PRESS RELEASE The Recovered, Lost or Forgotten Voices of South Africa Alfred Qabula was a central figure in the cultural movement that emerged among working people in and around Durban in the 1980s. The movement was an innovative attempt to draw on the oral poetry developed among the Nguni people over many centuries. Qabula was a forklift driver in the Dunlop tyre factory in Durban at the time this book was developed. He used the art of telling stories to critique the exploitation of black workers and their oppression under apartheid. “Let Qabula and his poverty remain a symbol of their resilience of South Africa’s working class, and inspire up-and-coming artists!” – Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary and Minister of Higher Education and Training Price and cover subject to change A Working Life, Cruel Beyond Belief is the first book in the Hidden Voices series and is Qabula’s testament, telling the powerful story of ISBN 9781928232315 his life and work. It also contains a generous selection of his poetry. GENRE Politics/History The Hidden Voices Project emerged out of an interest in intellectual FORMAT Paperback left contributions towards discussions on race, class, ethnicity and SIZE 130×198mm nationalism in South Africa. Specifically, the project seeks to examine EXTENT 111pp and make available writings on left thought under apartheid. The aim PRICE R100 is to look at hidden voices – voices outside of the university system or RIGHTS World Rights academic voices suppressed by apartheid pressures. Before and during the apartheid years, many universities were closed to existing local RELEASE March 2017 ideas and debates, and critical intellectual debates, ideas, texts, poetry and songs often originated outside academia during the period of the FOR ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES, REVIEW COPIES OR struggle for liberation. INTERVIEW REQUESTS, PLEASE CONTACT: Neilwe Mashigo “As Qabula has passed on for the ‘lands of the high winds’, we must 011 628 3200 not forget that he died in poverty and that his last words on paper, [email protected] one finished poem and four unfinished ones, were words marked with FOR SALES ENQUIRIES CONTACT: bitterness. He was deeply disappointed that ‘his’ revolution was taken Jacana Media over by a world of cell phones and briefcases. As he also discovered 011 628 3200 that his talents as an oral person were lost in the winds of change, these disturbing poems preceded his self-imposed exile.” – Ari Sitas, NIHSS Board Chairperson PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE EDITORS Karin Pampallis is the Hidden Voices Programme Manager. She is currently a researcher at the Society Work and Development Institute at Wits. Edward Webster is the Hidden Voices Programme Director. He is also Professor Emeritus at the Society, Work and Development Institute (SWOP) at Wits and director of the Chris Hani Institute at COSATU. He is an internationally recognised sociologist, and is the author of six books and over one hundred academic articles as well as numerous research reports. HIDDEN VOICES HIDDEN VOICES ISBN: 978-1-928232-31-5 ISBN: 978-1-928232-31-5 HIDDEN VOICES HIDDEN VOICES 9 781928 232315 HIDDEN VOICES 9 781928 232315 HIDDEN VOICES This book is Alfred Qabula’s testament, telling A Working Life, the powerful story of his life and work. It also 1. contains a generous selection of his poetry. Cruel Beyond Belief A Working Life, Cruel Beyond Belief A Working This book is Alfred Qabula’s testament, telling Alfred Temba Qabula was born on 12 December 1942 in Flagstaff, A Working Life, Transkei. His father, a migrant worker, “coughed out” the harshness the powerful story of his life and work. It also of his life onto his children. Qabula was left to look after his brothers 1. when only a teenager, after both his parents died. Then, barely 18 contains a generous selection of his poetry. years old, he was caught up in the Pondoland rebellion – hiding and starving in the forests. Cruel Beyond Belief In 1964 he caught a train for Carltonville near Johannesburg to work as a plumber. This trade took him to Durban where, “fed up with doing skilled work for nothing”, in 1974 he entered the noisy world Life, Cruel Beyond Belief A Working of factory production at Dunlop, composing songs in his head as he Alfred Temba Qabula was born on 12 December 1942 in Flagstaff, drove around on a forklift truck. Transkei. His father, a migrant worker, “coughed out” the harshness In 1983 he joined the Metal and Allied Workers Union (MAWU), and helped to organise Dunlop workers into the union. Then, in 1984, he of his life onto his children. Qabula was left to look after his brothers started to perform his praise-poem “Izibongo zika Fosatu” at union meetings. His performances initiated a revival of imbongi poetry when only a teenager, after both his parents died. Then, barely 18 throughout South Africa, as workers transformed this tradition into a powerful expression of their struggles. years old, he was caught up in the Pondoland rebellion – hiding and In 1986, a collection of Qabula’s poetry was published in Black Qabula Alfred Temba Mamba Rising, along with poetry by other worker poets. The book starving in the forests. won the Norwegian Literature Award in 1987. Qabula went on to work for the Culture and Working Life Project at what was then the In 1964 he caught a train for Carltonville near Johannesburg to work University of Natal, spreading his skills and enthusiasm through the unions in the region. ALFRED TEMBA QABULA as a plumber. This trade took him to Durban where, “fed up with doing skilled work for nothing”, in 1974 he entered the noisy world of factory production at Dunlop, composing songs in his head as he WORKING LIFE COVER.indd 1 2017/02/06 3:37 PM drove around on a forklift truck. In 1983 he joined the Metal and Allied Workers Union (MAWU), and helped to organise Dunlop workers into the union. Then, in 1984, he started to perform his praise-poem “Izibongo zika Fosatu” at union meetings. His performances initiated a revival of imbongi poetry throughout South Africa, as workers transformed this tradition into a powerful expression of their struggles. In 1986, a collection of Qabula’s poetry was published in Black Qabula Alfred Temba Mamba Rising, along with poetry by other worker poets. The book won the Norwegian Literature Award in 1987. Qabula went on to work for the Culture and Working Life Project at what was then the University of Natal, spreading his skills and enthusiasm through the unions in the region. ALFRED TEMBA QABULA WORKING LIFE COVER.indd 1 2017/02/06 3:37 PM.