Working under the banner of Abalobi Bakithi (Our indigenous writers), the group has compiled a collection of short stories set to be released before the end of next month.
Entitled ‘Izigigaba Zakwa Ndonga Ziyaduma’, which literally means ‘The Adventures of Johannesburg’, is the work of eight founding members of Abalobi Bakithi. It is a series of 16 short stories based on the experiences of Zimbabwean migrants who live in the busy South African city.
Reviving Ndebele
“The stories are mainly about our daily experiences in Johannesburg and although they can be classified as fiction, they are based on true events that we see here,” said Bongani Ncube, a well-known poet who is also chairman of the new organisation.
The organisation, with published Ndebele writer, David Magagula, as one of its members, took off in January and has grown in leaps and bounds over the past six months.
“We are mainly driven by the passion to revive our mother tongue, which continues to suffer for a number of reasons, especially slang, which seems to be favoured by most of today’s youth. We also want to put a stop to the stereotype that Africans do not like reading.”
Although they come from different areas of Zimbabwe, the group’s members are drawn together by a zeal to see more and more Ndebele novels being published, as they take the baton from the likes of Mayford Sibanda, Ndabezinhle Sigogo, Barbara Nkala, Phambilizwe Mpofu, Ezekiel Hleza and Felix Moyo.
They, however, chose to remain relevant to the challenges facing most Zimbabweans living in South Africa.
“When you read the book, you will find stories about the tragedies that befall Zimbabweans on their way to South Africa, the foxiness of people as they try to survive in this cut-throat environment, prostitution due to desperation, adventures and such other issues, all packaged in an investigative way that is expertly written,” explained Meluleki Ndebele. “We hope that publishing the book will make more of our people wake up to the challenge of reviving their language and enable them to take pride in who they really are.”
Reading the truth
They also want to use the book to enlighten those at home about what is happening to their relatives who left to find a better life in South Africa.
More important to them than money, should the book be successful, is the need to see Ndebele being counted as one of the few languages still standing strong against challenges of compromise.
“Ndebele cannot die while we are still there, so the driving force in this group is love of our language and the need to see it remain intact for future generations,” said Zibusiso Ncube.
Plans to have the book published are already at an advanced stage.
“In the long run, we want to have our own publishing house that will identify talented writers back home, guide them and later have their works published. That way, we will definitely grow our language,” said Butholezwe Mpofu.
Open to all genres
The organisation, which has more than 1 500 members on social network Facebook, is not limited to writing books and poems.
“We also include song writers, as long as they also are interested in the restoration of our language,” added Bongani.
The group, whose members arrived in Johannesburg between 1995 and 2011, has also planned a fundraising feast in Johannesburg next month, where it hopes to reach out to more people.
Other members of the group who contributed stories to the first book are Mlimisi Ncube, Mzamo Dube and Claudette Ngwenya.
“Those willing to join in this noble venture of preserving our language can call or email us any time,” said Ngwenya. – The group can be contacted on 073 126 8684/084 629 8362 or emailed on abalobi.bk@hotmail.com and mzamoe4rt@gmail.com.
Post published in: Entertainment