Wednesday, September 10, 2014

MAFIKA GWALA (1946 - 2014)





Mafika Gwala, the recently departed South African writer, was one of the most important black poets churned out in the 60s and 70s.

His name was synonymous with the era of Black Consciousness - epitomised by Steve Biko -  a rousing clarion call of many black intellectuals. Gwala over the years would go on to publish a fair amount of poetry embodying his vision and commitment.  

Gwala was a teacher, mentor, a Zulu purist, researcher and idealist. He lived to see the free South Africa he had dreamed of in his youth.
         

Ironically, the media fraternity has been excited about latest rounds of several memorial events to mark Black Consciousness leader the late Steve Biko.  Obviously when September month begins in South Africa many people are enormously concerned about the commemoration of the life time of Mr Biko.  Biko and other prominent leaders of Black Consciousness movement were on the mission to bring about consciousness among the stigmatize, marginalize and oppressed majority of black people.  At the time their activities were viewed as a menace to white minority rule.  Therefore, during the September month usually South Africans, Africans throughout the continent and abroad proudly delight themselves to give their earnest attention in celebrating the dramatic life time of Steve Biko.

However, the shocking news of the sudden death of the one of the great bards that Africa ever produced and the loyal activist of Black Consciousness too has left many people gloomy and sad.   Mr Mafika Gwala’s death has a lot of lessons to offer.  Africa has lost one of the most important fine poets who contributed largely in literature.  As one of the early Black Consciousness Movement leader he strongly expressed his discontent against apartheid with his breathtaking poems.

It is quite important to understand that Mafika Gwala poems contain essential message of encouragement.  The repressive system of apartheid which denied Africans to acquire quality education never precluded Mr Gwala to persist from being a vibrant and vigorous poet.   Recently, the master’s programme in creative writing at Rhodes University held a reading of Gwala’s literary work at Wordfest in Grahamstown, in July this year, to honour him. 

“We honoured him because we felt he hasn’t been honoured the way he should’ve been,” poet Robert Berold told the M&G. Berold’s favourite poem by Gwala is Getting off the Ride, also published in 1977. “His poetry has a powerful force and it always moved me; it remains strong even though the political circumstances have changed.” According to Berold, Gwala had been ill for quite some time and his health had not improved during his visit to Grahamstown for his tribute. 

There is lot that the world can learn about Mr Gwala’s life of struggle and of being an excellent wordsmith who is highly recognized as one of the catalyst of literature in Africa.  Firstly, he was very resolute and optimistic about the future attainment of social justice and equality of black people in South Africa.  Secondly, his ability to deny infelicitous injustice against black people to discourage and ultimately eliminate him was sublime.

Specifically, he wrote his poems to inspire.  Apparently, many literary pundits will agree that his aptitude to write his poems - both in English and Zulu was resoundingly great.  This is a poet who was willing to motivate black people during the difficult times and he continues to inspire even after freedom in South Africa.  Africa must count itself blessed by the sacrifice and the literary flair of the person of Mr Gwala.  His life time present the imperative knowledge which I think it will be judicious for people to gain that knowledgeable insight which was well entrenched in him.  This is what he used to say “We didn’t take Black Consciousness as a kind of Bible, it was just a trend, which was a necessary one because it meant bringing in what the white opposition [to apartheid] couldn’t bring into the struggle. So much was brought into the struggle through Black Consciousness. “

Inevitably, Africa is still experiencing uphill situation and flagrantly the struggle continues.  The example which Mr Gwala left must be a continuous legacy that inspires perpetually.  It cannot be tolerated to see young emerging poets in Africa intending to destroy the genuine foundation of poetry that was established with immense sacrifices and stupendous efforts.   Today we see some people who claim to be poets doing what is contrary to genuine African poetry.  They are known by impressive fashion outlook, their shocking ignorance of their own history, boasting on stages in the theatres, only just to be seen that their poets. African poetry in the similar spirit of the superlative and winsome Gwala must stand to live on forever.
 Below is one of his scintillating poems which dramatically ventilates how Dompas (Apartheid passport) was scurrilous and ludicrous for the oppressed black people at the time:

Kwela-Ride

Dompas!
I looked back
Dompas!
I went through my pockets
Not there.

They bit into my flesh (handcuffs).
Came the kwela-kwela
We crawled in.
The young men sang.
In that dark moment

It all became familiar. 
– Mafika Pascal Gwala 


Unfortunately so many of our limited modern poets only concentrate in speaking about their status, luxury life and their ‘hoodwinked’ feelings, and disappointingly neglect issues that are daunting and devastating Africa and its people.  Such poems are precarious and not apposite with African standard of poetry.  It will be utterly disgusting to appreciate and give plaudits for tosh that does not inspire.  Ebola epidemic, HIV/AIDS, corruption in African governments, terrorist attacks and so on are treacherous and threatening the peace and survival of Africa.  Mr Gwala was not recreant and quiescent about the intention of the apartheid system to lobotomize black people in South Africa, rather he chose to remain prodigious until apartheid was defeated.  Rest in peace son of the soil – rest in peace son of Africa!!!
 

Selected Bibliography  

Jol'iinkomo 
No more Lullabies
Black Review
Musho! Zulu Popular Praises

- Tribute by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

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