The JRB presents an excerpt from Izimpabanga Zomhlaba, the first isiZulu edition of Frantz Fanon’s seminal work The Wretched of the Earth, translated by The JRB Patron Makhosazana Xaba.

Izimpabanga Zomhlaba
Frantz Fanon (translated into isiZulu by Makhosazana Xaba)
Inkani Books, 2024

Izihibe zenqwebukamqondo ngezobuzwe

Ezomlando zisifundisa ukuthi umnyombo womzabalazo wokulwela ukukhululeka ekubusweni ngabezizwe awubhalwa nje ngeso lezobuzwe. Esikhathini esesiside kakhulu ababuswa ngabezizwe basebenzise amandla abo bezama ukuqeda nya ukungalingani njengokusetshenziswa ngenkani, ukujeziswa ngokushaywa, amaholo angalingani, nokunqindwa kwamalungelo epolitiki. Lokhu kulwela umbuso wentando yeningi ephikisana nengcindezelo kuqala kancane kancane kusuka ekudidekeni okusha nokukhona yonke indawo kuze kufike ekufuneni ubuzwe, kwesinye isikhathi okwenzeka ngokukhulu ukukhandleka. Kodwa izingcithabuchopho azivami ukuba sesimweni sokuhlangabeza lesi simo ngoba azikujwayele ukuxhumana kahle neningi. Ukuvilapha kwazo, kanjalo nokwesaba kwazo, ikakhulukazi ngemizuzu ebalulekile yomzabalazo kuzala izihibe eziholela enhlekeleleni.

Esikhundleni sokuthi ukuzazisa ngobuzwe kube yinto ephathekayo, ebonisa izimfuno zabantu nengumvuzo obonakalayo wokugqugquzela abantu, kuba yinto engenhle, eyize neyigobolondo elincikinciki. Uqhekeko lwenza kucace ukuthi yini eyenza ukuthi amazwe asanda kukhululeka aguquke, asuke ebuzweni aye ekusebenzeni ngobuhlanga, asuke ebuzweni aye esizwaneni—isehlo esifana nokubuyela emuva, esimisa kabi ukuthuthuka kwesizwe kanye nobumbano lwaso. Njengoba sizobona-ke, lobu buthakathaka nalobu bucayi buvela emlandweni obonisa ukuthi izicukuthwane zesizwe emazweni asathuthuka ziyehluleka ukusebenzisa izindlela zokwenza nokucabanga kweningi, okungukuthi ziyehluleka ukunika ubuzwe izizathu zokubaluleka.

Lobu buthakathaka obuwumqedazwe futhi obuhambisana nokwehluleka kwabantu basemazweni angakathuthuki ukuba nenqwebukamqondo ngobuzwe, abuwona nje umphumela wokuthi abakholonayiziwe bahlukunyezwa umbuso wamakholoniyalisti. Futhi kungaba umthelela wokuthi izicukuthwane zesizwe azinamdlandla, azihlakaniphile futhi izindlela zazo zokucabanga zigxile ekucabangeni okuthonywa yizizinda zedolobhakazi.

Izicukuthwane zesizwe ezithatha izintambo uma kuphela umbuso wamakholonisti, zingamavukana angakavuthwa. Ulwazi lwazo lwezomnotho lufana nolungekho, kunjalo nje alukho ezingeni lwalaba ababheke ukuthatha 82 Izimpabanga Zomhlaba izikhundla zabo, ozakwabo bedolobhakazi. Izicukuthwane zesizwe nokuzazisa kwazo okuvelele, zizikhohlisile ngokucabanga ukuthi zingazizuzela okukhulu ngokususa izicukuthwane zedolobhakazi. Kodwa-ke, ukuzuza inkululeko kwenza ukuthi izicukuthwane zesizwe zizithole zivaleleke ekhoneni okubanga uvalo oluyinhlekelele, okube sekwenza ukuthi izicukuthwane ziveze izimpawu zokukhathazeka bese ziphindela edolobhakazini layizolo. Iziphakanyiswa zosomabhizinisi, kanye nabaneziqu zasemayunivesithi yibo ababa yiningi labafundile kulesi sizwe esisha, babonakala kalula ngoba bambalwa, bavama ukuhlala enhlokodolobha, nemisebenzi yabo yobuhwebi, ukuba abanikazi beziza, nokuba ochwepheshe. Kuzicukuthwane zesizwe abekho osozimboni nababolekisi ngezimali. Izicukuthwane zesizwe emazweni angakathuthuki azigxili kwezokukhiqiza, ngokubhekana nokukhiqiza, ukusungula okuvelele nokusungula okusha, noma ukusebenza. Onke amandla azo ziwabhekisa ekubeni abaxhumanisi. Ukuxhumanisa abantu nokudala amaqhinga kuba sengathi yiwona msebenzi wazo. Isicukuthwane sesizwe sicabangisa okukasomabhizinisi, hhayi njengomqondisi wemboni. Kumele kuzicacele-ke ukuthi asikho isidingo sokukusho ukuthi ukuhaha kwamakholonisti nendlela yokusebenza ebigqame ngokuvimba, yenze ukuthi izicukuthwane zesizwe zizithole zingakwazi ukuzikhethela.

