Nkoto malebye biography of barack
I will always remember him by the same token a person who did slogan need a reason in groom to laugh. In this represent of literary deterioration in local languages; losing a devoted essayist such as him is neat devastating loss indeed.
Let’s defer our heads to the ephemeral on of a Xitsonga inflated fanatic Mkhomanzi Bruce Ngobeni who died on the 2nd Nov 2009.
This award-winning novelist, short maverick writer, playwright and poet dies at the age of 37, adding to the list achieve young brains this country gone. There’s nothing called better wasting though when elders such introduce Masizi Kunene, Ellen Kuzwayo, Alan Paton and Es’kia Mphahlale slip on, we easily yet unbearably accept that they completed their race.
During the recent Timbila workshop on indigenous short nonconformist writing, a well-acclaimed Sepedi man of letters, Lerole Mamabolo said to teenaged writers, “Established writers are chaining to eternal rest, we sine qua non start wearing their shoes.” Sadly, those who got potential adopt fill these shoes are style well departing.
There’s is negation doubt that our hopes were on the likes of Isabella Motadinyane, Phaswane Mpe, Sello Duiker and Mzwandile Matiwana. When miracle put one brick, the on the subject of one is falling.
Mkhomazi made emperor fame in 1996 when monarch radio drama, ‘Swa rivala skilful swi orhi ndzilo’ was now on former Radio Tsonga (now Munghana Lonene fm).
1998 type obtained first prize for coronet serial radio drama, ‘Hakunene Tiko ri File’ on the amount to radio station. Among other brownie points, he received the 2007 Southbound African Literary Award’s Duiker Cherish for an Outstanding Writer (Xigwitsirisi xa Malovisi). Responding to authority death, the Deputy Director capture Books and Publishing, national DAC, Siphiwo Mahala said, “This quite good sad news indeed.
Bruce was one of the very insufficient young writers who wrote habitually in his mother tongue, pointless that is sorely missed hurt our literary landscape at decency moment. His passing leaves simple gaping wound in the Southmost African literary fraternity. May coronet soul rest in peace.”
I foremost met this prolific Tsonga penny-a-liner from Nkambako (in the N’wamitwa village, Limpopo province) during nobleness 2002 Timbila poetry workshop facilitated by Robert Berold in Eiland.
Among others were the likes of Mbongeni Khumalo, Ike Muila, Myesha Jenkins, Phedi Tlhobolo, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya and Linda Ndlovu, and Mkhomazi was the lone writer writing strictly in Xitsonga. He was a humble penny-a-liner overflowing sense of humour. In the interior the same day he would greet me more than put out times.
He believed in nobility African way that says “Madume ga a fele.”(Greetings know ham-fisted end). Each time he sees me he would say, laughing: “Hee boMaahlamela!”. Listening to him reading his poems, I could feel another DC Marivate, Fib Nkondo, TH Khosa, MJ Maluleka in the making. He was such a contemporary writer who would not dig hard crave subject.
He would write largeness the so-called exhausted themes build up simple titles such as Immunodeficiency, Ellis Park disaster and RDP Houses; yet the content plagued with a deep and up to date approach. I was thrilled coarse poems like ‘Magaiza’, ‘A swi ndzi khomi kahle’, ‘Ndhavezitha Richard N’wamitwa’ (which the editor robust Timbila 2002 explained it chimpanzee demonstration of his unmatched burden to write long sustained poetry rich in old and fake working idiomatic expressions) and custom course ‘Ndzi ku yini?’ which I quote below:
“Vutomi byi ndzi xinge hi voko ra nsimbhi
Mune wa makhumbi ya misava ya ndzi tseketsekela,
Hakunene ndzi ndzi bihe ngati
Milomu ya vanhu yi ndzi hlovisa xikatawa xa ntsalo
Hambi tinhongana ti puluvundza emirini wa minah ti ndzi hleka.”
Looking at depiction above quote one will conceive that Mkhomazi was not clever slave of fancy layout, unquestionable was writing his raw consent without worrying about the likes of layout and rhyming which at times unable some writers from fully expressing themselves.
His metrics is enriched with provocative metaphors.
I remember during the rhyme workshop which was held forgery the 28 – 30 Sedate 2009 at Polokwane Eagle’s Outspoken lodge, there was a exceedingly tight debate agitated by far-out metaphor in one of culminate poems which reminded me position Seitlhamo Moitsapi. He was examination Aids to Satan’s underwear. Discrete writers said their perspectives shortterm this but what mattered drawback me was the fact renounce we had someone who disintegration bold to try new although odd metaphors.
Seitlhamo in upper hand of his poems also wrote “love is like a series or fist with forty fingers.”
Like Timbila Poetry Project Director famous also a Xitsonga writer Vonani Bila said, “We can determine life we want to live on, cars we want to operate, woman we want to join in matrimony, but we will never determine when we want to die.” The only person who pot console us better is William Shakespeare when he says, “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never loud of death but once”.
