WSU GRADUATE’S ISIXHOSA NOVEL PRESCRIBED FOR LEARNING AT WSU

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) BEd graduate and current BEd Hons student, Yamkela Ntwalana’s second book has gotten the nod as prescribed literature for IsiXhosa 2 in the University’s Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences & Law.

Upon selling the book titled, Intlungu Yevezandlebe, to his former lecturers at the university, Ntwalana received a call with the news that it would be prescribed for learning.

Department of Arts’ IsiXhosa 2 lecturer, Dr. Yolisa Madolo said that she found Intlungu Yevezandlebe to be an ingenious piece of literature and proposed that it be prescribed for students.

“I thought that the book was very rich, and would be a great resource for my students, hence I proposed that we prescribe it for IsiXhosa 2 literature. We are hopeful that our students will find value in the book and seeing that Mr. Ntwalana, who is a former student, successfully wrote and published a book should inspire them as well,” said Madolo.

Ntwalana, a teacher by profession, obtained his diploma – University Licenciate in Music Education (ULME) and further graduated in Music Education (BedME) majoring in isiXhosa and Music from WSU in 2014. In 2020, he published his first book, a collection of poems in collaboration with one of his learners. As Intlungu Yevezandlebe is his first novel, he was overjoyed with the news of it being used by the university in teaching.

“As a young author, it is an honour for me that my book has reached such a high standard as Walter Sisulu University. This means that I am also contributing to preserving our language as other well-known authors did. As an author, having your work prescribed is a remarkable privilege as it will feed generations,” said Ntwalana.

The book, as the title suggests, is about the woes of an “illegitimate child”, and the ill-treatment of such children within families and in society. Ntwalana said that above preserving the IsiXhosa language, his work aims to highlight the stress, anxiety, and identity crisis that many children and adults born out of wedlock experience.

“This story is trying to teach society about these matters and help them see things differently. Having seen many incidents of ill-treatment of people called “amavezandlebe” in our society inspired me to be a voice of the voiceless. I saw an opportunity to heal the brokenhearted and create a book that would be like therapy for them. The story is connected to me as well, even though it is not about my life, as I am ivezandlebe myself,” said Ntwalana.

As a lecturer, Dr. Madolo said that she has had to listen to many students’ stories, which were similar to that of the main character, and as such, she believes the book has a powerful message for students, above being impeccably written.

“Many students will relate to the main character, as they’ve had similar experiences. However, it is also very entertaining and captivating. It bears many traits of a good novel,” said Madolo.

The book is available at Van Schaik bookstores, Sasol library at WSU Nelson Mandela Drive campus, and can be ordered directly from the author on 0733900921.

- Yanga Ziwele