By Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga
Absolutely, the untimely demise of the
multifaceted Mr France Nthejane has left many aggrieved and shattered
especially in the literary fraternity.
There's lots to reminisce about him.
His outstanding solicitude of being benevolent and his awesome
contribution in the growth of Black African literature is very important. Many who are familiar with him will not
easily budge concerning his craft which he demonstrated with lots of verve.
Specifically as I write this, I am aware
that his staggering death caused many people to grieve incredibly. The alarming
reality is that it is really a sad thing to see Africa constantly witnessing at
how its literary giants are leaving this world.
Yearly Africans are reeling as death will rob them their charismatic
writers who are committed to quintessential literature. For instance, the demised of Ma Grace Ogot of
Kenya, Chenjarai Hove of Zimbabwe and most recently Laureta Ngcobo of South
Africa have left many devastated. In
Africa death is seriously respected and mourning is inevitable. But also there is a time to celebrate and
acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of African heroes and heroines have
made in literature.
Personally, I am very impressed by the
enormous efforts France Nthajene made, in particular to contribute
essentially in underpinning grassroots literature. He will of course remain one of the brilliant
literary catalyst and early grassroots writer in the Free State. Firstly, he played a pivotal role in ensuring
that literature in the grassroots level becomes popular within the colourful
spectrum of black communities. Secondly,
his vigorous commitment and sacrifices to produce such a remarkable book “The
Tempe Man” which unfold-tentatively what history and historians cannot be able
to do. That is an unfortunate reality
about history and historians; their almost entire focus is on national and
international events. Although what they
are committed to produced is also significant for the benefit of
assimilation. But here is the man who deserved
to be acclaimed by the sterling work he had done over the years; to champion
and pragmatically advocate grassroots literature. France Nthejane and his dazzling work “The
Tempe Man” published in June 2000 will always remain one of the fascinating
books ever produced in the Free State (South Africa).
Underlying, the book is one of the books
that the journalist life of the industrious Mr Mpikeleni
Duma. The book is diminutive and
largely riveting. The literary guru
can called it a biography. Apparently
the book is an inspiration as it showcases graphically the brilliance of the
self-taught journalist Mpikeleni Duma.
Well one should concede that reading and writing amongst black people is
something that is not yet fully-fledge.
The situation is not emanating from external forces like in the
past. If someone can observe careful and
familiarize himself/herself with African literature will incredible fathom the
mayhem. To be specific Africa over the
years has successfully managed to produce countless numbers of prodigious
writers and their works which are internationally recognised. During colonial times great writers emerged
significantly from African continent and today their exhilarating works are
still enjoy by many people in the world.
Amazingly, their works became successful without the advancement of
technology. Likewise in Europe
literature had also flourish for many centuries in the absence of the current
technological privileges. For instance,
writers were strictly using handwriting without computers like in today’s
world. It is conceivable to appreciate
this phenomenon although it can be complicated for others who have mischievous
intention to besmirch African writers and their transcendent achievement.
“The Tempe Man” by Nthejane is an
excellent paradigm in the grassroots level.
The writer painstakingly revealed a wonderful story about Mr Duma. What is most marvellous about France Nthejane
is his craft which he illustrated with profound enthusiasm. Able to touch specifically on Duma’s superb
achievement as a sublime journalist and moreover he lucidly expound at how Duma
is fond with literature since from his school years. Although Duma is the popular fantastic
journalist, Nthejane have managed to show how Duman never completed his
academic studies because of the unwholesome situation that prevail in South
Africa during the apartheid years. It can be astonishing to others as how Duma
managed to become a successful and mind-blowing journalist. But the book has all nitty-gritty response
concerning Duma’s involvement in journalism. Brilliantly Mr Nthejane embellished his book
by including other prominent writers who are au fait and intimate with Chief
Duma. The contributors add upstanding
value for what Nthejane wish to share with the world about one of the splendid
son of Africa (Mpikeleni Duma). Also in the book there is a winsome interview
where Nthejane interview Omoseye Bolaji who knows the protagonist very
well. The Tempe Man contained many
invaluable inspirations that a reader can relish with great ecstasy.
It is very worrisome to find out that
our own black people are still oblivious about the importance of
literature. Nthejane during his life
time had ensured that the story of Chief Duma must be celebrated in a book
form. The main story The Tempe Man which many will recollect
as it received large publication in particular on national paper like Sunday
World. It was outstanding article by
Chief Duma who courageously went deeper to investigate the situation in the
military base in Tempe (Bloemfontein) South Africa. In synopsis Nthejane and other salient
contributors wrote like this:
THE
YOUNG INTELLECTUALL
Mpikeleni, as he grew up, loved the
world of books and was an intelligent student.
