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Igazi Labafo - The Nguni Novel, Delivered in Johannesburg At Last!
13 Jan 2013 at 12:15hrs | Views
An opportunity has arisen for thirsty Ndebele readers based in South Africa to quench their mother language reading passion and yearning. Limited copies of the scintillating Igazi Labafo, a captivating Nguni novel by an England-based Zimbabwean teacher is on sell in Johannesburg as from the 21st January 2013 and the limited availability copies sell at R100 each.
Taking me back, way back…..Pupil Glenn Ncube tries his skills on the novel Igazi Labafo.
The author of the novel Mr Titshabona Malaba Ncube, published this tremendous Ndebele book on his encounter with Zimbabwean crime while he was in South Africa trying to eke out a living following the dramatic collapse of the Zimbabwean economy. The Zimbabwean government has blamed what they describe as the "illegal sanctions" for the economic collapse and said the Zimbabwean government is a victim of British imperialism because it seized white-owned farms for redistribution to poor blacks. But on the other hand, some political analysts say the crisis is the result of a brutal strategy to hold on to power by violently suppressing the opposition, rigging elections and trying to buy support by seizing the farms. Well, the novel is not about that, but denotes the consequences of bad policies and poor governance on the proletariats. Hence the book, tells the first encounter with crime among Zimbabweans in a foreign land. Many survived on the "blood" of their fellow citizens, brothers and sisters.
The copies delivered in Johannesburg are specially printed by 4 Edge, a renowned superior print on demand firm famous for producing books printed to a level of quality synonymous with lithographic printing, whilst reducing run lengths. The distinctive paper copies are high in quality, elegant and have refinement in outlook made from a hard-wearing paper able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage and made for a longer life span.
This is a supernova novel Nguni novel that promises to be a major reference point among those interested in studying effects of economic collapse, including a day in life of a Zimbabwean in South Africa. He lived with crime, he saw it, he is a witness and now he has told the untold story in a topic Igazi Labafo.
The exciting and captivating novel portrays how heredity and environment individuals find themselves trapped in can help shape their personality. It furthermore highlights how miserly greed and an insatiable appetite for money can lead to an individual's demise. Written in dominantly Ndebele, Zulu and Xhosa, the novel tracks the life of Mpundule, a character who is a victim of stereotyping and tribal prejudice who finds himself trapped in a system with no leniency.
On arrival in downtown Johannesburg, he finds himself fighting for survival. Fateful circumstances become a factor for him joining a Mafia style criminal gang, and, in this vicious circle, he discovers that no matter how fast he can run his life, he just cannot hide from predestination. Mpundule becomes a typical tragic hero. Maybe Aristotle was right when he said that "A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall."
The book starts by highlighting a picture of the disagreeable political after-effects still hanging in the minds of the Sigangatsha community of Kezi.
As the protagonist, Mpundule, arrives from Mashonaland, with his mother and siblings in the area, he is scrutinized as an outcast and undesirable element, umhlobo ongelondwa nhlanyelo (p.12). This is because the event serves as a reminder to the harsh realities of the yester years and this is not a warm reception for the young Mpundule.
Master of Philosophy……Tish Malaba Ncube being honoured at Newcastle University.
The author Mr Titshabona Ncube is a Masters Graduate from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Town Planning from the same university as well as a BA Degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
You can also listen to the exclusive audio interview of the author with Ntungamili Nkomo on Voice of American.
http://www.voandebele.com/audio/audio/185583.html
http://www.voanews.com/MediaAssets2/ndebele/dalet/LIPHUMA%20LENDABA%20FEATURE-NTUNGA%2004-06.
Below are critical literature reviews of the novel Igazi Labafo by various respected media outlets.
Ncube managing to wed originality of technique with depth of insight or breadth of knowledge or charm and technical innovation and makes Igazi Labafo a memorable novel to future novelists - www.zimdiaspora.com
The novel also has a good hook to the reader through the careful selection of diction. It is remarkable how Ncube brings the characters to life and make them realistic - www.bulawayo24.com
Igazi labafo is indeed a good read. In the novel Ncube raises a number of provocative questions and constantly engages the reader in conversation causing the reader to take a new look at his own ideas and perceptions - www.zimdiaspora.com
The writing style employed in Igazi Labafo sometimes reveals the writer's personality or voice, but it also shows how he sees the audience of the writing; 'Sikwenzela five tiger kuphela mineri. Die deng iyabiza nawe uyaqava my topiza. Bhek' ilabeli yiJVC,' kwatsho omunye. 'Hayi kabi bafana bami, kodwa angiwuphethe neze ufifty rand namhlanje. Kodwa ngotwenty rand kungahlangana bafana bami,' sekuphendula lelihuzu. 'Eish yivari my bro. Awusheshe, uyazi musi, abohata bagcwele kulendawo,' kuphendula omunye wababili - www.afrodeepradio.com
Abanye babo bathi sebeyiswele leyomisebenzi basuke baphenduke babe ngogubuzela.
Kodwa okaMalaba uthi ubugubuzela bulomvuzo omubi kakhulu, njalo uxwayisa abasakhulayo ukuba baqine ezifundweni zabo ukuze babe lelakusasa elihle - www.voanews.com/ndebele
Nguni languages include Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swati.
Because the Nguni languages are closely related, and in many instances different languages but mutually intelligible; Ncube uses them intechangingly through the deliberate interaction amongst characters from these backgrounds. In this way, Ncube makes more visible the fact that Nguni languages might better be construed as a dialect continuum than as a cluster of separate languages. Notice how Peggy and Mpundule communicate flawlessly but using different Nguni dialects;
'Sabona dadewethu' UMpundule ubingelela lentombazana. Yaphendula yathi.
'Uphetheni ngomlomo Mzwazwa kaNkoviyo?' Yatsho lentombazana isibambe iqolo laze lagoba.
'Ngidinga uncedo dadewethu' Watsho uMpundule.
' Hayi bo musukundiqhela webhuti. Usizo bani olucinga kum' nje? Mna andinguye lona ojonge ukudlala nani nina ngane zasemaphayiphini. Hayi ke. Inyuku? Into ethengayo? Amasheleni uwaphethe ngoku?' Kubuza lentombazana.
'Haa-a-atshi dade.' Kugagasa uMpundule. 'Mina ngifuna uncedo ngoba ngilapha nje ngilahlekile. Bengimel,,,,.'
'Wooo! Manje sizoluni endingakunikeza lona mna ngoku?'
'Hatshi dade ma ungangisiza ngendawo yokulala namhlanje nje kuphela. Kusasa ngizavuka ngizibonela okokwenza - www.ubuntufm.com
Igazi labafo is indeed a good read. In the novel, Ncube raises a number of provocative questions and constantly engages the reader causing them to take a new look at their own ideas and perceptions. Ncube manages to wed originality of technique with depth of insight, breadth of knowledge and charm - www.bulawayo24.com
To buy your copy or copies please engage with the following contacts on facebook and/or by phone;
Allie Masheleni Ncube; 0027739093408
Marilyn Nhlanhla Sibanda; 0027788437494
Igazi Labafo is also available to download as an e-book on the popular book selling website Smashwords. The process is simple and safe. One needs to visit www.smashwords.com and search for Igazi Labafo.
Source - Byo24News
