XT T

A Note on the Women Writing Africa Project xvii Tuzv/inejit/i Allan, Ahmu P. A. Bus'ni. and Fbrnny Ho-nr

1 Vet ace xxi M.j. Daymond, Dorothy Driven Shahi \L:in!!C\, Lcloha Wolcma, C.hwdza iVliLsengt'Zi, Margie OrfonI, and S'ohiintu RiisA>ofsti

INTRODUCTION 1

NINETEENTH CENTURY

Anonymous, SONG OF TIN-; AFFI.ICTF.D 85 Lesotho 1842 Sesotho

Kaatje Niewioveldt, TESTIMONY 86 South Africa 1858 Dutch

Emma Sandile, LETTERS ANT) LAND SUBMISSION 91 South Africa 1860-4883 English Urieta (Johanna Maria) Kazahendike, GOD'S PEACE AND BLESSING 96 .Namibia 1861 German

Eliza M.t ACCOUNT OF CAPE TOWN 98 South Africa 1863 isiXhosa Anonymous, A MOTHER. PRAISES HER BABY 105 Namibia 1867 KhoeKhoeGovvah

Lydia Unikaseiemha, UNANANA-HOSKIJ-: 106 South Africa 1868 isiZulu Tryn Isaac, An'l DAVIT 109 South Africa 1873 Dutch /Kweiten la //ken, WHAT TlIF. MA1DKNS 1)() WITH Root KlJP 111 South Africa 1874 /Xam Noneko (Hannah) Toney, l.ETTER TO Miss MACKENZIE 113 South Africa 1875 English

CONTENTS * VII Anonymous, THE STORY OF NGANGEZWE AND MNYAMANA 1.15 South Africa 1879 isiZulu Anonymous, THE WAR IN ZULULAND 120 South Africa 1884 English Kambauruma Kazahendike, Two LlONS WHO CHANGED THEMSELVES INTO PEOPLE AND MARRIED Two HERERO GIRLS 124 Namibia 1886 otjiHerero Olive Schreinety LEAVING THE FARM 125 South Africa 1886-1887 English Eliza Feilden, PORTRAIT OF LOUISA 128 South Africa 1887 English

Adele Mabille, PENELOPA LIENGUANE 131 Lesotho 1888 English Susiive Bengu, TESTIMONY OF A SCHOOL GlRL 134 South Africa 1892 English

1900 TO 1919 A. M. van den Berg, JOURNAL OF THE WAR 139 South Africa 1900 Afrikaans/Dutch Minnie Martin, MOLIEGE'S VENGEANCE 144 South Africa 1906 English Margarethe von Eckenbrecher, OMINOUS WEATHER 147 Namibia 1907 German Khami, COURT RECORD 152 Zimbabwe 1908 Shangaani Indian Women's Association, WOMEN'S PETITION: DOMESTIC UNHAPPINESS 155 South Africa 1908 English Kandjendes Sister, LETTER FROM KARIBIB 157 Namibia 1909 otjiHerero Native and Coloured Women of the Province of the Orange Free State, PETITION OF THE NATIVE AND COLOURED WOMEN OF THE PROVINCE OF THE ORANGE FREE STATE 158 South Africa 1912 English

VIII + CONTENTS Adelaide Charles Dube, AFRICA: MY NATIVE LAND 161 South Africa 1913 English

Louisa Mvemve, A "LITTLE WOMAN'S" ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC 162 South Africa 1916 English Sara van Wijk, EASTER AFFIDAVIT 165 Namibia 1918 Afrikaans

Queen Regent Labotsibeni, ADDRESS TO THE RESIDENT COMMISSIONER 171 Swaziland 1921 si S watt Qedabakioabo Moyo, GOING TO SCHOOL 173 Zimbabwe 1921 English Nontsizi Mgqwetho, LISTEN, COMPATRIOTS! 176 South Africa 1924 isiXhosa Baboni Khama, Mmakgama Khama, Milly Khama, and Oratile Sekgoma, LETTER TO THE H.IGH COMMISSIONER 180 Botswana 1926 Setswana Oratile Sekgoma, INHERITANCE: Two LETTERS 182 Botswana 1926, 1929 Setswana Ntebogang Ratshosa, SPEECH TO THE BANGWAKETSE 187 Botswana 1928 Setswana Florence Thandisioa jahavu, BANTU HOME LlPE 189 South Africa 1928 English Charlotte Manye Maxeke, SOCIAL CONDITIONS AMONG BANTU WOMEN AND GIRLS 195 South Africa 1930 Er Nosente of the Umgqwashe, THE STORY OF NOSENTE 200 South Africa c. 1930' isiXhosa Victoria Nombulelo M. Sioaartbooi, UMANDISA 205 South Africa 1934 isiXhosa Unangoroa Maherero, Louisa Kambazemhi, Edla Maberero, Augusta Kambazembiy Magdalina Katjimune, and Hester Keha, NATION IS GOING TO RUINATION 209 Namibia 1936 otjiHerero