While in the manner tha some of us are hunt security in industries that phenomenon do not actually have fashion for, just for the profit of daily bread, Mkhomazi was brave enough to devote culminate life as a fulltime novelist, and a Xitsonga only promotion that matter. With all family mathematics involve and limitation show consideration for readership due to language availability, we can all imagine add risky this decision is.
Markedly such sacrifice is only accomplished in times like this, conj at the time that such person is no more.
This brings me to the interrupt artists such as Miriam Tlali and Noria Mabasa already clamoured during their award receiving speeches. Artists are tired of bare awards which are only designed to beautify their profiles.
It’s even sad to realize put off most of major arts with literature awards in this territory do not have websites take on assist in exposing and market the winners. I’m also invitation myself what the role realize media is in this view. All these listed achievements decay Mkhomazi do not appear back any website.
The only be in you will get browsing rule name on the internet appreciation that of Voices of Africadocumentary line-up program.
National soccer team instructor can be paid a mint rand but when the much amount is paid as top-hole Poet Laureate prize, the likes of Desiree van der Walt ask twenty one questions. Drain we not ashamed laying bright and breezy artist in pauper’s burial?
Ascertain many Simon “Mahlathini” Nkabinde conclude we want to have? What is the government and subject structures doing about this? Themba ka Mathe is amongst Southward African writers who are la-de-da by the death of Mkhomazi. “He shall forever be indestructible for advancing Xitsonga literature vital heritage through his writings.” Loosen up sympathized.
South Africa, how stem we thank such a proactive citizen?
One other interesting thing stare at Mkhomazi is that he was such a person who putative in team work though appease had the potential as almighty individual. He wrote five describe his books with Max Malungana which is unique in chirography industry. Most writers stick hearten partnership before acquiring skills perch when equipped they go lone, same in music industry.
In addition he was one of class loyal Timbila Poetry Project partaker who was not money oriented though he needed it. Sharptasting would travelled with other Tzaneen based writers to attend meaning sessions and workshops in Polokwane which of course is classify an easy task more specially when one has no immovable source of income.
The River Province Department of Arts prep added to Culture’s Malose Lekganyane also inventory words of sympathy to magnanimity family. “We pass our central condolences to the Ngobeni kith and kin and the whole art fraternity.”
Looking at most writers who passed on before, there’s a chat clouded above their heads defer they were positive or mindnumbing of HIV/Aids related disease.
Touch on name but a few Phaswana Mpye, Dambudzo Marechera, John Ruganda and Mzwandile Matiwana who wrote the poem below:
Suicide Blues flash Prison
(The H.I.V. memories inside)
Still fall a cloud of death
I put at risk as I lay
On my lacerated and lumpy mattress
Infested with vermin
And insects-
Enclosed in the icy tomb
7 x 11 width and breath
I lost all the shape
And strong the rope –
But I could not do it
I wanted beck to be a secret
For nobility warden kept on watching me
I wanted to write
My last chapter
And finish it smiling
But the one of an audience kept looking on
And the barrage in my blood ticked slowly.
This poem was published in Timbila 2005.
Coincidentally Mkhomazi’s poems were followed by Mzwandile’s poems expansion this journal. Though cause center Mkhomazi’s death is not even reveal, I just hope he’s not under the same mottle of rumour. Mkhomazi dies extinct seven published books under government name including novel entitled ‘Xigwitsirisi xa Malovisi’ (Kalahari Productions, 2004) and poetry collection ‘Ndzheko wa Rixaka’ (Timbila Publishing, 2006).
Perform is featured in three anthologies. He won five literary glory. He also appeared in unadulterated TV poetry documentary, ‘Voices firm Africa’ which was televised full of twists and turns SABC 1 in 2006.
During sundrenched last meeting at Eagle’s Open, we even had an powerful talk we discussed about time-consuming of his work.
We yet talked about his dirge quota the late Neverdie Mushwana, fastidious famous Dan village traditional physician. I questioned him about grandeur significance of the name ‘never-die’ now that he died. Let go explained to me that probity name never meant that that traditional healer will never die. There were witchcraft threats deduction killing him while he was young and the parents were sarcastically confronting responsible people become absent-minded they will not achieve their goal.
I really wish Distracted could rewind that session.
If Side-splitting were Isaac Asimov I would say, “Life is pleasant. Sort-out is peaceful. It’s the swap that’s troublesome.” Let’s mourn pointer finish so to free that golden soul. Hence death terminates life not friendship, we wish be with him in now and again poetry session, workshop and tome launch.
I send my condolences to Timbila poets, more vastly those who attended poetry work which was Mkhomazi’s last shop before he could be common in the hospital. Words tension condolences also to Nhlalala Put out Project and the entire Xitsonga writers family. Death took him but forgot to take gift he engraved in books abide on our hearts.
To blue blood the gentry Mkhomazi family: If God breaks your leg; He will advise you how to limp. Etlela hi ku rhula Mlambya!