Abantu Abamnyama Lapa Bavela Ngakhona

Le ncwadi eyinqophamlando ngeyokuqala ngqa eyabhalwa ngesiZulu ngumbhali ongumZulu. UMagema Fuze wayibhala ekuqaleni kweminyaka ye-1900, wayishicilela ngasese ngowe-1922 ngesihloko esithi Abantu Abamnyama, Lapa Bavela Ngakona. Kule ncwadi eyisimanga, umbhali usethulela akutholile ngemvelaphi nokwehlukana kwezizwe, achaze nokuthi bazinza kanjani abantu kwelaseNatali. Ubuye abhale ngamasiko amaZulu, asitshele ngomlando wamaZulu ngezikhathi zeziphithiphithi ngekhuluminyaka leshumi nesishiyagalolunye, konke ekubuka ngeso lamaZulu ayephila ngaleso sikhathi. Kulo mlando welaseNatali, uFuze ubuye adidiyele ukubhala kukaMbhishobhi Colenso uFuze abuye aphawule ngendlela okubekwe ngayo. Okubuye kwayicebisa kakhulu le ncwadi yisandulela esibhalwe nguHlonipha Mokoena esiphawula ngokujulile ngezimo zezikhathi zakudala ezazinezinselelo. Abantu Abamnyama umthombo ohamba wodwa nje ongaba yigugu kubafundi abafuna ulwazi ngomlando wamaZulu nendlela okwakuphilwa ngayo ngezikhathi zawoShaka. Lo msebenzi uyimpendulo kubantu abahlale bebuza ukuthi – “Kodwa abantu abamnyama bavelaphi?”

Magema M. Fuze, the author, was born in Zululand around 1840. His early conversion to Christianity and his lifelong association with Bishop Colenso's home and family did not separate him from his own people; he wrote as a Zulu, drawing on the rich store of oral tradition he assembled from his extraordinarily wide circle of contacts. In 1859, he accompanied Colenso on his famous visit to the king, Mpande, and at the Bishop's request he visited Cetshwayo shortly before the war of 1879. When Dinuzulu was exiled to St. Helena, Fuze was employed as his tutor.Trevor Cope, the editor, was Professor and Head of the Department of Zulu Language and Literature at the University of Natal from 1970 to 1984.Harry Lugg, the translator, served as court interpreter, magistrate and finally as Chief Commissioner for Native Affairs in Natal. He was famous for his sound and wonderful knowledge of the isiZulu language and the customs and beliefs of the people. He first met Magema in 1902.