CONTENTS 4- ix Paulina Dlamini, FLIGHT OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD 212 South Africa 1939 isiZulu Katrina Stephanas, Sofia Labau, Magdalena Fries, Katrina Skeier, Emmillie Adams, Sofia Kloete, Katrina de Klerk, and Lissie Kisting, LETTER FROM KEETMANSHOOP 219 Namibia 1939 Afrikaans Andanette Kararaitnbe, Gerhartine Kukuri, Gerhartine Tjituka, Natalia Kaheke, Andeline Kathea, and Sybil Bowket, MEETING OF HERERO WOMEN 221 Namibia 1939 otjiHerero and English Doris M. Wisdom (Lessing), THE CASE OF THE FOOLISH MINISTER 225 Zimbabwe 1943 English Hamsi (Marie Kathleen Jeffreys), THOUGH I AM BLACK, I AM COMELY 229 South Africa 1947 English Nekivaya Loide Shikongo, SONG OF KlNG IlPUMBU 231 Namibia 1953 oshiN donga Federation of South African Women, WOMEN'S CHARTER 236 South Africa 1954 English Lilian Ngoyi, PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS WOMEN'S LEAGUE, TRANSVAAL 240 South Africa 1956 English Dorothy Masuka, Two SONGS 245 Zimbabwe 1956 siNdebele Cherry Stephana Mogolo Sibeko, AFRICAN WOMEN DO NOT WANT PASSES 246 South Africa 1958 English

Phyllis Ntantala, THE WIDOWS OF THE RESERVES 248 South Africa 1958 English Marion Morel (Marion Welsh), IT'S GOTTA BE CASH FOR A COOKIE 252 South Africa 1959 English Anonymous, AUNT, STRETCH OUT THE BLANKET 254 Lesotho 1959 Sesotho

x • CONTENTS Helena Namases and f >?t nh A HI /U4 Uii { ,ki AGA-ABES 259 Namibia 1960 Khc ' hot/ (v ib u v \ nl in

Hilda Bernstein (71 Jt), I) i si Oi i')- *«*< 263 South Africa 1961 L.iJ.k.h

Lassie Ndondoy PAST AND PRESENT 268 Zimbabwe 1962 siNdebele

Nonijabavu, Bus JOURNEY TO TsOLO 271 South Africa 1V6 \ Lt.^iish "SegarneisI JWo/efi, " "Eanabotlbe Kivena, "and "Matshediso Moeng," THREE COURT STATEMENTS 283 Botswana 1964 Sctswana

Jane CMfamba, THE WIDOW AND THE BABOONS 285 Zimbabwe 1964 chiShona Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu, BALLAD OF NoMAGUNDWANE 287 South Africa 1964 isiZulu Bessie Head, FOR "NAPOLEON BONAPARTE," JENNY, AND KATE 290 Botswana 1965 Et Maureen Kim Sing, WHAT OF THE FUTURE? 303 South Africa 1965 English Ingrid jonker, I DRIFT IN THE WlND 306 South Africa 1966 Afrikaans

Anonymous, I AM A WAILING FOOL 308 Lesotho 1967 Sesotho Patima Meer, MURMURS IN THE KUTUM 309 South Africa 1969 English !Unn/ohe Morethlwa, TOBACCO, SUGAR, ALCOHOL, AND COFFEE: THESE THINGS HAVE TURNED US INTO SLAVES 315 Botswana 1971 Ju/'hoan Nongenile Masithathii Zenani, A MAN HIDES FOOD FROM HIS FAMILY 316 South Africa 1972 isiXhosa Gladys Thomas, FALL TOMORROW 333 South Africa 1972 English

CONTENTS • xi //Ukxa N!aan, THE OLD PEOPLE GIVE YOU LIFE 335 Botswana 1972 Ju/'hoan Nehambo Magdalena Shamena, EMERGENCY CALL FROM THE WOMEN OF NAMIBIA 337 Namibia 1973 oshiNdonga Joyce Simango, WOMEN ARE WEALTH 339 Zimbabwe 1974 chiShona Jennifer Davids, POEM FOR MY MOTHER 343 South Africa 1974 English Winnie Madikizela Mandela, DETENTION ALONE IS A TRIAL IN ITSELF 344 South Africa 1975 English

MaMhlalise Mkhwanazi, THE BASKING LlZARD 346 South Africa 1976 isiZulu Joyce Sikhakhane, WORKING ON THE MAIL 348 South Africa 1977 English

1980S Lauretta Ngcobo, THE RENDING OF THE VEIL 357 South Africa 1981 English Miriam Tlali, THE HAUNTING MELANCHOLY OF KLIPVOORDAM 363 South Africa 1981 English Lily Changfoot, RETURN JOURNEY 372 South Africa 1982 English "Thandiwe Mhlanga, "Angela Kotier, and Hazel Hall, ARRESTED FOR BEING WOMEN 375 Zimbabwe 1983 English Regina Ntongana, CROSSROADS 377 South Africa 1984 English

