 | |
| Author | Thomas Mofolo |
|---|---|
| Translator | F. H. Dutton |
| Country | Lesotho |
| Language | Sesotho |
Publication date | 1925 |
Published in English | 1931 |
| Pages | 168 |
Chaka is the third and final novel by Lesotho writer Thomas Mofolo. Written in Sesotho, it is a mythic fictional retelling of the story of the rise and fall of the Zulu emperor-king Shaka. Following its first publication in 1925, it was published in English translation in 1931.
Chaka was written in three years, from 1907 to 1910. [1] To gather material for his novel, Thomas Mofolo made several trips to the South African province of Natal, including one in 1909 where he visited the grave of Shaka. [2] The original Sotho manuscript was first submitted in 1910 to the Morija Sesuto Book Depot supported by the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (PEMS), but was only published in 1925. [3] [4] The delay in publication was due to the publishers' being "disturbed by Mofolo's failure to condemn pagan tribal customs"; this led to a disheartened Mofolo's retirement from writing. [5] According to translator Daniel P. Kunene, who translated Chaka from Sesotho to English, at least two chapters revolving around the traditions and history of the Zulu people were omitted from the published version of the novel. [6]
The first English translation of Chaka was published in 1931, while the earliest French and German translations were published in 1940 and 1953 respectively; an Afrikaans translation was published in 1974. [7]
The novel received a polarised reception initially, with some readers accusing the author of being anti-Christian, in contrast to others who felt that Chaka was "deeply Christian in inspiration and intent". [3] Nonetheless, Chaka became a local and international bestseller. [8]
Moreover, especially since the publication of Daniel P. Kunene's English translation of Chaka, the novel has become increasingly appreciated for its literary value. [3] In a review for English in Africa, Neil Lazarus described Chaka as an "extraordinary and enigmatic work of literature ... demanding the close attention of all scholars of African literature." [3] In February 2002, Chaka was named one of the twelve best works of African literature of the 20th century by a panel organised by Ali Mazrui as part of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. [9]
Shaka kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that re-organized the military into a formidable force.
The Mfecane, also known by the Sesotho names Difaqane or Lifaqane is a historical period of heightened military conflict and migration associated with state formation and expansion in Southern Africa. The exact range of dates that comprise the Mfecane varies between sources. At its broadest the period lasted from the late eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, but scholars often focus on an intensive period from the 1810s to the 1840s. The concept first emerged in the 1830s and blamed the disruption on the actions of Shaka Zulu, who was alleged to have waged near-genocidal wars that depopulated the land and sparked a chain reaction of violence as fleeing groups sought to conquer new lands. Since the later half of the 20th century this interpretation has fallen out of favor among scholars due to a lack of historical evidence.
The Sotho people, also known as the Basuto or Basotho, are a Bantu nation native to southern Africa. Basothos have inhabited the region of Lesotho, South Africa since around the fifth century CE. They have split into different clans over time, as result of mfecane and colonialism. There are 3 types of Basotho groupings in Southern Africa viz The Southern Sotho found in Free State and Lesotho, Northern Sotho found in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga and Western Sotho better known as Tswana found in the present day Northern West and Botswana. The British and the Boers, [Dutch descendants] divided Basotho land amongst themselves in the late 1800s. Lesotho was created by the settlers in the 1869 Convention of Aliwal North following the conflict over land between Moshoeshoe I and the Dutch descendants.
Thomas Mokopu Mofolo is considered the greatest Basotho author. He wrote mostly in the Sesotho language, but his most popular book, Chaka, has been translated into English and other languages.
John Langalibalele Dube was a South African essayist, philosopher, educator, politician, publisher, editor, novelist and poet. He was the founding president of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), which became the African National Congress in 1923. He was an uncle to Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme with whom they founded SANNC along. Dube served as the president of SANNC between 1912 and 1917. He was brought to America by returning missionaries and attended Oberlin Preparatory Academy. He returned to South Africa, where in 1903 he and his first wife, Nokutela Dube, founded a newspaper, what is now Ilanga lase Natal.
William Charles Franklyn Plomer was a South African and British novelist, poet and literary editor. He also wrote a series of librettos for Benjamin Britten. He wrote some of his poetry under the pseudonym Robert Pagan.
Chaka may refer to:
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Mazisi (Raymond) Kunene was a South African poet best known for his translation of the epic Zulu poem Emperor Shaka the Great. While in exile from South Africa's apartheid regime, Kunene was an active supporter and organiser of the anti-apartheid movement in Europe and Africa. He would later teach at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and become Africa's and South Africa's first poet laureate.
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Emperor Shaka the Great is an epic poem based on the Zulu oral tradition, compiled in Zulu then translated by South African poet Mazisi Kunene. The poem follows the life of Shaka Zulu, documenting his exploits as a king of the Zulu people, who produced considerable advances in State structure and military technologies of the Zulu. Some critics express concern over the historicity of the retelling. However, Kunene's embrace of an African perspective on Shaka's rule expresses an attempt at understanding the apparent horrors observed by Europeans in the history of Shaka.
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