Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi

Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi [ m'ka: ji ] ( born December 1, 1875 in Gqamahashe; † July 29, 1945 in East London) was a South African storyteller and poet.

Short Biography

Mqhayi was born in Gqamahashe as a member of the Xhosa people. His father was a teacher. Mqhayi attended a mission school and was also a teacher himself. He was also editor of literary magazines. With its written in Xhosa novel Ityala lama wele (1914, dt: The legal case of twins), who gave a reading book collection in the schools of his home, Mqhayi laid the foundation for a modern Xhosa literature. In addition to historical treatises Samuel Mqhayi also wrote poems in which he uses the traditional form of the Prize Song to caricature the British colonial rule. Mqhayi died on 29 July 1945 in East London ( South Africa). He wrote in 1927 seven verses to the song Nkosi Sikelel ' iAfrika, which is part of the South African national anthem.

Other works

• Imihobe nemibongo, yokofundwa ezikolweni ( poems, 1927, Merry Songs and Lullabies for school use )
• UMqhayi wase Ntab'ozuko ( autobiography, 1939, dt: Mqhayi from Prayer Mountain )
• Inzuzo ( poems, 1942, dt: Reward )

• Author
• Literature ( 20th century)
• South Africans
• Born 1875
• Died in 1945
• Man