Bonke Xakatha is the UWC Praise Poet and an Associate Lecturer in African Language Studies at the University of the Western Cape. Recognized as a praise poet from a young age, he has honoured figures such as Desmond Tutu and King Zwelonke Sigcawu, who was the late amaXhosa King. He holds a Master’s degree in isiXhosa, is a lifetime member of the Golden Key Society, and is currently a PhD candidate. Bonke teaches modules in isiXhosa, including Literary & Cultural Studies and Linguistic Competence. He is also the author of Yavulek’ityesi and founder of Ingomso Publishing Company, with his second poetry book due for release in 2024. Bonke strongly believes in the African proverb, “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu,” which means “A person is a person through other people.”
South Africa