In a moving tribute circulated last week, poet David wa Maahlamela says goodbye to writer Mkhomanzi Bruce Ngobeni.
Ngobeni, a Xitsonga-speaking poet and author (he worked on the anthology Xitlati Xa Vatsonga, among others) was perhaps best known for his dramas aired on Radio Tsonga. In a tragic irony, he received the K Sello Duiker award for promising writers in 2007. Another promising writer gone, then – like Duiker himself.
The blog Kasiekulture put together the best rendition of wa Maahlamela’s obituary, which doesn’t skirt the question of the cause of Ngobeni’s death, and includes two poems:
I will always remember him as a person who did not need a reason in order to laugh. In this age of literary deterioration in indigenous languages; losing a devoted writer such as him is a devastating loss indeed. Let’s bow our heads to the passing on of a Xitsonga linguistic fanatic Mkhomanzi Bruce Ngobeni who died on the 2nd November 2009.
This award-winning novelist, short story writer, playwright and poet dies at the age of 37, adding to the list of young brains this country lost. There’s nothing called better death though when elders such as Masizi Kunene, Ellen Kuzwayo, Alan Paton and Es’kia Mphahlale pass on, we easily yet unbearably accept that they completed their race. During the recent Timbila workshop on indigenous short story writing, a well-acclaimed Sepedi writer, Lerole Mamabolo said to young writers, “Established writers are chaining to eternal rest, we should start wearing their shoes.” Unfortunately, those who got potential to fill these shoes are as well departing. There’s is no doubt that our hopes were on the likes of Isabella Motadinyane, Phaswane Mpe, Sello Duiker and Mzwandile Matiwana. When we put one brick, the other one is falling.
Mkhomazi made his fame in 1996 when his radio drama, ‘Swa rivala a swi orhi ndzilo’ was aired on former Radio Tsonga (now Munghana Lonene fm). 1998 he obtained first prize for his serial radio drama, ‘Hakunene Tiko ri File’ on the same radio station. Among other awards, he received the 2007 South African Literary Award’s K.Sello Duiker Prize for an Outstanding Writer (Xigwitsirisi xa Malovisi). Responding to his death, the Deputy Director of Books and Publishing, national DAC, Siphiwo Mahala said, “This is sad news indeed. Bruce was one of the very few young writers who wrote consistently in his mother tongue, something that is sorely missed in our literary landscape at the moment. His passing leaves a gaping wound in the South African literary fraternity. May his soul rest in peace.”
Book details
- Xitlati Xa Vatsonga: Poetry edited by Mkhomanzi Bruce Ngobeni, M Malungana
EAN: 9781919723068
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Photos courtesy Kasiekulture and Siphiwo Mahala