He was naturally quiet, fair-minded but this did not deter him from
being an intellectual leader in school.
Early in life he realised the importance of education and books.
BUDDING
WRITER
In his late teens Mpikeleni had decided
that despite all odds, he wanted to be a journalist! It was an incredible thing considering the
following factors:
he was struggling to survive, and even had stints at exile because of
his
fights against the system,
there was nobody to guide him then, nor did he have money to go to any
school;
he could not even finish secondary education;
he hardly had any “connections” to help him;
he was actually moving up and down for most of the time.
THE
“TEMPE” MAN
Mpikeleni’s research and connections had
shown him that there were lots of racial tensions at the Tempe Military Base,
the biggest military base in South Africa.
He did his best to convince the paper-Sunday World – that these tensions
should be highlighted and published. To
his great happiness, in August 1999 two stories on the Base were published –
the first on outrage over the fact that a white soldier accused to brutal
murder of two colleagues was still working at Tempe; the second story was about
alleged weapons theft and sale from the same base. “Blind folded” Mpikeleni had been allowed to
see some evidence.
Mr
Masilonyane Lefuo, an experienced educator, and a soccer-lover and commentator,
more or less grew up with Mpikeleni. He
pays him this tribute.
“I have known Mpikeleni since he was
very young. There is no one who would
not respect him for the way he single-handedly became an important, nationally
recognised journalist – one of the most distinguished in the history of the
Free State, and he’s still only around 30 years old”
Tiisetso
Makhele, a young poet says:
“Duma will probably be always remembered
for his stories on Tempe. He made an
impression nationally. I remember that
after the Tempe shootings there was a Felicia (Mabuza Suttle) programme on T.V.
where it was commented that most journalists without research were portraying
Madubela as a crazed killer, but only one writer investigated and discovered he
(Madubela) was really a fine gentleman.
Only Duma wrote then that he was a fine gentleman.”
[In the year 2000 the psychologists’
report on Madubela, largely confirmed what Duma had written many months ago.]
Mr Raphael Mokoena, another writer
(novelist) adds:
“As I recall, even when the first editor
of Sunday world (Fred Khumalo) was leaving and recalling his achievements, the
Tempe stories topped his list. This is a
great credit to Mpikeleni Duma.”
Part Two
HE
DID THE FREE STATE PROUD
BY
FLAXMAN QOOPANE
I followed the “Tempe Stories” last year
with Mpikeleni Duma at his best as a journalist. His contributions to (then) Sunday World in this wise were very
impressive. He did the Free State
proud. He’s published many stories on
the Army.
A
PROLIFIC WRITER
BY
DANIEL XANGAZA
Mpekeleni Duma is a prolific
journalist. He has published countless
articles, features, quite a number of them sensational. He has an extensive network of contacts who
trust him and supply him with plenty of news items.
A
ROLE MODEL
BY
MALEKE MOTSE
I have been impressed with Duma’s
progress, and it is great that he is now in Gauteng, showing the stuff he is
made of. His stories on Tempe were
great, and as I’ve said he is a role model.
A
TRUE JOURNALIST
BY
TSHIDISO RAMATSIE
“Chief” Mpikeleni Duma – originally a “poor
of the poorest” journalist from the dusty roads of Mangaung...
When I saw Mpikeleni Duma on the SABC TV
in early June 2000 I was so “jolly” (too happy). I told myself he has reached a high climax of
his “rolling” journalistic career.
BOLAJI ON DUMA
France Nthejane, editor of this
publication, asked Mr O Bolaji many questions about Mpikeleni Duma.
QUESTION: It is an open secret you are very close to
Mpikeleni Duma. What
would you say is the
most
admirable thing about his
journalistic career?
ANSWER: Like other observers, I think the
startling, laudable
thing is that Duma’s formal
education was restricted.
I doubt whether he even went as
far as Standard 10.
Yet he’s now among a restricted
coterie of outstanding
black writers. And he (Duma) is still relatively young.
I’ve always said a writer or
journalist is largely talent...
We’ve seen people with limited
education producing
great works, like Gabriel
Okara. In the context of the
Free State Duma’s achievements
are fantastic.
Furthermore, in this time of mourning
and grieving for the poignant demised of Mr Nthejane I understand that he also
featured prominently in Bolaji’s book “Thoughts on Free State Writing” and
Alitta Molebogeng Mokhuoa’s book “Free State Writers Talking”. These two fine noteworthy books display
Nthejane as the exceptional writer who deserved to be commendable.
