Xhosa legend’s grave up for heritage status
Intellectual who inspired Madiba deserves honour, says grandson, Luvuyo
Plans are afoot to declare the grave of the Xhosa intellectual and writer Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi a heritage site.
This was announced yesterday by the National Heritage Council (NHC) chief executive officer Sonwabile Mancotywa during a visit to Mqhayi’s grave site in Berlin. Mqhayi’s grandson Luvuyo welcomed the announcement.
“We appreciate the initiative by the National Heritage Council. We want the overgrowing vegetation to be cut and for the site to be maintained. My father Zatshoba, mother Nolusapho and sisters are also buried here. I will also be buried here when I die,” he said.
The grave is located on a piece of land owned by the Mqhayi family just adjacent to the Berlin landfill site. Accompanied by BCM mayoral spokesman Luzuko Buku, Mancotywa said the NHC in partnership with the Buffalo City Metro, was planning a SEK Mqhayi Lecture on September 20.
“Mqhayi is one of the early Xhosa intellectuals and he had a big influence on the likes of [former president Nelson] Mandela of which we are celebrating his centenary today. “
He said that the NHC wanted to honour Mqhayi as he stayed true to his African values.
“We want to link his memory to the 100 years of Madiba.
“It will be Madiba in conversation with Mqhayi. We come to the grave today to pay our respects to him because we will be talking about him,” he said.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the site it was not easily accessible as the only entrance was via the dump site and a bushy footpath.
However, Mancotywa said the declaration of the site will also help for it to be properly maintained.
“The discussions are going on so that this holy space be protected. The municipality also shares the same sentiment and we are discussing what role the municipality can play. When we come visit here we do not want to come though the dump site,” he said.
Buku said : “We met with the family as the office of the executive mayor and agreed that this space must be properly maintained by all means. That is not only the responsibility of the municipality but various stakeholders.”
Mqhayi was born in December 1875 and has written poems and books, with his most famous being Ityala Lamawele
The book was adapted into a hit Xhosa television series during the early 1990s.
We want the overgrowing vegetation to be cut