Uhlalutyo bunzululwazi ngokomxholo ochongiweyo kwingqokelela yesihobe sikaWelile Shasha ethi <i>Umsila Wembulu</i> A thematic critique of a selected poem in Welile Shasha’s poetry collection Umsila Wembulu

Abstract

Olu phando lusebenzisa uphando ntyilazwi, lujolise ekugrombonceni isihobe sikaWelile Shasha kwingqokelela yakhe ethi Umsila Wembulu. Apha kweli phepha, eyona nkalo umphandi ajonge kuyo kukuchonga umbongo omnye ogxile kumxholo ongempilo, ze loo mxholo usetyenziswe ukusunduza nokugqwesisa iingxoxo bunzululwazi kuncwadi lwesiXhosa ezingena ncakasana nakwixesha langoku lentsholongwane yeCOVID-19. Isizathu esityhilizele eli phepha ekuchongeni umbongo omnye kukuminxiselwa kweentsingiselo kuwo ngendlela ethi yenze umbongo lo ube namandla xa lowo ethe wawupeculula. Lo mxholo uShasha abonga ngawo yinxalenye yemixholo ephambili kule mbalo yakhe. Into enyuswa lolu phando ngumba othi, uncwadi lwesiXhosa alubhityanga nakancinane ukuba
lungangasetyenziswa ukuphalisa iingcingambono zentlalo, zempilo, zorhwebo, ukubalula nje ezimbalwa. Asikuko nokuba uncwadi lwesiXhosa olu luthelekiswa noncwadi lwasezizweni. Ekugqibeleni, umphandi unethemba lokuba iintsingiselo eziqhushekwe zade zancathama kulo mbongo kaShasha, ngokomxholo ochongiweyo, ziza kubhentsa ngokuphandle de ziqweqwedisele abanye abaphandi ekuthini babeke umnwe kuzo zonke iinkalo zentlalo kususelwa kwisiXhosa. Kulo msebenzi umphandi ulandela indlela ehlalutyayo, ephendlayo nephicothayo. Ukuqameza nokunqumlezisa iingxaki ezikhoyo ngalo mbandela, uphengululo loncwadi luya kusetyenziswa njengodondolo lokucacisa ubunto ngobunto bayo; ingxaki kunye nomsantsa okhoyo kwisiXhosa nakwimiba yesifo sesifuba. Abathandi, abafundi nootitshala besiXhosa baya kuba nethuba lokwazi ngezinye zeendlela ezikumgangatho ophezulu zokuhlalutya isihobe sesiXhosa, kodwa ke umfundi weli phepha angalindeli kufundiswa ngeendlela
zokuhlalutya isihobe.

This research, utilising a qualitative research methodology, seeks to unpack the poetry of Welile Shasha in Umsila Wembulu. The researcher’s primary focus is to unlock the multiplicity of interplaying meanings in one selected poem that addresses health-related issues such as tuberculosis, which could also be more relevant in the COVID-19 era. The motivation for selecting one poem is, through the discussions, supported by the density and multiple ++meanings that are present in the poem. Shasha’s collection of poems, among other themes, contains the main heme of health-related illnesses, and these illnesses are part of our society. To date, very few scholars of isiXhosa have selected literary works under the theme of health, suggesting the need to bridge the gap in isiXhosa literature, specially Shasha’s work. What becomes interesting in Shasha’s literary work is the powerful use of language and literary devices in addressing problems that relate to tuberculosis, thereby opening up discussion for further scrutiny. Attention is drawn to the writer’s creativity in stylistically penning health-related problems, especially in indigenous communities where the health care system is poor. Shasha does this by using the poem ‘Isifo sesifuba’ (tuberculosis). Ultimately, it is hoped that researchers of isiXhosa language and literature will be afforded an opportunity to understand new techniques of analysing poetry and get an opportunity to understand TB as the author teaches us.