Nontsizi Mgqwetho

Nontsizi Mgqwetho (fl. 1920s) was a South African poet and political commentator known for her bold and uncompromising engagement with social and political issues. Writing primarily in isiXhosa, she was one of the earliest female poets in the language, using her work to critique colonialism, racial oppression, and the shifting dynamics of black identity in early 20th-century South Africa. ^[1]

Early Life and Background

Little is known about Mgqwetho’s personal life, including her exact birth and death dates. She emerged in the 1920s as a powerful voice in the black press, particularly in Umteteli wa Bantu , a Johannesburg-based multilingual weekly newspaper published between 1920 and 1955. ^{[1] [2]} The publication was known as The Mouthpiece of the Native People and was printed in English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, and Sesotho, providing a vital space for political discussions among black South Africans. ^[3]

Umteteli wa Bantu

Umteteli wa Bantu (translated as The Mouthpiece of the Native People) was a Johannesburg-based weekly newspaper published between 1920 and 1955. ^[3] Printed in English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, and Sesotho, it served as an important platform for black intellectual and political discourse in South Africa. The newspaper provided space for writers like Nontsizi Mgqwetho, whose poetry was regularly featured, allowing her to challenge colonial rule, advocate for black rights, and critique political leadership.

Works

Mgqwetho’s poetry was originally published in Umteteli wa Bantu between 1920 and 1929. Decades later, her work was rediscovered and compiled into a comprehensive collection:

• The Nation’s Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho – Edited and translated by Jeff Opland, published by Wits University Press in 2007. This compilation includes her poetry alongside scholarly analysis of her contributions to isiXhosa literature and South African political discourse. ^[4]

References

1. Opland, Jeff (2003). "Nontsizi Mgqwetho, Listen, Compatriots!". In Daymond, Margaret J. (ed.). Women Writing Africa: The Southern Region. Feminist Press at CUNY. pp. 180–1. ISBN   978-1-55861-407-9.
2. Library of Congress, Umteteli wa Bantu: The Mouthpiece of the Native People
3. "LCCN Permalink - No Connections Available". lccn.loc.gov. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
4. Opland, Jeff (2007). The Nation’s Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho. Wits University Press. doi:10.18772/12007064518.

Further reading

• Duncan Brown, (2004) 'My Pen is the Tongue of a Skilful Poet: African-Christian identity and the poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho', English in Africa 31.1, pp. 23–58
• Athambile Masola, (2018) 'The Politics of the 1920s Black Press: Charlotte Maxeke's and Nontsizi Mgqwetho's Critique of Congress. International Journal of African Renaissance Studies - Multi-, Inter- and Transdisciplinarity, 13:2 pp 59–76, DOI: 10.1080/18186874.2018.1522933.
• Thulani Nxasana (2016). “Nontsizi Mgqwetho’s The Nation’s Bounty: A Prophetic Voice towards an African Literary Theory.’’ PhD diss., Rhodes University .
• Athambile Masola. (2016) Asinakuthula umhlab’ubolile: the poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho .
• Isabel Hofmeyr and Ntantala-Jordan, Phyllis (2007) Nation's Bounty: The Xhosa Poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho. NYU Press.
• Jeff Opland (2008). "OF XHOSA LITERATURE: THE CASE OF NONTSIZI MGQWETHO." Beyond the Language Issue: The Production, Mediation and Reception of Creative Writing in African Languages: Selected Papers from the 8th International Janheinz Jahn Symposium, Mainz 2004 19 (2008): 119.
• P Bikitisha, (2018) 'The poet who rouses the court and censures the king': An examination of the political praxis of Nontsizi Mgqwetho. In partial fulfillment of a BA Honours in Historical Studies. University of Cape Town.