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XHOSA
Xhosa is
the second most widely-spoken first-language in South Africa -
that of approximately 17.6% of the total population as opposed to
English with just over 8%.
AFRICAN
VOICES XHOSA PRODUCTS
XHOSA
POPULATION, HISTORY AND INFORMATION
Population
and Geography
There are approximately 7.9 million Xhosa
speakers in South Africa the majority of whom live in the
geographical area known as the Eastern Cape. There are however
approximately 1070 000 Xhosa speakers in the Western Cape and 671
000 Xhosa speakers in Gauteng.
History
Xhosa
derives its name from a royal chief called Xhosa whose
descendant was Phalo. Phalo’s senior son was Gcaleka,
and his junior son was Rharhabe. These chiefs and their
followers settled in what is now known as the Eastern Cape,
displacing Khoi and San inhabitants.
When the
royal line split, the followers of Gcaleka were known as
amaGcaleka, while those of Rharhabe were called the
amaRharhabe.
Xhosa was
first transcribed by missionaries and is a language spoken by the
Xhosa (Gcaleka and Rharhabe), Thembu, Xesibe,
Bomvana, Mpondomise, and Mpondo.
Additional
Reading Materials for Xhosa Learners
If
you want to start reading simple Xhosa texts, why not order some
easy readers from Oxford
University Press (www.oup.com)
- particularly the Siyakhula
series by Gcina Mhlophe and Sindiwe Magona. They are sweet with
charming illustrations and easy vocabulary. Another excellent
publisher of African language materials is Hibbard
(www.hibbard.co.za).
Further
Reading
Xhosa Oral Poetry, Jeff Opland, Ravan
Press, Johannesburg, 1983
The Dead Will Arise, J.B.
Peires, Ravan Press, Johannesburg, 1989
Recommended
Dictionaries
English Xhosa Dictionary, Arnold
Fischer, Oxford University Press
A New Concise
Xhosa-English Dictionary, J. McLaren, Maskew Miller Longman
The Greater Xhosa Dictionary A-Z, Comes in three
volumes (Volume 1: A to J, Volume 2: K to P, Volume 3: Q to Z).
Famous
Xhosa-Speakers
Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela
Thabo
Mbeki
A.C. Jordan
XHOSA
CULTURE
Xhosa
Clan Names (Iziduko)
The Clan Name (isiduko)
- Kropf
defines the Xhosa word isiduko (plural iziduko) as:
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a family
name or honour, such as iTshawe or iGqwashu; a name of the
ancestor or stock from which a clan or tribe is descended, used
as an exclamation by members of that clan or tribe.
(as
quoted in Opland, 1983:43).
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Pinnock
(1988:15) notes that the clan name is:
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considered
to be more important than a surname. The clan name is the
strongest way of identifying someone, even stronger than a
fathers or grandfathers surname because it identifies a persons
whole family group and forebears.
Once married,
a woman will take on her husbands surname but will keep her clan
name using the prefix Ma-. Thus, for example, a Mrs
Mhlabeni (who is the daughter of Mr Tsuluka whose clan
name is Dlamini) will be known as MaDlamini.
Here are
some Xhosa clan names:
Rhadebe
Dlamini (the clan name of
Thabo Mbeki)
Nozulu
Mashiya
Tolo
Madiba (the clan
name of Nelson Mandela)
Here are
some Xhosa surnames and the clan names associated with them:
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Surname
Butshingi
Nyathi
Mbeki
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Clan
Name
Nala
Dlangamandla
Dlamini
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You can
find out what someones clan name is by asking: Ungumni? (Of
what clan are you?) and the person will respond, if they are from
the Nala clan, NdinguNala. If the person being asked were a
woman, she would reply NdinguMaNala.
Xhosa
Clan Praises (Izibongo)
Izibongo
are the praises the clan ancestor earned during his life. Because
there are always a number of clan ancestors, there will always be
a number of clan praises.
Here is a
string of praises for the Dlomo clan, which would be used
to praise a member of the Dlomo clan. You will notice that
these praises also include other clan names.
Dlomo
Dlange
Ngqolomsila
Sopitsho
Myem-myem
Madiba
UVela-zimbentsele; azisambentseli zoyik abelungu
Appearer
and they expose their loins to him; they expose themselves to him
no longer; they fear white men.
References:
Xhosa a cultural grammar for beginners. Pinnock, Patricia
Schonstein. African Sun Press. 1988
Xhosa Oral Poetry. Opland,
Jeff. Ravan Press. 1983
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