Qhiwu-u-u-la!!

Former President Nelson Mandela’s inauguration on 10 May 1994 was a momentous occasion. Present on the podium were two iimbongi who sang the President’s praises. This led to a revival of interest in the tradition of the imbongi not only in South Africa, but throughout the world. The media coverage given to this event allowed for these performances to be witnessed world-wide.

Furthermore, these performances provide concrete evidence of the vibrance of this tradition in South Africa. The late Bongani Sitole’s collection of poems which you have before you also provides you with a living example of this poetry in performance. Each of the poems in this collection was initially orally and spontaneously performed. These performances were taped and later transcribed. This in itself makes this collection of poetry unique. These poems provide the reader with valuable insights into the socio-political issues facing South Africans immediately prior to the first democratic elections of 1994. They represent a window, a ‘slice of life’ at a time when South Africa as a nation found itself at a turning point.

We have grouped the poems in terms of theme, i.e. historical, political, social and educational. We have provided translations of the poems as well as some commentary on the tradition in our introduction. The purpose of this is to make this material available to both mother-tongue as well as second language speakers of isiXhosa. Although we are aware of the limitations of translation, we feel that this book goes some way to making this material accessible to all. The multilingual nature of our society also requires such an approach, especially given the fact that our classrooms are multilingual.

Funding from the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) and the European Union (EU), towards this project, is gratefully acknowledged.

Russell H Kaschula, Grahamstown, Rhini, 2006 Mandlakayise C Matyumza, Mthatha, 2006

Lesson outlines for each poem in this book can be downloaded by learners and teachers/facilitators from the following website address: http://www.oralliterature.co.za

These lesson plans explore the theme of Human Rights.

Introduction*

The tradition of the imbongi or Xhosa oral poet has never been a static one. As Jeff Opland puts it,

The dynamic element is necessary in our approach since the tradition of Xhosa oral poetry has clearly changed and is continuing to change with changes in Cape Nguni society. Tradition is not a lifeless thing; it alters and adapts to new social circumstances. (236)

Many elements of the tradition have been dropped or adapted. Nevertheless the concept of singing praises still retains an identifiable character which is based on the tradition in the past.1 The imbongi’s relationship with the audience and the role which his izibongo (poetry) play within that particular society are of utmost importance. Any analysis of the tradition will therefore have to take into account the context of the performance, the audience itself and the function and role of the imbongi in a society which is subjected to constant socio-cultural and political pressure. This book provides a case study of the late Bongani Sitole, an imbongi, in order to show how the tradition has adapted. The poetry in this work is grouped in order to reflect the following contemporary themes: Historical, Social, Political and Educational.

The role of the imbongi as mediator and as political and social commentator in the power base within which they operate has been retained over time. For example, Alfred Qabula, an imbongi who operated within the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), saw his role as that of mediator between the people and the union which he represented, in the same way that the traditional imbongi mediated between the people and the chief. Bongani Sitole, saw his role as mediator between organisations or chiefs with differing view points and also as an advisor to such organisations or chiefs. Monde Mothlabane, is an imbongi who lives in Grahamstown. He is not attached to any particular organisation, but represents the interests of the people of Grahamstown in his poetry in whatever context he happens to perform. Sitole

* This introduction is based on an article titled Imbongi in profile which initially appeared in the English in Africa journal, May 1993, Vol. 20. No. 1. Grahamstown: Rhodes University. Some of this material also appears in chapter 1 of Kaschula’s The Bones of the Ancestors are Shaking: Xhosa oral poetry