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Three Port St Johns youths grew up without ever having the opportunity to read a book written in their mother tongue — IsiMpondo.
Now the three, Mzoli Mavimbela, 33, Bonginkosi Tatemntwini, 27, both from Ngxongweni village, and Sinathi Mpukwana, 29, from Luphaphasi village, have banded together and written a book of short stories in their language.
IsiMpondo is the unofficial language spoken by the AmaMpondo, who today live in towns including Ngqeleni, Libode, Port St Johns, Lusikisiki, Flagstaff and Mbizana.
@dispatchlive Iziqhuza Zamaqhula ZamaMpondo co-author Bonginkosi “Mntwanomgquba” Tatemntwini reading an extract from their book written in IsiMpondo. Iziqhuza zamaqhula ZamaMpondo umbhali Bonginkosi Mntwanomgquba Tatemntwini efunda imbijani yelivo kwincwadi ebhalwe ngesimpondo. @mntwanomgquba2 #isimpondo #indigenouswriters #indigenouswriter #indigenouswriting #southafrica #fyp #diversity #culture #literacy ♬ original sound - DispatchLIVE
Tatemntwini, who has made his mark on social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook doing videos and comic riffs in IsiMpondo, told the Dispatch their book, Iziqhuza Zamaqhula ZamaMpondo, was an initiative to keep the language alive.
The book was also intended to inspire young people to read the language while promoting the AmaMpondo heritage and culture.
It contains more than 30 short stories written by the trio.
Tatemntwini said: “The purpose of us getting together to write the book was that as much as we speak the language on all these media platforms and in our communities, children don’t know how to read it.
“The more we write it and they read it, the more it will propel our language.”
Tatemntwini said the book, to be published next month, offered stories which were educational, inspirational, thought-provoking and fun.
They started scribbling them down three years ago, while pursuing their day jobs — Mpukwana is a nurse, Mavimbela a social worker and Tatemntwini juggles radio work, emceeing and stand-up comedy.
“It wasn’t easy because we were in different places, and we had to fund everything from our pockets,” Tatemntwini said.
“We are in the process of publishing it now, working with Mbana Publishers. Editing and all other processes have been done.
“We made time to write because this is something dear to our hearts, it’s who we are.
“They are taught isiXhosa at school. In the end we want the education department to accommodate IsiMpondo at schools as it is our language.”
— Bonginkosi Tatemntwini
“Sometimes I‘d wake up at night to write. I have never read a book in my language.
“I started out as a writer, but I wrote in isiXhosa and did poetry in isiXhosa.”
Tatemntwini said there was also a stigma attached to the language — that it was for “old people”.
The idea was for the book to nullify that myth.
“Our plan is for the book to be available in places such as schools and libraries so that young people are inspired to read a book written in their language,” he said.
“They are taught isiXhosa at school. In the end we want the education department to accommodate IsiMpondo at schools as it is our language.”
The three plan to write more books in the language.
“We want shelves to be packed with our books, and for more AmaMpondo writers to write in our language Tatemntwini said.
“The book includes things that happen nowadays as well as stories about our culture and heritage.
“We need all the support, from schools and our traditional leaders, to propel this book.
“We want this book to be about uplifting our language so it doesn’t diminish.”
Mavimbela said: “Writing the stories felt like going back to my roots, and protecting our language as it is increasingly marginalised.
“Writing it sparked the love of the language and shone the spotlight on it.
“We don‘t want IsiMpondo to be treated like a foreign language.”
Mavimbela edited and compiled the stories, and wrote 15 of them.
“I’m happy we are publishing it. The book starts from the genealogy of Ntu until the genealogy of AmaMpondo to give context, so that readers can understand where we are coming from.
“Readers can expect amusing stories. The language is very interesting.
“They must read in the language that was used. Some may be left with questions.”
Mavimbela is doing a PhD in anthropology, looking at the culture of the AmaMpondo.
“A question I ask in my study is where the language comes from.
“IsiMpondo is an independent language. Some people think the language is rude, but it is not.”
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