J. J. Ncongwane


Jabulane Johan Ncongwane, better known by his pen name J. J. Ncongwane, is a South African novelist, short-story author, poet and educator who writes in Siswati. He was born at KaMagwamazi farm in Chief Albert Luthuli's Carolina area.
Ncongwane is regarded as one of the central figures in South Africa's Siswati literature. He is currently employed in the Parliament of South Africa as a Language Practitioner. He has written many Siswati books, including educational manuals, novels, short-stories, poems, and drama-plays and has co-authored several others since 1985. His work is taught at South Africa's high and tertiary schools.

Early life

Jabulane Johan Ncongwane was raised at KaMagwamazi farm in Eastern Transvaal province in what was then Carolina District. His father, Enoch Ncongwane, was a bus-driver, and his mother, Sarah Zwane, worked as a domestic worker for the owner of the farm where they stayed. Enoch couldn't read and write but encouraged his children to read and brought home Afrikaans, English, and Zulu storybooks for them. JJ Ncongwane loved Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, CT Msimang, DBZ Ntuli, Maqhawe Mkhize, JJ Gwayi, and WP Steenkamp.

Education and career

Ncongwane received a Teacher's Diploma from Mgwenya College and taught Siswati, Biology, and General Science at Nhlazatshe's Hlabangamehlo High School and Chief Jerry Nkosi High School between 1986 and 2007. He holds a Secondary Teacher's Diploma from Mgwenya College of Education, a Degree in Arts from the University of South Africa, and a Honours Degree in Arts from the University of Pretoria.
He also worked at the Tshwane University of Technology as the first Editor-in-Chief for the university's Siswati Lexicography Unit that compiles Siswati dictionaries.
He has worked as a Siswati translator in South Africa's Parliament since May 2010.
His first published work was a collection of Siswati poems he co-wrote with his younger brother S.J. Ncongwane, titled Kuyophela Situnge in 1986.
He has translated many books into Siswati, including Lebogang Masango's children's books What Does Mpumi Eat? to Udlani Mpumi, What Does Mpumi Wear? to Ugcokeni Mpumi, and Gcina Mhlophe's ''Nozincwadi – Mother of Books.''

Works

  • Ncongwane, JJ; Ncongwane, SJ :, South Africa: Shuter & Shooter Ltd.
  • Ncongwane, JJ; Sithebe, Z : South Africa: Shuter & Shooter Ltd.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : . Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Mncwi! Ngitake Ngibone. South Africa: Educum Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ; Mokoena, ZD; Mbuyane, MS : Emagalelo. South Africa: Shuter & Shooter Ltd.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Emantjontjo. South Africa: Reach Out Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Imihlanga Yeluhlanga. South Africa: Juta & Co.
  • Ncongwane, JJ; Ncongwane, MJ; Ncongwane, SJ : Imphilo Yimfumbe. South Africa: Educum Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : South Africa: BARD Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Ematekelo Ayitolo. South Africa. Shuter & Shooter Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Lapha Nalapho. South Africa: Palm Publishers.
  • Shongwe, JP et al : Siswati Sasegcumeni 9.
  • Shongwe, JP et al : Siswati Sasegcumeni 10.
  • Ncongwane, JJ. : Tikhatsi Tiyagucuka. Oxford.
  • Ncongwane, SJ : Sigiya Ngenkondlo. South Africa: Shuter & Shooter Ltd.
  • Ncongwane, JJ; Ncongwane, SJ. Nyoni. South Africa: Educum Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Letingayubuna. South Africa: Acacia Books in 2003
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Loyishayile Sewuyosile. South Africa: Heinemann.
  • Ncongwane, SJ : Umshiyangculu. South Africa: Cambridge University Press.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Ematfunti Etikhatsi. South Africa: Lutz Publishers.
  • Translated work, Tindzaba Letikhulumako..
  • Ncongwane, JJ : . South Africa: New Voices Publishing.
  • Ncongwane, JJ. . South Africa: Cambridge University Press.
  • Msibi, T; Magagula, HDT . South Africa: Imisebe Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : . South Africa: Blessed Seed Publishers Ltd.
  • Ncongwane, JJ . Shutter and Shooters Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ; : . South Africa: Shutter and Shooter.
  • Dlamini, LZ; Msibi, T; Vilakati, NJ; :.ESwatini: Macmillan Education.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : . Elukwatini: Blessed Seed Publishers.
  • Translated work Mpumi Udlani : South Africa: New Africa Books.
  • Translated work Mpumi Ugcokani : South Africa: New Africa Books.
  • Translated work Ngingumoya : South Africa: New Africa Books.
  • Translated work Ngingumlilo : South Africa: New Africa Books.
  • Translated work Nozincwadi : South Africa: New Africa Books.
  • Ncongwane, JJ . Elukwatini: Blessed Seed Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : . Elukwatini: Blessed Seed Publishers.
  • Ncongwane, JJ; : Ngingamane Ngicabuze Inja.
  • JBC Luphoko, et al: Emanoni.
  • Bhila, SS; Ngobe, AP : Emakhono Elusha.
  • Ncongwane, JJ : Lifa Letilima. Elukwatini: Blessed Seed Publishers.
  • Malangwane, BB; Ncongwane, JJ : Letingeke Tiphuphe. Elukwatini: Blessed Seed Publisher.

Awards

His first award was a R10 he received from Mgwenya College in 1985 for writing the short story Lunjalo-ke Lutsandvo. This story appeared in the Mgwenya College magazine in that year and was then published in the collection of short stories called Tikhatsi Letimatima in 1989.
Other awards include: