 received a scholarship to Lovedale. In 1847 Soga accompanied his sponsor and the principal of Lovedale, Rev. William Govan, to Scotland to undertake higher education. In 1856 he was ordained by the United Presbyterian Church, becoming the first black South African to be ordained. Soga worked on the isiXhosa translation of the Gospels and served on the advisory board to revise the isiXhosa Bible. He translated John Bunyan’s classic work The Pilgrim's Progress as Uhambo Lomhambi (1867). Soga wrote his own hymns and also set the words of Ntsikana’s UloThix’omkhulu to music. In 2006 Soga was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga for an exceptional contribution to literature and the struggle for social change.

Tiyo Soga was ’n joernalis, predikant, vertaler, sending-evangelis en ’n komponis van gesange. Hy het eers by Tyhume Sendingstasie skoolgegaan, maar het op ouderdom 15 ’n beurs na Lovedale ontvang. In 1847 het Soga sy borg en die hoof van Lovedale, Eerw. William Govan, na Skotland vergesel om sy opvoeding voort te sit. In 1856 is hy deur die United Presbyterian Church georden, die eerste swart Suid-Afrikaner om georden te word. Soga het aan die isiXhosa vertaling van die Evangelies gewerk en op die adviserende raad gedien om die isiXhosa Bybel te hersien. Hy het John Bunyan se klassieke werk The Pilgrim’s Progress as Uhambo Lomhambi (1867) vertaal. Soga het sy eie gesange geskryf en het ook die woorde van Ntsikana se UloThix’omkhulu getoonset. In 2006 het Soga die Orde van Ikhamanga ontvang vir sy buitengewone bydrae tot letterkunde en die stryd vir sosiale verandering.

Randall Langa Peteni (1915 – 2000)

UR.L. Peteni wayengumfundisi-ntsapho nesifundiswa sesiNgesi. Wazalelwa eZingcuka, kufutshane neKeiskammahoek waze wafunda eLovedale naseFort Hare. Emva kokuchitha ixesha elithile njengotitshala wesikolo wabuyela eFort Hare njengomhlohli. UPeteni waziwa kakhulu ngenoveli yakhe ebuhlungu ethi Hill of Fools, eyapapashwa okokuqala ngesiNgesi (1975) yaze kamva yapapashwa ngesiXhosa ethi KwaZidenge (1980). Le noveli iphinde yaguqulelwa kumdlalo kamabonakude wesiXhosa ophumeleleyo othi Aba KwaZidenge. UPeteni wayengumongameli weCape African Teachers’ Union ukususela ngo-1965 ukuya ku-1976, waze ngo-1989 wasebenza njengengqonyela kwindawo eyayisakuba yiYunivesithi yaseTranskei, ngoku iYunivesithi yaseWalter Sisulu. 

R.L. Peteni was an English schoolteacher and academic. He was born in Zingcuka, near Keiskammahoek and educated at Lovedale and Fort Hare. After spending some time as a school teacher he returned to Fort Hare as a lecturer. Peteni is best known for his tragic novel Hill of Fools, which was first published in English (1975) and later in isiXhosa as KwaZidenge (1980). The novel was also adapted into a successful isiXhosa television series titled Aba KwaZidenge. Peteni was president of the Cape African Teachers' Union from 1965 to 1976, and in 1989 served as chancellor of what was then the University of Transkei, now Walter Sisulu University.

R.L. Peteni was ’n onderwyser in Engels en ’n akademikus. Hy is in Zingcuka naby Keiskammahoek gebore en by Lovedale en Fort Hare opgevoed. Nadat hy vir ’n tyd lank onderrig gegee het, het hy as dosent na Fort Hare teruggekeer. Peteni is mees bekend vir sy tragiese roman Hill of Fools, wat eers in Engels (1975) en later in IsiXhosa as KwaZidenge (1980) uitgegee is. Die novel is ook verwerk tot ’n suksesvolle isiXhosa televisiereeks Aba KwaZidenge. Peteni was president van die Cape African Teachers' Union van 1965 tot 1976 en het in 1989 as kansellier gedien vir die voormalige Universiteit van Transkei, tans Walter Sisulu Universiteit.

Witness Kholekile Tamsanqa (1928-1998)

Umbhali wemidlalo yeqonga nombhali weencwadi uW.K. UTamsanqa wazalelwa eDutywa, ze wafunda eBlythswood Institution, apho wabhala incwadi yakhe yokuqala ethi Inzala Kamlungisi (1954), kwakunye nomdlalo weqonga othi Buzani Kubawo (1958). Umdlalo lo uguqulelwe kwisiSotho, isiTswana kunye nesiZulu, ze waguqulelwa kwirediyo liziko losasazo i-South African Broadcasting Corporation. Ngo-2009 uthe wombeswa ngewonga le-Lifetime Achievement kwi-South African Literary Awards, emva kokuba ebhubhile.

Playwright and novelist W.K. Tamsanqa was born in Dutywa and educated at Blythswood Institution, where he wrote his first book, Inzala Kamlungisi (1954) and a drama, Buzani Kubawo (1958). The drama has been translated into Sesotho, Setswana and isiZulu and adapted for radio serialisation by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. In 2009 he received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award at the South African Literary Awards.

Die dramaturg en romanskrywer W.K. Tamsanqa is in Dutywa gebore en by Blythswood Institution opgevoed, waar hy sy eerste boek Inzala Kamlungisi (1954) en ’n drama Buzani Kubawo (1958) geskryf het. Die drama is in Sesotho, Setswana en isiZulu vertaal en verwerk tot ’n radiodrama-reeks deur die South African Broadcasting Corporation. In 2009 het hy ’n postume toekenning vir Lewenslange Prestasie van die South African Literary Awards ontvang.

John Solilo (1864-1940)

UJohn Solilo waye yintatheli, imbongi, utitshala nomfundisi weza kwaLizwi. Nangona kukho ukubethana kwezimvo malunga nosuku lwakhe lokuzalwa nendawo awazalelwa kuyo, ubungqina bubonakalisa ukuba wazalelwa eMgwali ze wakhulela eZihlahleni. Iminyaka ka 1870 no 1866 ichazwa nje ngeminyaka yokuzalwa kwakhe yimithombo yoluvo eyahlukeneyo. Izifundo zamabanga aphantsi uzifumene eMdizeni naseMgwali. Waye yenye yeembongi zakwaXhosa ezazinesipho sokubonga ngokomthonyama. Incwadi eya papashwa ngo 1925, Izala, yaba livela-tanci lengqokelela yemibongo ebhalwe ngumbhali omnye ezimbalini zoncwadi lwesiXhosa.

John Solilo was a journalist, poet, teacher and priest. There are contrasting views on his date of birth (1866 or 1870) and place of birth, but evidence suggests that he was born at Mgwali but grew up at eZihlahleni. He received his schooling at both Mdizeni and Mgwali. He was one of the amaXhosa poets who were gifted in oral tradition and folklore. The book he published in 1925, Izala , was the earliest volume of poetry by a single author in the history of isiXhosa literature.

John Solilo was ’n joernalis, digter, onderwyser en priester. Daar is teenstrydige inligting oor sy geboortedatum (1866 of 1870) en geboorteplek, maar bewyse dui daarop dat hy waarskynlik in Mgwali gebore is en in eZihlahleni grootgeword het. Hy het in Mdizeni en Mgwali skoolgegaan. Hy was een van die amaXhosa digters wat begaaf was in die mondelinge tradisie en folklore. Sy boek Izala (1925) was die eerste bundel gedigte deur ’n enkele outeur in die geskiedenis van isiXhosa letterkunde.