Tribute to a special woman, Abigail Nosapho Ncokazi: 1930-2001

Abstract

This tribute to maternal grandmother of co-author Litha Ncokazi is based on his childhood memories of growing up in the Transkei, Eastern Cape, in South Africa. Aspects of these recollections have in turn served as a reminder that there is generally an ongoing need for transformations of male consciousness around gender issues and for men to take up roles as catalysts contributing to constructive social change with regard to improving ways in which women are respected and treated in contemporary southern African society. Ceramic artworks featured in this article are selected from the Litha Ncokazi Graduation Exhibition, Ann Bryant Gallery, East London, 2006. John Steele supervised Litha Ncokazi’s B. Tech studies. They collaborated to produce this article which has been divided into three sections, each of which has been indicated at the beginning by a drop cap. Steele has mainly authored the introductory section, then Ncokazi [who uses the personal pronoun “I”] has provided commentary on his artworks in the main section, then both authors have arrived at a joint conclusion.

ZULU:Imbeko kwiNkosikazi ekhethekileyo, u Abigail Nosapho Ncokazi: 1930-2001. e mbeko eya ku makhulu kwicala likanina wombhali ngentsebenziswano u Litha Ncokazi imiliselwe kwiinkumbulo zokukhula kwakhe ekhulela e Transkei, kwele Mpuma Koloni, e Mzantsi Afrika. Iinkalo zezinkumbulo zithe zasebenza njengesikhumbuzo ngokuthe gabalala kwisidingo esiqhubekekayo sotshintsho kwizazela zamadoda kwimiba emalunga nesini ukuze futhi amadoda athabathe uxanduva njengamagosa anegalelo kutshintsho olwakhayo kwezentlalo nasekuphuculweni kwendlela apho amakhosikazi azuza intlonipho nempatho eyiyo kuMzantsi Afrika omstha. Imisebenzi yodongwe obunjiweyo evelayo apha kule ncwadi ithatyathwe kumsebenzi ka Litha Ncokazi Womboniso woThweso Sidanga, owawubanjelwe kwindlu yomboniso womsebenzi wenkcubeko i Ann Bryant, e Monti, ngomnyaka we 2006. U John Steele nguye owayengumhlohli oncedisa u Litha Ncokazi kwimfundo yakhe enomsila i B. Tech kwezeNkcubeko. Bebobabini basebenzisene ekuveliseni lencwadi ethe yahlulwa yaneziqendu ezithathu, ziqendu ezo zibonakala ukuqaleni kwaso ngasinye ngokuba kusetyenziswe unobumba omkhu othotyiweyo. U Steele yena ubhale ngokwakhe yedwa isiqendu sentshayelelo, waze u Ncokazi [osebenzisa isimelabizo sokwalatha u “Mna”] wanikeza ingxelo ngemisebenzi yakhe ebunjiweyo kwisiqendu esiyintloko, baza bebobabini ababhali aba bafikelela kuluvo olunye ngesiphelo.