Celebrating Literary Legend Mazisi Kunene
Celebrating Literary Legend Mazisi Kunene
UKZN’s School of Arts and the Centre for Creative Arts, in collaboration with the Mazisi Kunene Foundation, presented the 3rd Mazisi Kunene Memorial Lecture on 10 October.
Centred on the theme, “Sithini Thina? Reflecting on Mazisi Kamdabuli Kunene: The National and Global Gem”, it offered new insights into the life and work of this formidable literary figure.
Kunene was a champion of isiZulu literature and the conservation of its unique forms. He wrote his poems in isiZulu and translated them into English and other languages. In 1993, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) honoured him as the first Poet Laureate of Africa for his extensive work in documenting and preserving the isiZulu language.
UNESCO has declared 2022 – 2032 the international decade of indigenous languages. It was thus fitting that the lecture focused on Kunene’s lifelong love for and relationship with the isiZulu language.
Welcoming guests, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize noted Kunene’s tremendous contributions, adding that, ‘his legacy continues to inspire and unite us. His poems, academic writings, political thought, philosophy, and deep intellect continue to enrich the work of the isiZulu language and literature programme and fuel the growth of the Poetry Africa festival.’
Centre for Creative Arts Director, Dr Ismail Mahomed echoed these sentiments, noting that it is fitting that the lecture has found its place within the annual Poetry Africa festival. ‘Now in its 28th year, the festival serves as a bridge for cross-generational dialogue, bringing together poets from South Africa, the African continent, and beyond.’ This year, 76 poets from 28 countries are participating, a testament to the global reach of African poetry and Kunene’s enduring influence.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Nompumelelo Zondi, Vice-Dean for Research, Postgraduate Studies and Internationalisation of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Free State. Zondi constructed a vivid picture of Kunene’s life and work by weaving together past, present and future. She explored Kunene as an academic, poet, political activist and scholar and invited the audience to join in on a reflective journey of his life.
Drawing on her own experience, Zondi said Kunene impacted her as a young academic at UKZN. ‘Having him amongst us filled us and our academic pursuits with confidence. Our voices were amplified and we felt a transformative shift by his mere presence. His work transcended borders, inspiring unity amongst Africans worldwide.’
She also reflected on Kunene’s political life, activism and exile which she believes served as a catalyst for him to write and create. ‘For all these reasons Kunene’s work must be brought to the forefront of academic discourse.’
Kunene’s widow and Executive Trustee of the Mazisi Kunene Foundation, Mrs Mathabo Kunene, called on Zondi and UKZN academics to mobilise around getting all Kunene’s unpublished work translated and published: ‘There are over 10 000 poems which need to be made available and we cannot be responsible for denying these works to our children. I would like to invite you all, especially the youth, to get involved, form a committee and take this work forward, as these poems are our heritage.’
Words: Jennene Naidu
Photograph: Andile Ndlovu