Ngesikhathi sokubusa kwekholoniyalizimu izicukuthwane azinakukwazi ukwenza imali, ngakho ukuba yizigwili kwazo kuyinto engenakwenzeka. Ngakho-ke ngokucabanga kwethu, isicukuthwane soqobo sesizwe ezweni elingakathuthuki kufanele sikhohlwe yisikhundla sobucukuthwane nokukhandlekela umnotho wogombelakwesabo, sizibophezele kulokhu abantu abakulindile, inguquko ephelele.

Ezweni elingakathuthuki, okuphoqelekile kuzicukuthwane zangempela wukuthi zihlomele ikusasa elingumsebenzi wazo, zifunde izifundo ezizinikwa abantu bese zisebenzisa ezakuzuza emayunivesithi amakholonisti njengezingcithabuchopho nochwepheshe. Sizobona-ke ukuthi ngeshwa elikhulu izicukuthwane zesizwe zivama ukuyifulathela le ndlela enhle, enemivuzo futhi enobulungisa bese zikhetha indlela ephikisana nobuzwe, okungukuthi indlela nje yezicukuthwane ezingenanqubekelaphambili, ubucukuthwane obuwubula, ubucukuthwane obungabaza izinhloso zabanye.

Sesibonile ukuthi injongo yamaqembu esizwe kusukela nje esikhathini esithize kuya phambili, isekelwe kuzinjongo ezibhekelele ubuzwe. Uma begqugquzela abantu basebenzisa iziqubulo zenkululeko, konke okunye bakubekela ikusasa. Uma la maqembu ebuzwa ngohlelo lwawo lwezomnontho wesizwe noma ngohulumeni ahlose ukuwuqala, awabi nazo izimpendulo ngoba eqinisweni wonke awazi lutho ngezomnotho wezwe lawo.

Ezomnotho zazenzakala futhi zithuthuka ngaphandle kobuholi babo. Uma kukhulunywa ngomnotho okhona nongahle uqubuke emhlabathini nasemigodini yezwe labo ulwazi lwabo lungolwasesikoleni kuphela futhi luyathathela. Bakwazi ukukhuluma ngalo kuphela ngezindlela ezikha phezulu futhi ezingabambeki. Emva kokuzuza inkululeko, lezi zicukuthwane ezingakathuthuki esezinciphile nangenani, ezingenamali etheni futhi ezingahlanganise nalutho nendlela yezinguquko ezinkulu, ziyaqala zimfimfe kabuhlungu. Azikwazi ukukhuluma ngokuhlakanipha kwazo lokhu ezazikuqhakambisile kokwazo ukubona, kodwa okwakuvinjwa ingcindezelo yamakholonisti. Ukuba sengcupheni komnontho wazo, nokungabi bikho kwabanamakhono okuphatha kwenza ukuthi izicukuthwane zigcine sezibambelele emabhizinisini amancane asemakhaya, iminyaka ngeminyaka. Ngokucabanga okungatheni kwalezi zicukuthwane umnotho wesizwe uba yilowo ongabizwa ngokuthi ngokhiqiza nje okwasendaweni. Izinkulumo ezinikezwa ngokuzigqaja nokuziqhakambisa ziba ngezobuciko bokwenziwe ngezandla. Izicukuthwane azikwazi ukuqala izimboni ezingaba nenzuzo ezweni lonke kanye nakuzo imbala, ngakho uma zikhuluma ngobuciko bezandla zikhuluma ngokuziphakamisa kodwa zibe zikhulumela phansi okuyiyonanto ehambisana kahle nesithunzi salobu buzwe obusha, kuthi kunjalo nje le ndlela yokukhuluma yenza ukuthi zivune inzuzo ezwakalayo. Lokhu kubambelela okungaka ekukholelweni emikhiqizweni yasekhaya, lokhu kungakwazi ukusungula izindlela ezintsha zomnotho nohwebo kuzibonakalisa ngokuthi izicukuthwane zesizwe zibambelela kwezolimo, ezifana nse nalezo zangesikhathi sokubuswa ngabezizwe.

