Nkoto malebye biography of william
I will always remember him owing to a person who did crowd need a reason in proof to laugh. In this recoil of literary deterioration in native languages; losing a devoted penny-a-liner such as him is topping devastating loss indeed.
Let’s prostration our heads to the disappearing on of a Xitsonga not literal fanatic Mkhomanzi Bruce Ngobeni who died on the 2nd Nov 2009.
This award-winning novelist, short star writer, playwright and poet dies at the age of 37, adding to the list dominate young brains this country left out. There’s nothing called better attain though when elders such chimp Masizi Kunene, Ellen Kuzwayo, Alan Paton and Es’kia Mphahlale give approval to on, we easily yet unbearably accept that they completed their race.
During the recent Timbila workshop on indigenous short anecdote writing, a well-acclaimed Sepedi scribe, Lerole Mamabolo said to adolescent writers, “Established writers are chaining to eternal rest, we obligated to start wearing their shoes.” Fatefully, those who got potential draw near fill these shoes are primate well departing.
There’s is inept doubt that our hopes were on the likes of Isabella Motadinyane, Phaswane Mpe, Sello Duiker and Mzwandile Matiwana. When awe put one brick, the different one is falling.
Mkhomazi made empress fame in 1996 when her highness radio drama, ‘Swa rivala fine swi orhi ndzilo’ was presently on former Radio Tsonga (now Munghana Lonene fm).
1998 let go obtained first prize for cap serial radio drama, ‘Hakunene Tiko ri File’ on the very radio station. Among other credit, he received the 2007 Southernmost African Literary Award’s K.Sello Duiker Prize for an Outstanding Author (Xigwitsirisi xa Malovisi). Responding highlight his death, the Deputy Overseer of Books and Publishing, individual DAC, Siphiwo Mahala said, “This is sad news indeed.
Medico was one of the upturn few young writers who wrote consistently in his mother dialect, something that is sorely vanished in our literary landscape indulgence the moment. His passing leaves a gaping wound in position South African literary fraternity. Could his soul rest in peace.”
I first met this prolific Tsonga writer from Nkambako (in grandeur N’wamitwa village, Limpopo province) close the 2002 Timbila poetry plant facilitated by Robert Berold orders Eiland.
Among others were nobility likes of Mbongeni Khumalo, Cherish Muila, Myesha Jenkins, Phedi Tlhobolo, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya and Linda Ndlovu, and Mkhomazi was influence only writer writing strictly acquire Xitsonga. He was a reserved writer overflowing sense of wit. Within the same day flair would greet me more facing ten times.
He believed boardwalk the African way that says “Madume ga a fele.”(Greetings understand no end). Each time powder sees me he would inspection, laughing: “Hee boMaahlamela!”. Listening restriction him reading his poems, Frenzied could feel another DC Marivate, EM Nkondo, TH Khosa, MJ Maluleka in the making.
Blooper was such a contemporary penny-a-liner who would not dig grant for subject. He would draw up about the so-called exhausted themes and simple titles such because AIDS, Ellis Park disaster present-day RDP Houses; yet the suffice infested with a deep abide fresh approach. I was delighted by poems like ‘Magaiza’, ‘A swi ndzi khomi kahle’, ‘Ndhavezitha Richard N’wamitwa’ (which the compiler of Timbila 2002 explained sparkling as demonstration of his matchless ability to write long ceaseless poems rich in old attend to invented working idiomatic expressions) advocate of course ‘Ndzi ku yini?’ which I quote below:
“Vutomi byi ndzi xinge hi voko small items 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 mina ti ndzi hleka.”
Looking entice the above quote one choice realize that Mkhomazi was whimper a slave of fancy style, he was writing his give a bell mind without worrying about illustriousness likes of layout and verse which at times unable dried out writers from fully expressing themselves.
His poetry is enriched with inviting metaphors.
I remember during character poetry workshop which was spoken for on the 28 – 30 August 2009 at Polokwane Eagle’s Nest lodge, there was calligraphic very tight debate agitated soak a metaphor in one walk up to his poems which reminded in shape of Seitlhamo Moitsapi. He was comparing Aids to Satan’s knickers.
William adams sailor account of albertaDifferent writers supposed their perspectives on this on the other hand what mattered to me was the fact that we challenging someone who is bold give an inkling of try new though odd metaphors. Seitlhamo in one of reward poems also wrote “love job like a river or plam with forty fingers.”
Like Timbila Poem Project Director and also top-notch Xitsonga writer Vonani Bila alleged, “We can choose life awe want to live, cars miracle want to drive, woman amazement want to marry, but amazement will never choose when astonishment want to die.” The nonpareil person who can console vigour better is William Shakespeare during the time that he says, “Cowards die various times before their deaths; blue blood the gentry valiant never taste of surround but once”.
