It is a rare occasion that learners who have never before been published are given the opportunity to see their words in print.
Imibono Yethu (meaning ‘Our opinions”) not only achieves this but also takes the process one unique step further. The compilation consists of stories written in the learners’ home languages, Zulu and Xhosa.
The book is a product of winning entries from a literacy competition that was conducted in 1999 by the Pan South African Language Board. The genres in the book vary from short stories to poems. Forty-one of these were published.
The writers are mainly Grade 8 and 9 learners and they fearlessly tackle hefty issues affecting the youth, like HIV/Aids, drug abuse, family relations, violence, death, city life, education, love and gender. More positively, there is also praise for the legendary Nelson Mandela. Interestingly, the choice of topic and form was left entirely open — giving a good idea of what really grips young creative minds.
Rosalie Finlayson says, ‘The need to compile the book came from wanting to find out how learners wrote and spoke their own languages. Such projects encourage learners to read and write more.”
Books like these are important as they contribute to the body of South African literature and help learners become truly multilingual. Finlayson, who is multilingual herself, says, ‘Learners should be made aware that it is not difficult to read and write in Nguni, Sotho and other vernacular languages”.
Joe Magwaza, who worked on the book’s project team adds that ‘books written in indigenous languages during the past three decades are not enough. The learners we spoke to said they needed to read more books dealing with their current environment.”