Benedict Wallet Vilakazi

Benedict Wallet Vilakazi
Born	EyoMqungu 6, 1906
Died	EyeDwarha 26, 1947

Vilakazi Street, Soweto

UBenedict Wallet Vilakazi (EyoMqungu 6, 1906 – EyeDwarha 26, 1947) wayeyimbongi yesiZulu yaseMzantsi Afrika, umbhali weenoveli kwanetitshala. Ngo-1946 wafumana iziqu zakhe zobuProfesa (iPh.D), nokwathi kwamenza umntu ontsundu wokuqala waseMzantsi Afrika ukufumana esi sidanga. Ebuntwaneni bakhe wabangumelusi weenkomo zakowabo kwakhona efunda esikolweni seemishinari esasikwingingqi waze waba neminyaka eli-10, apho watshintsha waya kufunda eS.t Francis College eMariannhill Roman Catholic monastery. Apha kwesi sikolo wanikezwa igama lophehlelelo u“Benedict Wallet”, umama wakhe yena wabe efuna angayeki ukubizwa ngefani yakhe u“Vilakazi”, yaqhubeka ke yasetyenziswa ifani yakhe. Wafumana isatifiketi sobutitshala ngo-1923, wafundisa eMariannhill ekuhambeni kwexesha wafundisa kwiseemishinari e-Ixopo.

Ngo-1933 wakhupha inoveli yakhe yokuqala ethi "Nje nempela" (“Really and Truly”), neyincwadi yokuqala yesiZulu ethetha ngempucuko. Ngo-1935 walandelisa ngethi "Noma nini" nencwadi yemibongo "Inkondlo kaZulu", nekuyimibongo yesiZulu yokuqala eyayineempembelelo zaseNtshona.

Emva kokufumana iB.A yakhe ngo-1934, waqala ukusebenzela isebe lezifundo zeBantu kwiDyunivesithi yaseWitswatersrand ngo-1936 ephethwe yingcali yolwimi uC.M Doke owenza isichazi-magama esiqulethe isiZulu nesiNgesi. Ukubayititshala kukaVilakazi kwakhokela ekubeni abe ngontsundu wokuqala ukufundisa abamhlophe baseMzantsi Afrika edyunivesithi.

Iincwadi zikaVilakazi zaqhubeka nokubonisa ubomi bamaZulu bangale mihla, enye yeencwadi zakhe ephumeza oku ethi UDingiswayo kaJobe (1939) nenye ethi Nje nempela nekuyincwadi eyayibalisa ngesithembu sesiNtu. Imibongo yakhe yayineempembelelo zesitayile i-European Romantic esiquka indlela amagama alandelelana ngayo nezitanza ezazingaziwa kwisiZulu ngaphambilini kwizibongo nakwimibongo yesiNtu. Imibongo yakhe yaqala ukuba malunga ngezopolitiko nekwakuyinto eyayisenzeka ebomini bakhe, yabe ibonisa ukuxhatshazwa hayi nje kwamaZulu kodwa kwabantu abamnyama abangama-Afrika. Iinoveli nemibongo yakhe yonke zafunyanwa esaphila kwaye zisekho nanamhlanje.