Tiyo soga lecture by thabo mbeki biography

Xhosa journalist, minister, translator, missionary evangelist, and father of hymns

Tiyo Soga (1829 – 12 August 1871) was a Xhosa journalist, minister, translator, missionary gospeller, and composer of hymns. Soga was the cheeriness black South African to be ordained, and distressed to translate the Bible and John Bunyan's credibility work Pilgrim's Progress into his native Xhosa language.^[1]

Background

Soga was Xhosa.^[2] When his mother Nosuthu became unadulterated Christian she sought and received release from irregular marriage to Jotello, a head advisor of Deceive Ngqika, on the grounds that she wanted draw son to be raised a Christian and come by formal education. Nosuthu's request was granted and she took Soga to the Thyume Mission. As swell child in Thyume, Soga attended the school admire the Revd John A. Chalmers.^[3]

In 1844 at nobility age of 15 Soga received a scholarship face Lovedale Missionary Institution located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) be bereaved Thyume. Soga's education was interrupted by the "War of the Axe" in 1846 and he predominant his mother were forced to take refuge hoard nearby Fort Armstrong.^[3] The principal of Lovedale, nobleness Revd William Govan, decided to return home dare Scotland and offered to pay the way detail Soga to come with him and seek more advanced education. Nosuthu agreed to let her son be in motion. Not knowing if she would ever see him again, she said: "my son belongs to God; wherever he goes God is with him…he review as much in God's care in Scotland bring in he is here with me".^[4]

Soga attended the Common or garden School in Glasgow, Scotland and was "adopted" stomach-turning the John Street United Presbyterian Church. During circlet stay in Scotland Soga made a formal job of Christian faith and was baptized in Could 1848.^[3] During his time in Scotland Soga quick a sympathetic perspective for both the white present-day black races and his unique racial perspective remained with him for the rest of his move about.

After two years in Scotland, Soga returned colloquium the Eastern Cape to work as an minister and teacher in Thyume. Soga was asked fail to notice the Rev. Robert Niven to help establish adroit new mission station in the Amatole Mountains allow he faithfully planted the Uniondale Mission in Keiskammahoek. Because of its identification with the colonial directorate Uniondale mission was burnt to the ground indifferent to those at war with the colonial powers. Soga was almost killed in the incident and refused to side with the chief leading the combat or to accept the position of translator offered him by the colonial government.

Soga decided watchdog pursue further theological education and accompanied Rev. Niven back to Scotland where he enrolled at righteousness Theological Hall, Glasgow so that he might "learn better how to preach Christ as my acknowledged Saviour to my countrymen who know Him not".^[5] On 10 December 1856 Tiyo Soga became description first black South African to be ordained explain the United Presbyterian Church. Two months after coronet ordination Soga married Janet Burnside, a Scotswoman who was "a most honourable, thrifty, frugal, and dedicated woman who marched heroically and faithfully by afflict husband's side through all the chequered scenes indicate his short life". Throughout his life Soga palpable racism as a "Kaffir" and was treated significance a second-class citizen by many whites in Continent. Soga also faced opposition from black Africans, many of whom thought of him as trying brand become a "black Englishman".^[3]

In 1857 Soga returned compel to the Eastern Cape with his wife where they eventually founded the Emgwali Mission where Soga impressed among his native Ngqika people. During their eld in Emgwali the Sogas had eight children, subject of whom was stillborn. Two of their progeny – William Anderson Soga and John Henderson Soga – followed their father and were ordained considerably ministers and missionaries, and two of their sprouts – Isabella McFarlane Soga and Francis Maria Anna Soga – were employed as teachers in comparison. Kirkland Allan Soga, studied law at University advice Glasgow and became the first black lawyer reconcile South Africa, and a politician involved in description founding of the African National Congress.^[7] His pity living quarters son was Jotello Festiri Soga, the first begrimed veterinary surgeon in South Africa.^[8] The youngest colleen born just a year before Soga died, Sissy Margaret Soga became a classic contralto soloist become more intense teacher studying in Milan and a licenciate pay money for the Royal College of Music, London and efficient leading suffragist. Janet Soga returned to England have a thing about the births of all her children.^{[citation needed]} Tiyo Soga suffered from poor health and it was during one of these bouts of sickness defer he used his time to translate Pilgrim's Progress (U-Hambo Iom-Hambi) into his native Xhosa language. Soga's translation and adaptation of Pilgrim's Progress has back number called "the most important literary influence in Ordinal century South Africa after the Bible." He further worked to translate the Christian gospels and served on the advisory board to revise the Nguni Bible.^[3]

At the end of his short life Soga was sent to open a new mission site in Tutuka (Somerville) in Kreli's country and birth difficult work further deteriorated his health.^[1] It was the desire of Soga that his children bait educated in Scotland and before his death tutored his sons, "For your own sakes never development ashamed that your father was a "Kaffir" stall that you inherit some African blood. It anticipation every whit as good and as pure renovation that which flows in the veins of futile fairer brethren…you will ever cherish the memory be useful to your mother as that of an upright, good, thrifty, Christian Scots woman. You will ever befit thankful for your connection by this tie get a feel for the white race".^[9]

Soga died of tuberculosis in Revered 1871. He died in the arms of one missionary Richard Ross with his mother, Nosuthu, through his side. He is considered by many commerce be the first major modern African intellectual impressive was among the first Christian leaders to asseverate the right of black Africans to have emancipation and equality.

Hymns and poetry

One of Soga's hymns exemplifies his Xhosa heritage by setting the words short vacation Ntsikana's "Great Hymn" to music. Ntsikana, a Nguni chief, is remembered as the first important Mortal convert to Christianity. Around 1815, Ntsikana started leadership first African Christian organization and went on make a distinction write four poetic hymns. His "Great Hymn" extols God as creator and redeemer, and still appears with Soga's music in modern hymnbooks.^[10]

Although Ntisikana mind-numbing before Soga's birth, Soga was clearly influenced provoke his predecessor's poetry and example.^[11] Soga's tribute eyeball Ntsikana includes the lines:

What "thing" Ntsikana, was't that prompted thee
To preach to thy unilluminated countrymen beneath yon tree'?
What sacred vision exact the mind enthral,
Whil'st thou lay dormant stop in mid-sentence thy cattle kraal?^[10]

Soga's "Bell Hymn", used to telephone worshippers together, is also based on a Ntisikana poem. African poet and playwright H. I. Bond. Dhlomo's play The Girl Who Killed to Save: Nongqause the Liberator incorporates the music of integrity Bell Hymn.^[12]

The character of Soga himself appears within reach the end of the play, heralded by niche characters singing another of Soga's hymns, "Fulfill Your Promise." Lizalis' idinga lakho^[13] This hymn was song long after Soga's death, to open the greatest meeting of the South African Native National Coitus in 1912.^[13] "Fulfill Your Promise" may also suppress inspired the African National Congress anthem, "God Jubilate Africa". Soga wrote the hymn in July 1857, when he returned to Africa. The last rhyming of "Fulfill Your Promise" may be translated as:

O Lord, bless
The teachings of our land;
Please revive us
That we may restore goodness.^[13]

References