Reviving Tshivenda with poetry

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     Poetry / Literature

The 74-year-old Mr Thavhayamipfa George Murulana-Sidimela made history when he published his first collection of poetry, entitled Mato a sina lubuvhi.

Thavhayamipfa said that it had taken him at least four years to write the poems that finally made their way into the collection. He added that the book comprised a collection of 43 poems that are rich with Tshivenda vocabulary and literary expressions.

“Readers who find it hard to decipher some unfamiliar expressions or worse are welcome to call me or arrange a meeting with me, so that I can explain,” he said.

He explained that he was by no means using ancient language, but just pure Tshivenda. He believes that poets are the right people to keep language alive by reviving it in their work. “I had noticed that our language is fading and getting swallowed by the frequent use of English in our day-to-day life,” he said. “It came as a shock to me that our language is melting like a hailstone, and then I decided to revive Tshivenda. So it's up to us to record our words and idioms in the form of poetry.”

Thavhayamipfa said that he had first started writing poetry and plays some four decades ago. He would write his imaginative pieces and give them to friends and family members to read for pleasure. “I remember handing my drama manuscript to a respected friend of mine who had connections with Radio Venda,” he said. “I thought he was going to help develop my script, but he sent it to the producers in his name. I listened to my story on radio and authorship was said to be his.”

Rev Ntavhanyeni Sampson Phaswana, who published the book, said that many books had been written before, but Mato a sina lubuvhi was the first book to have been launched in the Sinthumule and Kutama area. “There are substantial poems that are as good and pleasant to read, such as Notshi, Nzie Tshikume, Lo vhuelela mufhunini, Vhadededzi, and Soweto,” he said. “In his poetry, it is clear that Thavhayamipfa has got a rich vocabulary which is a treasure to all who will lay their hands on his book.”

Some authors who congratulated the new author included Ms Rose Makhari and Mr Tumelo Mudau.

Mato a sina lubuvhi is available from good bookshops. Thavhayamipfa can be phoned on 076 485 0086.

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.