John Tengo Jabavu and the roots of South African journalism
PICTURE: Free expression activist and Weekly Mail founder Professor Anton Harber, journalist Kerry Lanaghan, family member Yolisa Jabavu-Ndhlovu, Rhodes School of Journalism and Media lecturer Jeanne du Toit and family member Siyabonga Jabavu plant a commemorative aloe in the name of John Tengo Jabavu (Farirai Dangwa)
Farirai Dangwa
On the closing night of the 2024 Journalism Summit, Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies celebrated the rich history of broadcasting by paying homage to one of the pioneers of South African journalism, John Tengo Jabavu.
A Jollof and Jabavu night was hosted as a tribute to Jabavu, who was co-editor of the first newspaper that printed its articles in isiXhosa, Isigidimi samaXhosa. He later founded his own newspaper, Imvo Zabantsundu, and advocated for equal rights for all, regardless of race or gender.
Jabavu made big contributions to building up the foundations of what we know as journalism today, and to acknowledge that, the Summit invited Jabavu’s direct descendants to celebrate their ancestor’s history and plant a commemorative aloe in his honour.
The aloe symbolises the Rhodes School of Journalism’s goal to grow the isiXhosa language within journalism and continue creating a multilingual culture in journalism and society. The plant is closely linked to Jabavu as it also pays homage to the Eastern Cape, where he was born.
As lecturer Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki states, ‘The symbol of an aloe runs deep within this land … It’s a rugged, healing, bitter, and beautiful plant. It’s a sign of resilience and a symbol of education and resistance’.
Following a brief overview of Jabavu’s history by Taryn De Vega, Gqubule-Mbeki introduced the sixth generation of the Jabavu family – Yolisa Jabavu-Ndhlovu and Siyabonga Jabavu. They spoke on their ancestor’s significant role in the South African journalistic world and beyond.
Yolisa emphasised that John Jabavu was more than what he did. She said, ‘It is important for us as a family that you humanise him; he was not just an educator, a politician and a journalist; he was a husband and a father and a great-great-grandfather’.
Siyabonga added, ‘This year, as we celebrate his life, we want to republish Imvo as a remembrance of the past and looking forward to the future in journalism’.
The aloe was planted in front of the Journalism and Media Studies department with a plaque remembering Jabavu and his contributions to South African journalism and beyond.
- This article was first published here
