Book contents
- African Literature in Transition
- African Literature in Transition
- African Literature in Transition
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Producing Print
- Part II Readers and Audiences
- Chapter 7 Black South African Intellectuals and the Question of Colonial Modernity
- Chapter 8 ‘How to cultivate a love for reading’
- Chapter 9 Print Culture and New Fictional Imagination in Colonial Egypt
- Chapter 10 A Century of Readers and Readings
- Part III New Genres
- Part IV Worlds of Print
- Index
- References
Chapter 10 - A Century of Readers and Readings
Abantu Abamnyama, 1922–2022
from Part II - Readers and Audiences
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 October 2025
Book contents
- African Literature in Transition
- African Literature in Transition
- African Literature in Transition
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Producing Print
- Part II Readers and Audiences
- Chapter 7 Black South African Intellectuals and the Question of Colonial Modernity
- Chapter 8 ‘How to cultivate a love for reading’
- Chapter 9 Print Culture and New Fictional Imagination in Colonial Egypt
- Chapter 10 A Century of Readers and Readings
- Part III New Genres
- Part IV Worlds of Print
- Index
- References
Summary
When Magema M. Fuze published his seminal book Abantu Abamnyama Lapa Bavela Ngakona in 1922, he could not have anticipated that one hundred years later, he would be an iconic writer; a representative of nineteenth-century black letters; a Kholwa intellectual and a remnant of the bygone era of mission stations and mission schools. This chapter will re-visit Magema Fuze’s readers and readings in light of this centenary and re-evaluate the extent to which his contribution to the study of African print cultures has enriched our understanding of the role played by the arrival of the printing press in Southern Africa. His pioneering work of history, ethnography and oral lore will be re-examined from the perspective of his journalistic texts and newspaper columns. The objective will be to show how a century of readers and readings have accrued to create a legacy; and, how such a legacy continues to challenge and be challenged by ever more increasing archiving practices and textual analysis.
Keywords
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- African Literature in TransitionPrint Cultures and African Literature, 1860–1960, pp. 202 - 218Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
Becken, H. J. (1982). Review of The Black People and Whence They Came: A Zulu View by Magema M. Fuze, H. C. Lugg, A. T. Cope. Journal of Religion in Africa 13 (3), 236–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benjamin, W. (1986). Reflections: Essays, Aphorisms, Autobiographical Writing. Translated by P. Demetz. Edited by Demetz, P.. New York: Schocken Books.Google Scholar
Cabrita, J. (2009). Isaiah Shembe’s theological nationalism, 1920s–1935. Journal of Southern African Studies 35 (3), 609–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cope, A. T. (1981). The Zulu War in Zulu Perspective. Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory (56), 41–50.Google Scholar
Doke, C. M., Malcolm, D. M., Sikakana, J. M. and Vilakazi, B. W., eds. (1958). English-Zulu Zulu-English Dictionary. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.Google Scholar
Edgecombe, R. ed. (1982). Bringing Forth Light: Five Tracts on Bishop Colenso’s Zulu Mission. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press.Google Scholar
Fuze, M. M. (1922). Abantu Abamnyama Lapa Bavela Ngakona. Pietermaritzburg: City Printing Works.Google Scholar
Fuze, M. M. (1979). The Black People and Whence They Came: A Zulu View. Edited by Lugg, H. C.. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press & Killie Campbell Africana Library.Google Scholar
Guy, J. (1983). The Heretic: A Study of the Life of John William Colenso, 1814–1883. Johannesburg: Ravan Press & University of Natal Press.Google Scholar
Malcolm, D. McKinnon. (1953). An outline of Zulu literature. Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory (5), 44–54.Google Scholar
Marks, S. (1986). The Ambiguities of Dependence in South Africa: Class, Nationalism, and the State in Twentieth-Century Natal. Johannesburg: Ravan Press.Google Scholar
The Revised English Bible. (1989). Cape Town: Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Seddon, D. (2008). Written out, writing in: orature in the South African literary canon. English in Africa 35 (1), 133–50.Google Scholar
Soga, J. H. (1930). The South-Eastern Bantu: Abe-Nguni, Aba-Mbo, Ama-Lala. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.Google Scholar
Vilakazi, B. W. (1945). The Oral and Written Literature in Nguni. D. Litt. thesis, University of Witwatersrand.Google Scholar
Accessibility standard: Inaccessible, or known limited accessibility
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The PDF of this book is known to have missing or limited accessibility features.
We may be reviewing its accessibility for future improvement, but final compliance is
not yet assured and may be subject to legal exceptions. If you have any questions,
please contact
accessibility@cambridge.org.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Full alternative textual descriptions
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Use of high contrast between text and background colour
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.