Contemporary authors have paid tribute to the late pioneer Nkosana Hlabane Moyo, who was buried at his rural home in Gwatemba recently.
Moyo passed away last Tuesday after a long battle with cancer, one of his sons said during his memorial service at Bulawayo’s Selborne Park Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is famed for writing several novels, including Omehlomehlo, Uthando Luyingozi, Ubukhosi Ngamazoli, Emgwaqweni Wemathimbeni, and Ngakutshela, among others.
Moyo also featured in the popular radio drama series titled Sakhelene.
Nama nominated writer Nonduzuzo Ncube said Moyo was a hero with something to show.
“We had a very few writers who focused on Isindebele as compared to other indigenous languages,” she said.
“His work can not go unnoticed because we are talking about novels that were read in high schools.
“Although I was a bit young myself, I do remember his work vividly.”
- Authors pay tribute to late Moyo
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Ukhethiwe writer, Zibusiso Mabonisa, whose book won at the Namas last year said he used Moyo’s works as well as others to learn isiNdebele.
“Old skul writers like him laid the foundation in terms of isiNdebele literature,” said Mabonisa.
“I still re-read their works in order to understand some terms because as you know language evolves.
“For example a bed used to be called ithala, but now we say umbheda. So they are a great source of learning for us as writers.”
Welshman Dube, who wrote his first book, Aziwelanga Phansi, last year, echoed similar sentiments.
“These guys helped us. This is my first book, the likes of Moyo and Barbara Makhalisa, we used their works to draw inspiration,” Dube said.
“They helped us to uplift isiNdebele and made me write well.
“Some of the people who assisted me passed through their hands, so even if I didn’t directly work with them, they still played their part.
“We have lost a giant because everyone is unique in their own writing.
“May the family be comforted and take heart in the fact that its a universal journey for all of us.”
Moyo is survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.
He was a devoted member of the SDA Church and donated one hectare of land where the Killarney SDA Church in Bulawayo was constructed.
