By Siviwe Mxuma
Earlier this month, the Rhodes University School of Languages and Literature hosted the book launch of Jonas Ntsiko: Hadi Waseluhlangeni Collected Writings (1873-1916). This event marked the release of Volume 9 of the Opland Collection of Xhosa Literature, a series of books collaboratively edited and translated by Professors Jeff Opland and Pamela Maseko. Professor Pamela Maseko, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Nelson Mandela University, Visiting Professor and former academic at Rhodes University. Maseko was also the keynote speaker at the book launch.
The book includes an essay by prolific author Dr Marguerite Poland, one of Rhodes University’s honorary degree recipients for 2021, which offers an account – for the first time – of Ntsiko’s life and times.
Respondents at the event included Rhodes University alumna, current Council member Dr Nomathamsanqa Tisani, and political theorist and lecturer at the University of Fort Hare Dr Siseko Kumalo.
Jonas Ntsiko, who worked under a pseudonym "Hadi Waseluhlangeni" (‘The National Harp’) was a prominent isiXhosa writer, educator, and intellectual whose work spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1873 in the Eastern Cape, Ntsiko was a product of missionary education, profoundly influencing his worldview and writing. His writings covered various topics, including the history and culture of amaXhosa and the challenges faced by African communities under colonial rule.
Ntsiko was deeply committed to preserving and promoting isiXhosa and its culture, particularly in the face of increasing European domination. His work highlighted the richness of African intellectual traditions and sought to challenge the negative stereotypes perpetuated by colonial narratives. Ntsiko’s writings stand as a testament to the resilience and creativity of African intellectuals during a time of great upheaval and transformation in South Africa.
The book launch was a momentous occasion, bringing together scholars, students, and members of the public to celebrate the life and work of Ntsiko.
In her address, Professor Maseko emphasised that the significance of the event went beyond discussing the content of Ntsiko’s book. “The importance of this event is not only to talk about the content of the book and its significance,” she stated, “but I’d like to draw your attention to how you can conduct research in this way. That is why we do these things. It is not for us to publish these books and leave them where they have been for more than 100 years. It is so that they can return to these spaces for us to intellectualise, to learn about the intellectual traditions of these great people.”
Professor Maseko also highlighted the role of missionaries in shaping the early written literature of African communities. While missionaries played a key role in introducing literacy and education, their efforts were often driven by a structured agenda to evangelise and promote European values. Many African writers, like Ntsiko, sought to resist this agenda and used literature to preserve and promote their own cultural identities, resulting in their work being suppressed or even banned.
Professor Maseko’s call to acknowledge and reclaim the contributions of these early African writers resonated strongly with the audience. "It's high time that even if we cannot find their names now, we must acknowledge their significant role in writing about black history,” she urged.
Dr Tisani and Dr Kumalo offered additional perspectives on the significance of Ntsiko’s work and the broader project of preserving African intellectual traditions.
Dr Tisani discussed her attempts to locate Ntsiko’s descendants, emphasising the importance of connecting the intellectual contributions of past generations with their living descendants. Although her efforts to find Ntsiko’s family have been unsuccessful so far, she remains committed to this task.
On the other hand, Dr Kumalo focused on the challenges of translation, noting that the complexities of African languages often result in significant losses when texts are translated into English. He stressed the need for careful and culturally sensitive translation practices to preserve the original texts' full meaning and richness.
The launch of Jonas Ntsiko: Hadi Waseluhlangeni Collected Writings (1873-1916) was not only a celebration of Ntsiko’s life and work but also a call to action for scholars, students, and the broader community to engage with and preserve Africa’s intellectual traditions. As Professor Maseko and the other speakers emphasised, this work is essential for understanding the past and shaping the future of African scholarship.