Chaka is the third and final novel by Lesotho writer Thomas Mofolo. Written in Sesotho, it is a mythic fictional retelling of the story of the rise and fall of the Zulu emperor-king Shaka. Following its first publication in 1925, it was published in English translation in 1931.
Chaka was written in three years, from 1907 to 1910.[1] To gather material for his novel, Thomas Mofolo made several trips to the South African province of Natal, including one in 1909 where he visited the grave of Shaka.[2] The original Sotho manuscript was first submitted in 1910 to the Morija Sesuto Book Depot supported by the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (PEMS), but was only published in 1925.[3][4] The delay in publication was due to the publishers' being "disturbed by Mofolo's failure to condemn pagan tribal customs"; this led to a disheartened Mofolo's retirement from writing.[5] According to translator Daniel P. Kunene, who translated Chaka from Sesotho to English, at least two chapters revolving around the traditions and history of the Zulu people were omitted from the published version of the novel.[6]
The first English translation of Chaka was published in 1931, while the earliest French and German translations were published in 1940 and 1953 respectively; an Afrikaans translation was published in 1974.[7]
Receptionedit
The novel received a polarised reception initially, with some readers accusing the author of being anti-Christian, in contrast to others who felt that Chaka was "deeply Christian in inspiration and intent".[3] Nonetheless, Chaka became a local and international bestseller.[8]
Moreover, especially since the publication of Daniel P. Kunene's English translation of Chaka, the novel has become increasingly appreciated for its literary value.[3] In a review for English in Africa, Neil Lazarus described Chaka as an "extraordinary and enigmatic work of literature ... demanding the close attention of all scholars of African literature."[3] In February 2002, Chaka was named one of the twelve best works of African literature of the 20th century by a panel organised by Ali Mazrui as part of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair.[9]
English translationsedit
Chaka: An Historical Romance, trans. F. H. Dutton (International African Institute, 1931). Shortened and simplified as Chaka the Zulu, with illustrations by Eleanor Watkins (Oxford, 1949)
^Michael Sollars; Arbolina Llamas Jennings (2008). The Facts on File Companion to the World Novel: 1900 to the Present. Infobase Publishing. p. 525. ISBN9781438108360.
^. Columbia University Libraries. March 2, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
Bibliographyedit
Bodunde, Charles A. (June 1993). "Literary Portraits of Chaka: Thomas Mofolo and Mazisi Kunene" (PDF). African Study Monographs. 14 (1): 13–22.
Gérard, Albert (May 1986). "Rereading "Chaka"". English in Africa. 13 (1): 1–12. JSTOR 40238579.
Lazarus, Neil (May 1986). "The Logic of Equivocation in Thomas Mofolo's "Chaka"". English in Africa. 13 (1). Rhodes University: 41–60. JSTOR 40238581.
April 09, 2024
chaka, novel, chaka, third, final, novel, lesotho, writer, thomas, mofolo, written, sesotho, mythic, fictional, retelling, story, rise, fall, zulu, emperor, king, shaka, following, first, publication, 1925, published, english, translation, 1931, chakaauthortho. Chaka is the third and final novel by Lesotho writer Thomas Mofolo Written in Sesotho it is a mythic fictional retelling of the story of the rise and fall of the Zulu emperor king Shaka Following its first publication in 1925 it was published in English translation in 1931 ChakaAuthorThomas MofoloTranslatorF H DuttonCountryLesothoLanguageSesothoPublication date1925Published in English1931Pages168 Contents 1 Publication history 2 Reception 3 English translations 4 References 5 BibliographyPublication history editChaka was written in three years from 1907 to 1910 1 To gather material for his novel Thomas Mofolo made several trips to the South African province of Natal including one in 1909 where he visited the grave of Shaka 2 The original Sotho manuscript was first submitted in 1910 to the Morija Sesuto Book Depot supported by the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society PEMS but was only published in 1925 3 4 The delay in publication was due to the publishers being disturbed by Mofolo s failure to condemn pagan tribal customs this led to a disheartened Mofolo s retirement from writing 5 According to translator Daniel P Kunene who translated Chaka from Sesotho to English at least two chapters revolving around the traditions and history of the Zulu people were omitted from the published version of the novel 6 The first English translation of Chaka was published in 1931 while the earliest French and German translations were published in 1940 and 1953 respectively an Afrikaans translation was published in 1974 7 Reception editThe novel received a polarised reception initially with some readers accusing the author of being anti Christian in contrast to others who felt that Chaka was deeply Christian in inspiration and intent 3 Nonetheless Chaka became a local and international bestseller 8 Moreover especially since the publication of Daniel P Kunene s English translation of Chaka the novel has become increasingly appreciated for its literary value 3 In a review for English in Africa Neil Lazarus described Chaka as an extraordinary and enigmatic work of literature demanding the close attention of all scholars of African literature 3 In February 2002 Chaka was named one of the twelve best works of African literature of the 20th century by a panel organised by Ali Mazrui as part of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair 9 English translations editChaka An Historical Romance trans F H Dutton International African Institute 1931 Shortened and simplified as Chaka the Zulu with illustrations by Eleanor Watkins Oxford 1949 Chaka trans Daniel P Kunene Heinemann 1981 References edit Lazarus 1986 p 43 Bodunde 1993 p 16 a b c d Lazarus 1986 p 41 Sandwith Corinne 2018 History by Paratext Thomas Mofolo s Chaka Journal of Southern African Studies 44 3 471 doi 10 1080 03057070 2018 1445355 S2CID 150173621 Thomas Mokopu Mofolo Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 6 May 2020 Michael Sollars Arbolina Llamas Jennings 2008 The Facts on File Companion to the World Novel 1900 to the Present Infobase Publishing p 525 ISBN 9781438108360 Gerard 1986 p 1 Gerard 1986 p 7 Africa s 100 Best Books of the 20th Century Columbia University Libraries March 2 2013 Archived from the original on 2013 03 02 Retrieved 6 May 2020 Bibliography editBodunde Charles A June 1993 Literary Portraits of Chaka Thomas Mofolo and Mazisi Kunene PDF African Study Monographs 14 1 13 22 Gerard Albert May 1986 Rereading Chaka English in Africa 13 1 1 12 JSTOR 40238579 Lazarus Neil May 1986 The Logic of Equivocation in Thomas Mofolo s Chaka English in Africa 13 1 Rhodes University 41 60 JSTOR 40238581 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chaka novel amp oldid 1173936185, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