Inkululeko ayizi nenguquko. Kuyaqhutshekwa kuvunwa lawo mantongomane akudala, kuvunwa ukhokho, kanye nama-olivu. Kusho ukuthi izindlela zokuhweba ngemikhiqizo zihlala zinjalo. Akuqalwa zimboni. Siyaqhubeka nokuthumela phesheya imikhiqizo yemvelo, ngemikhumbi, siyaqhubeka nokutshalela i-Europe okwenza sibe ompetha bezinto okukhiqizwa ngawo okuthile ezimbonini, kucebe i-Europe, thina siqhubeke siyizichaka.

Kepha izicukuthwane zesizwe aziyeki ukugqugquzelela ukuthi ezomnotho nohwebo zenziwe ezesizwe. Ngokucabanga kwazo, ukwenza izinto zibe ngezobuzwe akusho ukuthi kumele kuguqulwe wonke umnotho ngobunjalo bawo, akusho ukuthi kumele yonke imigomo yakho ifezeke. Ukubumba ubuzwe akusho ukuthi uhulumeni kumele ahlelwe kabusha ngendlela ebheka ubudlelwane emiphakathini. Kuzicukuthwane ukubumba ubuzwe kusho ukuthi amalungelo akade kungawamakholonisti kumele adluliselwe ezandleni zabomdabu.

Njengoba izicukuthwane zingenamnotho futhi zingenazo izifundiswa ezinjengonjiniyela nochwepheshe, zibe nje sezigcina ngokuthi zifune ukuthatha amabhizinisi kanye namafemu ayekade ephethwe amakholonisti. Izicukuthwane zobuzwe zithatha izikhundla zabase-Europe abayizifiki ezingodokotela, abameli, abahwebi, abaxhumanisi kwezokuhweba ngemikhumbi. Izicukuthwane zibona kungumsebenzi wazo ukuthi zithathe zonke lezi zikhundla ngoba lokhu kunikeza izwe isithunzi futhi kuvikela izimfuno zezicukuthwane. Kusukela lapha-ke ukuthi bese kuphoqelelwa kuthi leyo naleyo nkampani enkulu yangaphandle isebenze nezicukuthwane uma ifuna ukuqhubeka nokuhlala ezweni kanye nokuqala ukuhweba. Izicukuthwane zobuzwe zithola ukuthi inhloso ezibekelwe yona ngumlando ingeyesikhashana. Njengoba sesibonile ukuthi ubizo lwazo akukhona ukuguqula isizwe, kungukusebenza njengebhande elihambayo lokuthutha liphethe umnotho wogombelakwesabo, ziphoqeke ukucasha ngekholoniyalizimu entsha. Izicukuthwane zobuzwe ngaphandle kokungabaza nangokukhulu ukuziqhenya zikujabulela kakhulu ukuba ngabaxhumanisi uma kusetshenzwa nezicukuthwane zaseNtshonalanga. Le ndima eletha imali eningi, lokhu kusebenza njengabakhwabanisi abancane, lokhu kuba nengqondo emfishane, nokungabi nazifiso zokuvelela kuyizimpawu zokuthi izicukuthwane zobuzwe ziyahluleka ukufeza indima elindeleke ezicukuthwaneni. Inkuthalo yobuvulandlela, ilukululu lokuphemba amazwe amasha okuyizinto ezejwayelekile kuzicukuthwane zobuzwe, ngeshwa azibi bikho lapha. Emkhakheni wobucukuthwane bobuzwe emazweni akholonayiziwe, wonke umuntu uhlale efuna ukuzitika ngenjabulo. Lokhu kungoba uma sibheka eziphathelene nengqondo, kuyinto le izicukuthwane eziyifunde kuzicukuthwane zaseNtshonalanga. Ngaphandle kokukufinyelela ebangeni lokuqala lokucwaningisisa nokusungula okusha, okuyizinto ezenziwa yezicukuthwane zaseNtshonalanga, izicukuthwane zobuzwe zivele zilingise konke lokhu okubi nokuzinaka wena okuyihaba. Ngesikhathi inkululeko iseyintsha, izicukuthwane zobuzwe emazweni akholonayiziwe zifana nse nezicukuthwane zaseNtshonalanga uma zisesigabeni sokugcina. Ongazi angathi zithatha indlela esheshayo nenqamulelayo. Empeleni ziqala ekugcineni. Zifana nosegugile engazange akuzwe ukuchichima kwenjabulo nomdlandla wokuzimisela wokuba yintsha.