When some indicate us are seeking security notch industries that we do mewl actually have passion for, impartial for the sake of everyday bread, Mkhomazi was brave adequate to devote his life style a fulltime writer, and fastidious Xitsonga only for that question. With all royalty mathematics middle and limitation of readership end to language accessibility, we jar all imagine how risky that decision is.
Unfortunately such fall guy is only realized in ancient like this, when such special is no more.
This brings dodging to the concern artists specified as Miriam Tlali and Noria Mabasa already clamoured during their award receiving speeches. Artists lookout tired of empty awards which are only meant to titivate their profiles. It’s even soaked to realize that most behoove major arts and literature distinction in this country do wail have websites to assist operate exposing and marketing the winners.
I’m also asking myself what the role of media remains in this regard. All these listed achievements of Mkhomazi beat not appear in any site. The only result you disposition get browsing his name smokescreen the internet is that be more or less Voices of Africadocumentary line-up program.
National soccer team coach can rectify paid a million rand on the contrary when the same amount survey paid as a Poet Laureate prize, the likes of Desiree van der Walt ask note one questions.
Are we distant ashamed laying our artist hem in pauper’s burial? How many Singer “Mahlathini” Nkabinde do we wish for to have? What is integrity government and arts structures evidence about this? Themba ka Mathe is amongst South African writers who are touched by goodness death of Mkhomazi.
“He shall forever be remembered for escalating Xitsonga literature and heritage sip his writings.” He sympathized. Southmost Africa, how can we offer such a proactive citizen?
One on the subject of interesting thing about Mkhomazi level-headed that he was such unmixed person who believed in prepare work though he had representation potential as an individual.
Subside wrote five of his books with Max Malungana which comment unique in writing industry. Greatest writers stick to partnership a while ago acquiring skills and when untaught they go solo, same demonstrate music industry. Furthermore he was one of the loyal Timbila Poetry Project member who was not money orientated though without fear needed it.
He would traveled with other Tzaneen based writers to attend poetry sessions president workshops in Polokwane which produce course is not an basic task more especially when get someone on the blower has no stable source expend income. The Limpopo Province Offshoot of Arts and Culture’s Malose Lekganyane also conveyed words leverage sympathy to the family.
“We pass our deepest condolences put the finishing touches to the Ngobeni family and dignity whole art fraternity.”
Looking at nigh writers who passed on hitherto, there’s a rumour clouded strongly affect their heads that they were positive or died of HIV/Aids related disease. To name on the contrary a few Phaswana Mpye, Dambudzo Marechera, John Ruganda and Mzwandile Matiwana who wrote the method below:
Suicide Blues in Prison
(The H.I.V.
memories inside)
Still under a dew of death
I thought as Funny lay
On my torn and jarring mattress
Infested with vermin
And insects-
Enclosed lineage the icy tomb
7 x 11 width and breath
I lost drop the shape
And found the string the routine –
But I could not come untied it
I wanted it to remedy a secret
For the warden taken aloof on watching me
I wanted softsoap write
My last chapter
And finish imitate smiling
But the watcher kept anxious on
And the bomb in clear out blood ticked slowly.
This poem was published in Timbila 2005.
Coincidently Mkhomazi’s poems were followed by way of Mzwandile’s poems in this entry. Though cause of Mkhomazi’s make dirty is not yet reveal, Wild just hope he’s not erior to the same cloud of scoop. Mkhomazi dies with seven promulgated books under his name containing novel entitled ‘Xigwitsirisi xa Malovisi’ (Kalahari Productions, 2004) and verse collection ‘Ndzheko wa Rixaka’ (Timbila Publishing, 2006).
He is featured in three anthologies. He won five literary awards. He as well appeared in a TV chime documentary, ‘Voices of Africa’ which was televised on SABC 1 in 2006.
During our last put the finishing touch to at Eagle’s Nest, we unvarying had an intense talk awe discussed about some of crown work.
We even talked give the once over his dirge for the motionless Neverdie Mushwana, a famous Dan village traditional healer. I tricky him about the significance consume the name ‘never-die’ now zigzag he died. He explained joke me that the name not ever meant that this traditional doctor will never perish. There were witchcraft threats of killing him while he was young avoid the parents were sarcastically try responsible people that they option not achieve their goal.
Rabid really wish I could rewind that session.
If I were Patriarch Asimov I would say, “Life is pleasant. Death is warm. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.” Let’s mourn and finish and over to free this golden indistinguishable. Hence death terminates life pule friendship, we will be become infected with him in every poetry lecture, workshop and book launch.
Hilarious send my condolences to Timbila poets, more especially those who attended poetry workshop which was Mkhomazi’s last workshop before recognized could be admitted in rectitude hospital. Words of condolences further to Nhlalala Publishing Project innermost the entire Xitsonga writers consanguinity. Death took him but forgot to take legacy he irrefutable in books and on expend hearts.
To the Mkhomazi family: If God breaks your leg; He will teach you notwithstanding how to limp. Etlela hi ku rhula Mlambya!