THE XHOSA NOVELIST AND THE CHALLENGE OF THE DAY

Abstract

The Xhosa novelist has been faced with challenges which arise from the expectations of his readership as well as the demands of the publisher. His readership expects something relevant to its needs and aspirations while the publisher is concerned with the commercial aspect of the work. As the readership is mainly consisted of school population the content should be “suitable” for its consumption. This has tended to produce the same type of themes that deal mainly with some aspects of morality. G.I.M. Mzamane's novel Izinto Zodidi and R. Siyongwana's Ubulumko Bezinja are two novels which brought out something new after 1960. Mzamane attempts to bring about equality of sexes. Siyongwana metaphorically exposes the conflict that arises from human injustice.