Nontsizi Mgqwetho : The Poet of the People (1919–1929)

This title offers analysis of Nontsizi Mgqwetho's appropriation of the imbongi tradition in 1920s South African newspapers. Examines early articulations of epistemic freedom, African political leadership, and cultural identity.

This title examines how Nontsizi Mgqwetho, a Xhosa woman writing in the 1920s, appropriated the traditional male imbongi role to address social, cultural, and political concerns of black South Africans through newspaper poetry, including:Analysis of Nontsizi Mgqwetho's appropriation of the traditional male imbongi role in 1920s South AfricaExamination of the transition from oral praise poetry to print media as a vehicle for political and cultural discourseDocumentation of early African literary criticism and epistemic freedom concepts predating contemporary decolonial scholarshipStudy of African political leadership and national identity formation during the 1920s newspaper eraInvestigation of gender dynamics in African literary production and women's participation in public discourseThis title has been co-published with UKZN Press. T&F does not sell or distribute the print versions in Sub-Saharan Africa.