Nehambo Magdalena Shamena, KANDISHIWO—I DON'T KNOW 380 Namibia 1984 oshiNdonga Kristina Rungano, THE WOMAN 385 Zimbabwe 1984 English

xii • CONTENTS Athaliah Molokomme, Leloba Molema, Opba Dube, Motsei Madisa, Ruth Motsete, and Onaienna Selolwane, CITIZENSHIP: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL Botswana 1985 English Nise Malange, I, THE UNEMPLOYED 390 South Africa 1985 English Ts it si Danga rein bga, Til E LETT E R 392 Zimbabwe 1985 English

Ingrid de Kok, OUR SHARPEVILLE 397 South Africa 1987 English

Di//xao =0ma, OUR GOVERNMENT Is A GLOWING EMBER 398 Namibia 1988 Ju/'hoan

Mavis Smallberg, FOR WlLLY NYAT'IIELE 400 South Africa 1988 English

Agnes Sam, JESUS IS INDIAN 402 South Africa 1989 English Mekulu Mukwabongo Ester Kamati, CHILDREN OF NAMIBIA 411 Namibia 1989 oshiKwanyama

Gdna Mhlophe, PRAISE TO OUR MOTHERS 413 South Africa 1989 English Joan Hambidge, T.M.T. 9 T.B.M.G. 415 South Africa 1989 Afrikaans

1990s and 2000s Zoe Wicomb, ANOTHER STORY 419 South Africa 1990 English Cheche Maseko and Loice Mushore, WAR FROM WlTHIN 430 Zimbabwe 1990 siNdebele and chiShona Karen Press, KROTOA'S STORY 433 South Africa 1990 English Sindiwe Magona, STELLA 438 South Africa 1991 English Beh Nfa'an, GIRAFFE SONG 442 Namibia 1991 ju/'hoan

CONTENTS + xin Maria Munsaka, NHAMIWA'S JVf AGIC STICK 444 Zimbabwe 1991 Tonga Gasethata Segaise, Mmatsheko Pilane, and Motshabi Molefhe, "LEND ME A DRESS": TESTIMONIES ON EDUCATION 446 Botswana 1991, 1999 Setswana Nokwanda Sithole, A BROKEN FAMILY S outh Africa 1991 English Cinikile Mazibuko andMakhosazane Nyadi, Two DREAM-MIRACLE STORIES 453 South Africa 199.2 English Elizabeth Ncube, PRAISE TO MBUYA NEHANDA 455 Zimbabwe 1993 siNdebele Thoko Remigia Makhanya, A NOBLE WOMAN OF AFRICA 457 South Africa 1993 isiZulu Communal, SWAZI WEDDING SONGS 461 Swaziland 1993 siSwati Communal, IziSHO ZOKUSEBENZA—WORK SONGS 463 South Africa 1993-1994 isiZulu and isiXhosa

Nadine Gordimer, APRIL 27: THE FIRST TIME 467 South Africa 1994 English Mpho 'M'atsepo Nthunya, BEFORE THE BEGINNING 470 Lesotho 1996 English Ellen Ndeshi Namhila, THE PRICE OF FREEDOM 471 Namibia 1997 English Colette Mutangadura, NGONYA'S BRIDE-PRICE 476 Zimbabwe 1997 English Sheila Masote, TESTIMONY: TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION 479 South Africa 1997 English Keamogetswe Kwere and Lesie Ktvere, WE WILL BE LEASING FOR OURSELVES 484 Botswana 1997-1998 Setswana Yvonne Vera, WRITING NEAR THE BONE 488 Zimbabwe 1997 English Ellen K. Kuzivayo, AFRICAN WISDOM 491 South Africa 1998 English

xiv • CONTENTS Marevasei Kachere, WAR MEMOIR 494 Zimbabwe 1998 chiShona

Antjie Krog, THE BIRTH OF THIS COUNTRY'S LANGUAGE South Africa 1998 English Communal, Bo/ALE—S.ETSWANA INITIATION SONGS Botswana 1998 Setswana Communal, iNTONJANE—XliOSk INITIATION SONGS 507 South Africa 1999 isiXhosa NyaMutango (Ntumba Machai), MUTONDO—NYEMBA INITIATION SONGS 510 Namibia 1999 Nyemba Communal, SETSWANA WEDDING SONGS 513 Botswana 1999 Setswana Elizabeth Dube, GOOD AS DEAD 515 Zimbabwe 2000 siNdebele Unity Dow, CARING FOR THE DYING 520 Botswana 2000 English Yvette Christianse, GENERATIONS 522 South Africa 2001 English and Afrikaans

Contributors 525

Permissions Acknowledgments and Sources 537

Authors Listed by Country 549

Index 551

CONTENTS • xv