Nkowankowa author produces Xitsonga dictionaries
Dr Max Marhanele advances Xitsonga preservation with two dictionaries, inspiring pride in the language and mentoring future writers.
LIMPOPO – Driven by a deep love for his language and heritage, Dr Max Marhanele of Nkowankowa has made significant strides in preserving Xitsonga through the creation of two groundbreaking dictionaries.
A former teacher and examiner, Marhanele identified a critical gap in the availability of comprehensive Xitsonga language resources. Motivated by this need, he embarked on a mission to compile reference materials that would explain words, meanings, and idioms in Xitsonga.
His first publication, Tihlu’ngu’ ta rixaka, a monolingual Xitsonga dictionary, was launched in 2016. The dictionary provides a detailed account of the language without translations into other languages. In 2020, he began work on his second dictionary, Xilamulela-mhangu (meaning “the rescuer”), which serves as a bilingual English-to-Xitsonga dictionary. The second volume was published in early April this year.
“Through these books, I aim to bridge the linguistic gap in Xitsonga and promote pride in our mother tongue,” said Marhanele. “People should take pride in speaking and writing their language as fluently as they do English. “It’s disheartening to see Xitsonga teachers struggle with the meaning of certain Tsonga words.”
Marhanele expressed satisfaction with the reception of his work, noting positive feedback from readers who say the dictionaries have significantly improved their understanding of the language.
Both projects were developed in collaboration with Freddy Bila, owner of Timbila Publishing. Marhanele praised Bila for his invaluable support and expertise throughout the process.
A prolific author, Marhanele has written 15 books, many of which have been included in Xitsonga high school and tertiary syllabuses.
He has also co-authored 25 additional titles, including Crossroads of the Century, a global poetry anthology.
His influence extends beyond publishing. He has mentored several successful writers, including James Magayisa and Dr Freddy Rikhotso. “Seeing my former students succeed brings me immense joy,” he said.
In recognition of his contribution to literature and the preservation of indigenous languages, Marhanele was awarded an honorary doctorate by Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in 2023.
