African Literary and Intellectual Works Collection
Item set
- Description
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The Works by African Poets, Writers, and Intellectuals collection is a digitised archival grouping from the Cory Library and Historical Archives at Rhodes University, highlighting the literary, intellectual, and cultural contributions of African authors and thinkers preserved in the library’s holdings. Situated within the African Heritage Collections, this item set brings together materials that reflect creative expression, literary production, and intellectual discourse from prominent African poets, writers, and scholars.
The collection encompasses sub-collections and individual item groups such as works and related archival material by authors including Henry Masila Ndawo, Malcolm Everitt Mlungiseleli Nyoka, pieces associated with the S.E.K. Mqhayi Collection, and materials linked to jazz-era cultural figure Todd Matshikiza (including parts of a King Kong thematic grouping). Collectively, these materials document a range of literary voices and intellectual traditions from the African continent, with a particular focus on South Africa, spanning poetry, prose, correspondence, manuscript materials, and related cultural artefacts. By foregrounding African creative and intellectual heritage, this collection supports research in literature, cultural studies, history, and African studies. - Type
- Collection
- Text
- Subject
- African literature
- African intellectuals
- Mqhayi, S.E.K.
- Matshikiza, Todd
- Ndawo, Henry Masila
- Nyoka, Mlungiseleli
- Literary heritage
- African heritage
- Spatial Coverage
- South Africa
- Temporal Coverage
- Primarily the 20th century (reflective of the authors and intellectuals represented)
- Format
- Digital images
- Manuscript scans
Items
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The letter, dated the 12 July 1960, sent to Todd Matshikiza by Alan Paton, includes a discussion about 'Lindiwe's song', which would appear in the musical 'Mkhumane'. 'Mkhumane' was a three-act musical that opened on the 29th of March 1960 at the Durban City Hall, with the lyrics written by Alan Paton and the music composed by Todd Matshikiza. -
The letter, dated the 16th of January 1961, sent to Todd Matshikiza by Alan Paton, includes a discussion about 'Lindiwe's song', which would appear in the musical 'Mkhumane'. 'Mkhumane' was a three-act musical that opened on the 29th of March 1960 at the Durban City Hall, with the lyrics written by Alan Paton and the music composed by Todd Matshikiza. -
The letter, dated the 28th of July 1961, sent to Todd Matshikiza by Alan Paton, includes a discussion of aspects (songs) to form part of the musical 'Mkhumane'. 'Mkhumane' was a three-act musical that opened on the 29th of March 1960 at the Durban City Hall, with the lyrics written by Alan Paton and the music composed by Todd Matshikiza. -
The letter, dated the 7th of April 1961, sent to Todd Matshikiza by Alan Paton. -
The letter, dated the 1st of June 1960, sent to Alan Paton by an unknown person (Neil Heimer?), providing suggested enhancements to 'Mkhumane'. 'Mkhumane' was a three-act musical that opened on the 29th of March 1960 at the Durban City Hall, with the lyrics written by Alan Paton and the music composed by Todd Matshikiza. -
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From the Preface: This volume presents a critically compiled and historically grounded narrative of Ntsikana, widely regarded as one of the earliest African Christian converts and hymn composers among the amaXhosa. Prepared originally in 1878–79 and revised for publication in 1914, the work represents the first sustained attempt to render Ntsikana’s life and religious influence into a coherent English narrative. The account is based on a triangulation of sources, including oral testimony from elders who personally knew Ntsikana or his family, family memory preserved through the author’s grandparents, early missionary periodicals, and archival documents. Central among the written sources are articles published in Isigidimi Samaxosa (1875–1888) and the rediscovered 1845 issues of Ikwezi, the earliest Kafir–English missionary periodical, printed at the Chumie Mission Press. The volume also preserves four hymns attributed to Ntsikana, transmitted through oral tradition and here recorded with both words and melodies, underscoring his role in the indigenisation of Christian worship in southern Africa. Supplementary appendices include contemporaneous writings by Ntsikana’s close companions—later known as Charles Henry (Matshaya) and Robert Balfour (Noyi)—as well as extracts from Charles Brownlee’s authoritative nineteenth-century reflections on Xhosa society. Together, these materials situate Ntsikana within the broader historical context of early missionary encounter, African religious agency, and the beginnings of Christianity among the amaXhosa. The work argues for the essential reliability of the narrative, noting that subsequent references and critiques have largely confirmed, rather than contradicted, its central claims.
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A sepia-toned studio portrait of Paul Ngxamngxa, who is seated and leaning his head on his right hand. Lovedale College would have taken advantage of the University's African language examinations; Ngxamngxa earned a Lovedale qualification in 1880. -
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A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962. -
A collection of poems by M.E.M. Nyoka. This is the handwritten manuscript predating the actual publication of this unique Xhosa poetry in 1962.