H. I. E. Dhlomo
Herbert Isaac Edward Dhlomo, born in 1903 in Natal, South Africa, was a pioneering Zulu author and educator. Coming from a family with notable literary and musical influences, Dhlomo studied at Adams College and subsequently taught before taking on a leadership role at the American Board Mission School in Bloemfontein. He significantly contributed to library services for non-European South Africans as the first organizer-librarian of the Carnegie Non-European Library Service, promoting literacy and access to literature. Dhlomo was a groundbreaking novelist, recognized as the first Bantu author to publish an English novel, and he played a crucial role in shaping a Bantu aesthetic in literature, often emphasizing traditional storytelling over European influences. His works included plays that explored Southern African history and culture, such as "Chaka: A Tragedy" and "Moshoeshoe." Dhlomo's writings also tackled contemporary social issues, reflecting the challenges faced by his community. He was an influential figure in Zulu literature, engaging in debates that shaped the literary landscape for African writers. Dhlomo passed away in 1956, leaving a lasting legacy in South African literature and education.
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H. I. E. Dhlomo
- Born: February 26, 1903
- Birthplace: Siyamu, Edendale, Natal, South Africa
- Died: October 23, 1956
- Place of death: Durban, South Africa
Biography
Herbert Isaac Edward Dhlomo was born in 1903 to a Zulu family in Siyamu, near Pietermaritzburg, in Natal, South Africa. His parents were Ezra Sigadiya Dhlomo, a preacher, and Sarah Caluza Dhlomo. His brother was prominent journalist R. R. R. Dhlomo; his cousin was Reuben T. Caluza, a composer of some note. As a young man, Dhlomo studied at Adams College, where he earned a teaching certificate in 1924, and then taught for several years. In 1928, Dhlomo took over the direction of the American Board Mission School in Bloemfontein.
In 1937, Dhlomo was appointed the first organizer-librarian of the Carnegie Non-European Library Service. He was instrumental in encouraging the development of library services for South Africans of native origins. He visited schools and community groups to encourage reading and published a newsletter aimed at non-European readers. Dhlomo left the library position in 1940 because of a dispute with a white supervisor, but he continued to encourage native African citizens to use the libraries open to them.
Dhlomo is remembered as a groundbreaking author. He was the first Bantu author to have published a novel in English, and he participated in developing the sense of a Bantu aesthetic for literature. He experienced a strong disagreement with fellow Zulu author B.W. Vilakazi. Vilakazi experimented with adapting rhyme to Zulu poetry and also sought to employ European ideas of storytelling. Dhlomo insisted Zulu poetry should employ traditional forms as better adapted to the language and argued that written Zula poetry should maintain traditional subjects and storytelling ideas. Dhlomo cited Greek and Latin literature, William Shakespeare’s writings, and the Bible as resembling much Bantu oral literature in technique. This debate influenced not only the development of Zulu literature but, to a lesser degree, the written literatures of other Bantu languages by encouraging thought about issues previously not discussed by African literary critics.
Dhlomo’s writings drew upon Southern African history and culture. The foundation and expansion of the Zulu kingdom were the subjects of two of his plays, Chaka: A Tragedy (1936) and Dingana (1954), which treat the life of Shaka Zulu and his successor, Cetishwayo. His play, Moshoeshoe (1938), was about the life of the of a Sotho king. Another play, The Girl Who Killed to Save (1935), is drawn from an incident in 1857 which resulted in the deaths of many Xhosa people. Dhlomo also addressed many difficult current situations, such as ethnic intermarriage, which was strongly discouraged by the South African government, in his play, Ruby and Frank. Many of Dhlomo’s works are based upon traditional African artistic forms, including the praise poem, in which the poet traditionally sings a long poem of praise for a leader or other notable individual. These poems are meant to be both a celebration of the individual’s accomplishments and an exaltation of the community.
Dhlomo and his brother wrote for and edited newspapers in both the Zulu and English languages. Dhlomo worked for Ilanga Lase Natal, and later for the newspaper which bought it, Bantu World. Dhlomo died of heart failure on October 23, 1956 at King Edward Hospital in Durban.