Chapter
Twelve
Free
State Writers: Reflections
(Thoughts
on Free State Writing by O. Bolaji)
Page 47-48: France Nthejane, the
gentlemen extra-ordinary is a very sensitive young man who gives the impression
that he can not hurt a fly. Yet this man
is an expert in the martial Arts! (For
years he ran an Academy of this persuasion.)
His interest in writing had seen him
starting and publishing a local paper, Mangaung
Mouthpiece. He also put together the
book, The Tempe Man. Nthejane was instrumental in the publication
of the book, The Story of Collins Mokhotho (incidentally written by me.)
(Free
State Writers Talking by Alitta Molebogeng Mokhoua)
France
Nthejane
Interviewed by Molebogeng Alitta Mokhoua
Page 31:
Is it true that we blacks do not read much?
NTHEJANE: Many of us are guilty of this. Many do try to read but they are
just getting used to
this.
It seems our ladies read much
better particularly magazines and
the like. I remember
Achebe fascinating me when I was
younger and of course
Mr Bolaji who by local
standards is a great, great black
writer. We had very few books
we could relate to as
children. It is shocking that many of us know very
little about
great writers from this
country like Peter Abrahams,
Zakes Mda, Mphahlele, Richard
Rive etc; not to talk of the
great white writers like
Gordimer! People like Ntate Qoopane
are opening our eyes
now... I understand young writer Lebohang Thaisi
reads in an
incredible way
considering his township background.
Nevertheless you have contributed to black
literature locally..
NTHEJANE: A little.
As regards The Tempe Man I’ve known Duma for
many years; not too closely mind you,
but enough to appreciate
his achievements
despite daunting odds
in the beginning;
a man who made himself a
national writer
(i.e. journalist) despite
poverty
and little education. So early 2000 I discussed with Qoopane
the idea about writing on
Duma and as usual he was very
excited; and once Bolaji got
involved you knew the plan
was half way through already.
Nthejane colossal contribution in grassroots
literature will constantly remain extraordinary great. Only few people can do what he had absolutely
done. To consider informing the world
about the black heroes and heroines that live in the vicinity is of course
wonderful. The fact that blacks are not
aware about this animating task is underpinned by lot of Eurocentric books that
are graphically glaring on the library shelves.
These do not mean that blacks are buffoon or are without voice. The world is free now from any forms of
oppression but yet Africa is still lagging behind when it comes to
quintessential literature. The benighted
belief that anything pertinent to literature is not from Africa is arrant
baseless. To the African literary
context Nthejane epitomize what a conscious African should be. Decades ago when early pioneers of African
literature realised the importance of literature, they suddenly made their mark
by producing fascinating books that are engrossing to the world.
France Nthejane must always be emulated
and remembered as the committed writer who wrote for the world to read about
our African heroes and heroines. Africa
has awesome heroes and heroines of the great calibre-from the past and present. Likewise France Nthejane is also the sublime
and one of the heroes Africa ever produced.
He wrote a very remarkable book “The Tempe Man” and his mammoth
contribution in black African literature is tour de force. France Nthejane was recognised as a dynamic
young man. He was the Publisher of
Mangaung Mouthpiece, a township paper.
He was the chairperson of the Greater Bloemfontein Youth Coalition. Mr Nthejane was the founder/Director of the
New Millennium Driving School.
Impressively he has also been the supremo of the Moo duk kwan Academy of
Martial Arts, for years.
REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Book
The Tempe Man
Supplementary
1. Die
Volksblad, 1 July 200
2. Free
State Libraries April-June 2001
“Eclectic
Writers Club” Page 16
3. Free
State Libraries Oct – Dec 2001
“Free
State black Writers and their books” page 10 and 11
The
Tempe Man; Mpikeleni Duma
Edited by France Nthejane
Published by Drufoma
P O box 2710 Bloemfontein 9300
First published: June 2000
FREE
STATE WRITERS TALKING
Edited by Alitta Molebogeng Mokhuoa
A production of
Qoopane Literary Services
Box 4187
Bloemfontein
9300
c Copyright 2002
THOUGHTS
ON FREE STATE WRITING
LITERARY ESSAYS
WRITTEN BY
O BOLAJI
PUBLISHED BY
QOOPANE LITERARY SERVICES
PO BOX 4187
BLOEMFONTEIN
FIRST PUBLISHED
IN 2002
