J.J. Ncongwane

Last updated

Jabulane Johan Ncongwane
Born (1961-09-30) 30 September 1961 (age 62)
Carolina, Mpumalanga, South Africa
OccupationWriter, teacher, translator
Education Umgwenya College, University of South Africa, University of Pretoria
GenresNovels, short-stories, drama and poetry
SpouseEmma Zwane
Children
  • Mbali Ncongwane (1988), Gugu Ncongwane (1990), Andile Ncongwane (1995), Njabulo Ncongwane (2005)
Parents
  • Enoch Ngotjwa Ncongwane (1936- 1977), Sonto Sarah Zwane (1925 -)
[1]

Jabulane Johan Ncongwane, better known by his pen name J.J. Ncongwane (born 30 September 1961), is a South African novelist, short-story author, poet and educator who writes in Siswati. He was born at a farm called KaMagwamazi in Chief Albert Luthuli's Carolina area. [2]

Contents

Ncongwane is regarded as one of the central figures in South Africa's Siswati literature. He is currently employed in the country's Parliament as a Language Practitioner. He has written many Siswati books including educational manuals, novels, short-stories, poems and drama-plays and has co-authored several others since 1985. His work is taught at South Africa's high and tertiary schools. [3] [4]

Early life

Jabulane Johan Ncongwane was raised at KaMagwamazi farm in Eastern Transvaal province (now Mpumalanga) in then Carolina District (now called Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality). His father, Enoch Ncongwane, was a bus-driver and his mother, Sarah Zwane, worked as a domestic worker for the owner of the farm where they stayed. Enoch couldn't read and write but encouraged his children to read and came home with Afrikaans, English and Zulu storybooks for them. JJ Ncongwane loved Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, CT Msimang, DBZ Ntuli, Maqhawe Mkhize, JJ Gwayi, and WP Steenkamp. [5]

Education and career

Ncongwane received a Teacher's Diploma from Mgwenya College and taught Siswati, Biology and General Science in Nhlazatshe's Hlabangamehlo High School and Chief Jerry Nkosi High School between 1986 and 2007. He holds a Secondary Teacher's Diploma from Mgwenya College of Education (1985), Degree in Arts from the University of South Africa (1996) and a Honours Degree in Arts from the University of Pretoria (1997). [6]

He also worked at the Tshwane University of Technology as the first Editor-in-Chief for the university's Siswati Lexicography Unit that compiles Siswati dictionaries. [7]

He has worked as a Siswati translator in South Africa's Parliament since May 2010. [8]

His first published work was a collection of Siswati poems he did with his younger brother S.J. Ncongwane titled Kuyophela Situnge in 1986. [9]

He has translated many books into Siswati, including Lebogang Masango's children books What Does Mpumi Eat to Udlani Mpumi, [10] What Does Mpumi Wear to Ugcokeni Mpumi, [11] and Gcina Mhlophe's Nozincwadi – Mother of Books. [12]

Works

Awards

His first award was a R10 he received from Mgwenya College in 1985 for writing the short story Lunjalo-ke Lutsandvo. This story appeared in the Mgwenya College magazine in that year and was then published in the collection of short stories called Tikhatsi Letimatima in 1989.

Other awards include:

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Imihlanga Yeluhlala - pg 2-5. Retrieved 27 March 2024
  2. ↑ Taking Pride in siSwati, Asithethe Employer Newsletter of Parliament of RSA. Page 8, Issue October 2012
  3. ↑ Malangwane, BB; Jele, PT; Manana, N; Ncongwane, JJ; Masondo, MM Platinum Sivula Emasango (SiSwati HL) Grade 9, Maskew Miller Learning. ISBN   9780636162457
  4. ↑ South Africans find solace in poetic expression, Daily Maverick, 30 June 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2023
  5. ↑ Writer's Job Now in Parliament, Daily Sun. Page 27, 13 December 2011
  6. ↑ Pioneers of the Lowveld by Hans Bornman (2005), 2nd Edition. Short biography of Jabulane Johan Ncongwane. Page 253
  7. ↑ Mongwe, Mkomati John (April 2006): The Role of the South African national lexicography units in the planning and compilation of multi-functional bilingual dictionaries, (MA) University of Stellenbosch, Page 29. Retrieved 2 August 2023
  8. ↑ About JJ Ncongwane, Sala.org.za. Retrieved 24 July 2023
  9. ↑ Ncongwane, JJ; Ncongwane, SJ (1986). Kuyophela Situnge South Africa: Shuter & Shooter (Pty) Ltd. ISBN   978-0-86985-901-8
  10. ↑ What Does Mpumi Eat. Retrieved 27 July 2023
  11. ↑ "What Does Mpumi Wear?". The Book Lounge. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Nozincwadi Mother of Books". The Book Lounge. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ Ncongwane, J. J. (1996). Tikhatsi tiyagucuka (in Zulu). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-570914-8.
  14. ↑ List of books by JJ Ncongwane, Goodreads. Retrieved 6 September 2023
  15. ↑ "Mncwi! Ngitake Ngibone (Siswant, Book)". Elex Academic Bookstore. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Oxford University Press :: Tikhatsi Tiyagucuka (Siswati novel) (Siswati) :: 9780195709148". www.oxford.co.za. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ A decade of prizes, Mail and Guardian, 17 March 2000. Retrieved 2 August 2023
  18. ↑ The winners of the 2009–2010 South African Literary Awards, Sunday Times BooksLive.co.za, 29 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2023
  19. ↑ SA's literary giants, Sowetan, 10 Dec 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2023
  20. ↑ Ncongwane, JJ, Tikhatsi Letimatima, J.L. van Schaik Publishers, 1989. ISBN   9780627016066
  21. ↑ Awards winners - media statements,dcsr.mpg.gov.za. Retrieved 4 March 2024
  22. ↑ Pansalb announces multilingualism awards. Retrieved 2 March 2024
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