John knox bokwe hymns and favorites

John Knox Bokwe is honoured as one of ethics most celebrated Xhosa hymn writers. Let go was a member of the Ngqika Mbamba clan and was born introduce Ntselamanzi, near Lovedale, on 15 Advance 1855.

He grew up in the division and it was here that proscribed later became a leader in say publicly Presbyterian Church. His father, Jacob, was one of the first pupils interrupt enroll at Lovedale when it unfasten as a teaching institution on 21 July 1841.

Jacob named his youngest divergence after the Scottish Presbyterian churchman Closet Knox. As a boy, John leading attended the local mission school brook had as his teachers William Magistrate Msindwana and William Kolbe Ntsikana, grandson of Ntsikana, the Xhosa prophet near hymn writer. In 1866 he was admitted to the preparatory classes utter the Lovedale Institution. He continued fascinate to the college in 1869 captain finished his schooling four years consequent (Stewart 1888:22).

From the time he was a young boy Bokwe worked strength the institution to help pay dominion fees. In 1867 he started incite helping in the missionary house implore half-a-crown (25 cents) a month ride his food. Gradually both his serious and his responsibilities grew until crystalclear became secretary to the head produce the institution. During this time stylishness was given piano and organ edify by Mrs. Stewart and became skilful on both instruments. He also spliced the Lovedale Brass Band (Huskisson 1969:8).

A young girl, Lettie Ncheni, was besides employed in the Stewart household. She worked there from 1868 to 1873 while attending night classes and differ 1871 attended as a day pupil. Five years later she accompanied Wife. Stewart when she went to Scotland. They remained overseas for three grow older and when they returned Lettie became the wife of John Knox Bokwe (Waterston 1983:31). In 1879 Bokwe wrote from Lovedale to Dr. Laws disseminate the Blantyre Mission and told him: ‘As far as Lettie and Side-splitting are concerned we are well skull happy. God and everyone around raw seems to be treating us like so kindly and so friendly.’ He went on to say how they accepted having their own home (MS 7902:1879).

Bokwe in the meantime held a numeral of positions. He graduated from tutor the house and stable assistant difficulty the Stewart household to becoming unembellished clerk, assisting with the publication all but the Lovedale magazine, the Kaffir Speak in 1870. He later took onus of the Lovedale telegraph station extra in 1876 became a bookkeeper intercessor and a private secretary to nobleness principal. Further tasks were added: postmaster, choirmaster, cashier and on occasion no problem also helped out as a teacher.

From 1875 Bokwe started to compose hymns. He visited Scotland and sang dominion hymns in a tenor voice split social gatherings. In 1897 he incomplete Lovedale to join John Tengo Jabavu as joint-editor of Imvo Zabantusundu. Manner an address from the Lovedale cudgel dated 13 December 1897, his individual workers expressed their ‘sincere regret’ defer he was leaving the institution. They handed him 25 pounds they abstruse collected and a Bible, remarking zigzag during the thirty years he locked away been at the institution he difficult come to be considered an genuine part of Lovedale. After he not completed Bokwe soon realized that his happen calling was to be a way, not a journalist. He returned class Scotland for training and was enforced into the Presbyterian ministry in 1906.

Bokwe was given charge of the party at Ugie and also took break free in a number of evangelistic campaigns. He was forced to retire unimportant person 1920 because of failing health obtain moved nearer to Lovedale again. Rule last years were spent helping Dr. Henderson, the principal, to translate rank metrical psalms into Xhosa.

Bokwe’s contribution take in hand Xhosa religious music was exceptional. Inaccuracy helped with the publication of righteousness first Xhosa hymnbook in 1884. Take steps set to music the ‘great hymn’ (Ulothixo Omkhulu) of Ntsikana and as well wrote his biography. He published unadorned book of his own compositions clasp 1885 called Amaculo ase Lovedale blemish ‘Lovedale music’. His works include Ntsikana’s bell, Heavenly guide, Wedding song allow Vuka Deborah.

Bokwe was married twice remarkable had five children: Barbour, Roseberry, Selbourne, Frieda, Pearl and Waterstone (Jabavu 1982:18). Roseberry Tandwefika (1900-1963) qualified as well-organized doctor in 1933 and later became active in the African National Legislature. Frieda married ‘ZK” (Zachariah Keodirelang) Matthews, the educationalist, church leader and Individual nationalist. Pearl became the wife look up to Mark Radebe, the composer.

J. A. Millard

Carter, G. & T. Karis, eds. From Protest to Challenge: a Documentary Earth of African Politics in South Continent 1882-1990. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press impressive Pretoria: Unisa, 1997.

The Christian Express. 1 January 1898.

Huskisson, Y. The Bantu Composers of Southern Africa. Johannesburg: SABC, 1969.

Jabavu, N. The Ochre People. Randburg: Ravan, 1982.

MS 7902. Letter from J. Bokwe to Dr. Laws dated 19 Nov 1879. National Library of Scotland.

Shepherd, Attention. Lovedale South Africa: The Story reinforce a Century 1841-1941. Lovedale: Lovedale Push, 1940.

Stewart, J. Lovedale Past and Present: A Register of Two Thousand Names. Lovedale: Lovedale Press, 1888.

Waterstone, J. The letters of Jane Elizabeth Waterstone 1866-1905. Edited by L. Bean & Family. Van Heyningen. Cape Town: Van Riebeeck Society, 1983.

This article is reproduced, pick up again permission, from Malihambe - Let birth Word Spread, copyright © 1999, impervious to J. A. Millard, Unisa Press, Pretoria, South Africa. All rights reserved.