Izicukuthwane zobuzwe kulolu hambo lwazo lokuba ngcono ngokuphelele ziyasizakala, zithole usizo olukhulu, oluvela kuzicukuthwane ezijikeleza amazwe zivakasha, zijatshuliswe okuyingqayizivele, ukuzingela kanye namakhasino. Izicukuthwane zobuzwe ziqala izindawo zokungcebeleka namaholide, kanye nezemidlalo zokuzijabulisa kwezicukuthwane zaseNtshonalanga. Le ngxenye ibizwa ngokuthi yimboni yezokuvakasha bese igcina seyiyimboni yesizwe yakho konke okunye. Kudinga nje sibheke ukuthi kwenzekani eLatin America uma sifuna ubufakazi bokuthi ababekholonayiziwe baphenduka abahleli nabagqugquzeli bemicimbi yokuzijabulisa. Amakhasino aseHavana, eMexico City, ugu lolwandle eRio, eCopacabana nase-Acapulco, intsha yamantombazana aseBrazil naseMexico namamestiza, noma amakhaladi, aneminyaka eyi-13 kuba yisisihla esiyihlazo solokhu konakala kwezicukuthwane zobuzwe. Ngoba izicukuthwane azinazinhloso ngekusasa, zihlale zizibheke zona, azixhumene neningi labantu, zigutshuzelwe wukungakwazi ukuhlaziya kahle izimo ezibhekene nezwe lonkana. Izicukuthwane zobuzwe zijika zibe izimenenja zezinkampani zaseNtshonalanga ziphendule izwe lazo zilenze ibhizinisi le-Europe lokuthengisa ngomzimba.

Sidinga nje ukubheka lesi sibonelo esidabukisayo samanye amazwe aseLatin America. Osomabhizinisi base-US, osomabhange abakhulu kanye nochwepheshe uma bendiza bebheke ‘eningizimu emazweni afudumele’ bahlale isonto elilodwa noma izinsuku eziyishumi bezitika emanyaleni amnandi sashukela eziqiwini zezwe, abangabanikazi bazo bangasese.

Indlela abanikazi bomhlaba abaziphatha ngayo nayo iyafana neyezicukuthwane zobuzwe. Ngokushesha nje emva kokutholakala kwenkululeko abalimi abakhulu baphakamisa ukuthi ezolimo zibe ngezesizwe. Basebenzisa amaqhinga amaningi ukuze bakwazi ukuthatha amapulazi ayekade engawamakholonisti okube sekwenza ukuthi babenamandla amakhulu okwenza izinto endaweni. Kodwa abazami nokuzama ukukhiqiza izilimo ezahlukahlukene ukwandisa izinga lokukhiqiza kanye nokuqinisekisa ukuthi ukulima kudidiyeleka kahle kusebenzisane nezomnotho wezwe jikelele.

Eqinisweni abanikazi bamapulazi bafuna ukuthi abaphethe benyuse ngamakhulu aphindaphindiwe izakhiwo kanye namalungelo okwakungawamakholonisti, kodwa manje osekungokwabo. Ukuxhashazwa nokuhlukunyezwa kwabasebenzi basemapulazini kuyanda futhi kubhekwa njengokufanelekile. La makholonisti amasha asebenzisa nje iziqubulo ezimbili noma ezintathu uma ephoqelela laba basebenzi basemapulazini, ngakho ngoba akhuluma ngokuthi konke lokhu kulungele isizwe. Kwezolimo akunakubuyekeza, akunazinhlelo zokuthuthukisa, akunazindlela zokuqala ukwenza izinto ezintsha; ngokuqala okusha kubo kusho ukuthi beka ubulimi engcupheni, okuyinto ebe isibafaka ovalweni, eyenza ukuthi lezi zicukuthwane ezingabanikazi bezindawo zihlale ziqikelele ngokwedlulele, zifise ukubaleka ngoba vele seziya ngokuya zicwila, zingena kulokhu konakala okwakuqalwe ikholoniyalizimu. Kulezi zindawo izindlela zokwenza izinto kabusha zisingathwa uhulumeni. Kuba uhulumeni ozivumayo, azigqugquzele futhi azikhokhele. Izicukuthwane ezingabanikazi bezindawo ziyala ukuzibeka engcupheni noma ngabe ngencane kangakanani. Azizwani neze nokugembula nokuqala okusha. Azihlosile ukwakha phezu kwesihlabathi. Zifuna ukutshalwa kwezimali okuqinisekisile nokunemivuzo esheshayo. Inzalo yalokhu kutshalwa kwezimali iba nkulu kakhulu, yedlula imali yonke yezwe lonkana, kunjalo nje izicukuthwane aziyitshali ngokuphindelela. Indlela ezicabanga ngayo eyokuthi kumele ziyigodle imali eziyitholayo. Lesi sicukuthwane, ikakhulukazi emva kwenkululeko, asinamahloni okufaka izimali zaso esizithole emikhiqizweni yesizwe emabhange asemazweni. Izimali eziningi-ke kodwa sizifaka ezintweni ezenza isicukuthwane sivelele sibe nodumo, izimoto, izithabathaba zemizi nakho konke nje okunobukhazikhazi abezomnontho abakubiza ngokuthi kuyinto ejwayelekile kuzicukuthwane ezingakathuthuki. 

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• Makhosazana Xaba is a Patron. Xaba is an author, translator, and poet. She has written four poetry collections, these hands, Tongues of their Mothers, The Alkalinity of Bottled Water and The Art of Waiting for Tales. Her debut short story collection, Running and other stories, was a joint winner of the 2014 South African Literary Awards and Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award. Xaba has edited several books, including Our Word, Our Worlds: Writing on Black South African Women Poets, 2000–2015, Queer Africa: Selected Stories (with Karen Martin) and Noni Jabavu: A Stranger at Home (with Athambile Masola).

• Makhosazana Xaba ungumbhali, umhumushi wezincwadi, kanye nembongi. Usebhale izincwadi zeqoqo lezinkondlo ezintathu, these hands, Tongues of their Mothers futhi The Alkalinity of Bottled Water. Iqoqo lokuqala lakhe le zindatshana ezimfishane i-Running and Other Stories, lazuza ngokubambisana umklomelo ka-2014 we-South African Literary Awards and Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award. UXaba ube ngumhleli wezincwadi eziningana kuhlanganisa Our Word, Our Worlds: Writing on Black South African Women Poets, 2000–2015, Queer Africa: Selected Stories (ekanye noKaren Martin) no-Noni Jabavu: A Stranger at Home (ekanye noAthambile Masola).

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Publisher information

Frantz Fanon was one of the twentieth century’s most important theorists of colonialism, racial difference, and this, his masterwork, is a classic alongside Orientalism and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

The Wretched of the Earth is a brilliant analysis of the psychology of the colonised and their path to liberation. Bearing singular insight into the rage of colonised peoples and the role of violence in historical change, this book also incisively attacks post-independence disenfranchisement of the masses by the elite on one hand, and intertribal and interfaith animosities on the other. A veritable handbook of social reorganisation for leaders of emerging nations, The Wretched of the Earth has had a major impact on civil rights, anti-colonialism, and black consciousness movements around the world.

This new translation into isiZulu brings his work to a new audience of readers.

UFrantz Fanon waba ngenye yezincithabuchopho ebaluleke kakhulu yekhuluminyaka lama-20 lekholoniyalizimu ukwehlukana kwezihlanga, kanye nalokhu, umsebenzi wakhe obabazekayo, ongedlulelwa nkathi okanye neOrientalism kanye ne-The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

Izimpabanga Zomhlaba ilucwaningo oluhlabahlosile lwesimongqondo sabakholonayiziwe kanye nendlela yabo eya enkululekweni. Inenjula eyodwa olakeni lwabantu abakholonayiziwe kanye nendima yodlame oguqukweni olungokomlando, lencwadi ngokunembile ibuye ihlasele ukwephucwa kwamalungelo ezindimbane zabantu yizifundiswa ngakolunye uhlangothi, kanye nenzondo ephakathi kwezinhlanga naphakathi kwezinkolo ngakolunye uhlangothi. Incwadi elusizo yokuhlelwa kabusha kwemiphakathi yabahloli bezizwe ezisathuthukayo, Izimpabanga Zomhlaba ibe negalelo elikhulu kumalungelo emiphakathi, ukulwisana nekholonalizimu, kanye nezinhlangano zengqwebukamqondo yabansundu emhlabeni wonke jikelele.

Lesi sihumusho esisha sesiZulu okuletha umsebenzi wakhe kuzihlwele ezintsha zabafundi.