Who Am I

Nna ka lebitso ke Fezekile Futhwa. Fezekile is a Xhosa word that means accomplished[in the context of my family] I am the son of Mme Mathulo Khitsane and Ntate Zenzile Futhwa.

Isiduko:

Futhwa, Mkwayi, Tshawe, Khawuta.

Seboko(My mother's side):

Ke Motaung wa Ramokgele,
Lekolokolwane la Makobasia,
Ngwana Mmamosolodi le Mokgele,
E tla re ha a tla ja ho thehe meriti,
Ho thehe e menyane ya diotlwana,
O ja polokwe a sa e qete,
Empa o hana sengwatho sa maobane


This is what we call iziduko in isiXhosa or diboko in Sesotho. If you know that, and you will never get lost in Africa

Where Do I Come From

My heritage is in South Afrika(Mzantsi). My father originates in the Eastern Cape province, while my mother comes from Lesotho. So my father's nationality was Ciskei in the old Mzantsi. Remember that what is known as the Free State province was actually Lesotho before apartheid South Africa and land dispossession! I was born in Kutlwanong and grew up in Bolata village in Qwaqwa. Qwaqwa is a former homeland in the old Mzantsi.

I went to Kgopjane Primary School, then Khothalang Senior Primary School before going to Thahameso Secondary School where I completed matric many many moons ago. Mesuwe ya ka e hlwahlwa eo ke e hopolang: Mme Masejake, Ntate Sejake, Ntate Nkgele, Ntate Tsilo, Ntate Lesotho. Bontate Makwa le Matabane ka mmino wa dinoto. Nka lebala jwang Ntate Takalimane!

Growing Up

I hold fond memories of my childhood, bad as it was due to white rule. Poor as it was, Afrikan folks knew how to make life livable and conditions bearable. Those bed time stories of our great heroes. The likes of King Moshoeshoe, King Shaka ka Senzangakhona, King Sikhukhune, Mofu Ntshwenkge, King Hintsa ka Phalo. Stories of great prophets like Nonqawuse and nkgono Mantsopa. Poetry and song that made all of us seem united. Art and culture that was so proudly taught and embrased.

Childhood plays such as morabaraba, dihara, tswibila, mantlwane le motjeko. Hand craft such as ho lowa ka jwang, ho bopa ka letsopa, ho kgata ka terata le ho betla ka thupa! Ke reng teng ka dithuto tsa ho alosa makgomo, ho tsoma, ho tshosetsa dinonyana, ho tjheha ditlhapi le hona ho rwalla patsi. For explanations on these plays and teachings, check Basotho Heriatege Site on Nalane.

I remember the many kilometers we had to walk to do most of these things. Communal taps that were unreasonably put far away from our villages, as wells could no longer support the increased population and overcrowding. Many times these taps would go dry weeks on, and water would be made available only at midnight! And do not forget that our custom forbids water being fetched after sunset. And so we would all queue, kids mostly, for hours at night waiting for water to be dispensed. But there was so much fun in all of this, or at least kids always make best of the situation. School plays were honoured and kept kids away from troubles of the security police. Khwelakhwela was so popular and feared by kids then. Our initiation into political matters at young ages(umrabuliso) saw light. How can I forget being chased many times with a sjambok by the police force for reasons unknown to me back then!

Enter the days of black power as a movement and intensified, and often violent, resistence. Many of us turned out okay, most of us actually, despite the fact that apartheid taught us a lot of violence and hatred. We all look back and say thank god we were able to get out of that village/township! The real struggle lied in the villages and townships of this country, not in exile where some led a plush life filled with many opportunities that could only be a dream to a black child in South Afrika.

Language

I am umXhosa by birth, though I spend a very short period within any amaXhosa community. My parents relocated to Qwaqwa when I was about 3 years old, meaning that I grew up with Basotho and actually studied Sesotho. So, I am very well vested in Sesotho, more so than isiXhosa. Hence my tendency to favour Sesotho over any other language. Of course my mother is a Mosotho, strong women these Basotho.

I do speak fluent isiXhosa, but since my knowledge of its culture and traditions is rather limited, I feel comfortable using Sesotho as a basis. At least I can hold my own in Sesotho and argue with confidence of the subject matter.

I have come to appreciate the value of Afrikan languages to communicate(I wonder why this narrative is in English!). Our languages are rich and far advanced compared to others, including english. There are things you just can't translate into english, and this can be very frustrating in expressing yourself. I also note with sadness the trend in South Afrika where everything Afrikan is frowned upon. This has led to a systematic erosion of peoples confidence and identity.

What is scary though is the fact that even our languages seem to be becoming extinct. The generation born into the democratic South Afrika know very little of who they are, let alone about their history and heritage. So much for freedom and liberation, at least we were taught our history during the struggle years.