Madoda,

Liyibona njani ont kaPathisa eyokuthi nxa ebhala ku Sunday Mirror (Features), usebenzisa isiTshabi for vernecular most of the times. Where he uses isiNdebele, it is often a translation of Shona and follows after the version.

Ngisenwaya ikhanda bafowethu labo dade (angikulibali dade Mabila), ake lingisize lapha?

Buso

Ngizwa bethi uvele uthethe khona estshabini,so kuye istshabi langekhaya emzini wakhe sijwayelekile.

Madoda a lot our leading guys bathethe khona esozberi so sometimes kuba nzima kubo ukwenza ezingafunwa ngumfazi izifiso.

Samdala/Masola wa Dabudabu

Samdala: thanks for the link. Siyabonisana wethu. I have great respect for Pathisa - since the late 1970s. Without a doubt he is one of those who have championed the cause of the Ndebele language.

But still one does not fail to see a shift, if not a shift in this position, then clearly an attempt to be acceptable both sides - just in case!

I have never, and will never understand why if a Ndebele (man or woman) is married to a Shona, they then have to switch to Shona, and not vice versa. I am not persuaded by many of the nebulous arguments about this.

But might uMasola be right in saying though ukuthi 'bathethwe'? But in terms of the language issue, its good to sloganeer (phambili ngolimi lwethu!) but what does it do to the 'language numbers'? Who is it benefitting - uMahlabezulu kumbe isitha?

And I must add a last point bakwethu, sloganeering is a foreign culture (eyeZANU). ZAPU?ZIPRA never had it (again except as an import from
ZANU to fight the 1980 elections). So is the language of 'chef' 'povo' 'chimurenga' and all the lexicon that has never existed in the political life of Mthwakazi.

Why should we incorporate these, when they dont ours?

I bleed.

Buso

Buso, may I apologize to Samdala for being confused with him?

I don't mind at all but in his view it may be an act of reconciliation too far for him to be confused with me.

To borrow the phrase of Pathisa I would not like anyone to eat a chameleon....

I would like to refer collective attention to another article by Nyathi on the language issue:

http://www.africaonline.co.zw/mirror/stage/archive/020624/opinion11823.html

I remain of the view that the man cares passionately about the Ndebele language and he is faithful to that cause and not adulterous; but he works in a corner of the newspaper market where his views are inevitably going to be adulterated by those for whom he works.

Ibboza Mandatson is as we all know a Zanu PF Politburo Khomuredi and I am not sure if such people are to be viewed as reliable custodians of culture.

If I may digress it is quite pleasant to be able to witness the dispute that is going on between Mandatson and Professor Jonathan Moyo.

One is in the happy position of being able to savour all the insults thrown by each at each other.

Mtshede,

My apologies wethu!

But if I be the bridge between you and Samdala, I will be honoured. I am sure the clashes are on issues, and not the person.

Buso

Mshede,

Both articles you sent are clear, and without doubt, demonstrate Mr Nyathi's commitment to our language. And as I say, I have known this to be the case with the hugely respected author and educationist. But lately, the trend hardly seems sustained - to put it that way.

But I am not blind to the reality of the master he works for. Again, that is a prblem rather than a defence, in my view.

With his talents, and these are celebrated, instead of 'enslaving' himself to an 'enemy', as no doubt this master has always been part and parcel of this ZANU-PF agenda to kill uMthwakazi and its language, wouldn't it be better for him to team up with some of our own to do our own thing? Better still, do nothing rather than be perceived by uMthwakazi as squirming one's way into 'acceptability' by the system. If this is true, it would be demeaning of us all. I hope I am wrong.

I am not blind either to the economic aspects of his writings though I wouldnt over-emphasise this. I believe he writes out of love for the craft, at which he is deft.

Perhaps, it is unfair to discuss this without him being given the benefit of spelling out why he writes. But there again, he can tell us to 'bugger off' and mind our business, and rightfully so. I thought as these writings are in the public domain, some of these issues we see crying for comment must be raised. I would hope if Nyathi visits this site he will take my havig raised his writings in this spirit.

He is of course a man I respect immensely, and I know very well.

Buso

PS

I hear from those that have been to UZ that Ben Hlatshwayo has suffered immensely from this 'split personality' (and Im not suggesting Nyathi has it). Ben has tried hard to be 'accepted' by the Shona, and hard to reject his 'Ndebeleness'. He is, I believe, in the invidious position that he is not 'accepted' by the Shona (who still regard him as Ndebele anyway) and has distanced himself from the Ndebele.

In the context of the system in Zimbabwe, is this real?

B, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for a man of integrity to adjust himself to hostile surroundings in order not simply to earn his daily bread but also to try to convey truth through coded references and allusions.

One remembers how in the Soviet Union it was necessary to read between the lines of every official pronouncement in order to smell a shadow of anything close to the truth or facts of any given situation.

Of course an additional possibility is that even the best of men could succumb to the Stockholm Syndrome which I believe one of our eminent colleagues previously described on this forum: whereby a person who is kidnapped by hostage takers eventually finds himself acquiring some bizarre sense of sympathy and solidarity with those who hold him against his will.

But until someone quotes to me the chapter and verse indicating that Mr Pathisa Nyathi has sold his soul I am going to continue to cling to the view that he is an oracle whose prouncements need to be considered very very carefully for subtleties and ironies and metaphors and other devices intended to camouflage and convey the truth.

The very fact that his use of vernacular languages suggest the primacy of one language over the mother tongue he loves so passionately and obviously tells me that perhaps we may be misreading a grim message from someone who knows the terribly bad road to Kezi will take one to a place called Bhalagwe.

Mtshede,

I must, without more to add, admit that your assessment is correct. And I do have a feeling that you might be right.

May his cursor blink to the siNdebele cause forever okaNyathi!!!

Buso

True baba Mnali, the man is a master of the most poignant and incisive satire, out on a solo mission. Ngimzwe kahle njengomuntu omdala. Ozwayo kazwe obonayo abone.