The Day I Died – Now in Xhosa

May 13th, 2008 by Ronel S

“One regret I have from publishing my book in English is that my mother and grandmother, who both speak and write Xhosa fluently, can’t understand it – along with the children in my community.”
– Thembelani Ngenelwa on the publication of his book, The Day I Died in 2007.

Kwela Books is proud to be the publisher of Ukuvuka Kwam Ekufeni – the first full-length adult title to be published in isiXhosa by NB Publishers. Thembelani Ngenelwa’s heartwrenching and inspirational The Day I Died is now available in the author’s mother tongue.

NgoLwesithathu, umhla wokuqala kuOktobha 2003, ityendyana lomfana elalinxibe ibhatyana eluhlaza enkone ligazi lalilele kufutshane nebhulorho kaloliwe eGermiston, lisifa. Igazi lalo lalinkcenkceza ngokomjelo ukunqumla indlela, amathemba ephelile. Umzimba wawudlaka-dlaka ziimbumbulu – iimbumbulu ezintlanu umdubuli awazikhulula ekufutshane kakhulu kuye. Zazibumkarha iingqondo ngexesha lizama ukumisa izithuthi ezidlulayo, kodwa zange kubekho nasinye esaba nenceba. Zazidlula zonke zizizipheke-pheke, zimshiya loo mfana esopha enjalo.

NdinnguThembelani Ngenelwa. Yayindim lowo. Eli libali lokwenzekayo.

On Wednesday, 1 October 2003, a young man wearing a blood-soaked green jacket lay dying near a railway bridge in Germiston. He had been shot five times from close range. Barely conscious, he tried to wave at the passing cars, but nobody cared enough to stop as they sped past the bleeding man.

My name is Thembelani Ngenelwa. I was that man and this is my story.

Praise for The Day I Died:

“We cannot help but share in his searing pain and yet rejoice in his triumphant defiance of evil. The Day I Died is a valuable contribution to the depiction of life, as we, in South Africa, know it.” – Redi Direko, Cape Talk/702

“May his book touch and heal those who have gone through similar experiences and I also hope that it will as well speak to and provide a turning point in the lives of the perpetrators of such crimes. Congratulations once more on this wonderful book!” – Noxolo Grootboom, SABC 1 news anchor

“This man is clearly hugely talented!” – Sindiwe Magona

Book Details