Umteteli wa Bantu

Umteteli wa Bantu (translated as The Mouthpiece of the Native People) was a Johannesburg-based newspaper, first published on 1 May 1920.[1] Initially printed weekly, the publication transitioned to fortnightly in 1975, until its final issues were published in 1991.[2] Printed in English, isiXhosa, isiZulu, and Sesotho, it served as an important platform for black intellectual and political discourse in South Africa.

History

Umteteli wa Bantu was established in 1920 by the Chamber of Mines[3] and the Native Recruiting Corporation (NRC) following the 1920 mineworkers' strike.[1] The newspaper was created to counter the influence of Abantu Batho, an African National Congress (ANC) publication. The paper was anti-communist.[4]

During the 1930s, the newspaper frequently covered legislation and proclamations affecting black South Africans.[2] It also provided detailed reports on global events leading up to World War II, keeping its readership informed on war developments and the role of black South African soldiers.[5]

Format and Transition

Originally a weekly newspaper from 1920 to 1955, Umteteli wa Bantu transitioned to a monthly publication in 1956, then changed to a fortnightly format in 1975, until its discontinuation in 1991.[1]

  • 1956–1975: Published monthly under the title Umteteli wa Bantu e Goli.
  • 1975–1991: Published fortnightly under the title Mining Sun.[2]

Impact and Legacy

Umteteli wa Bantu played a crucial role in shaping black intellectual thought in South Africa. The publication provided a platform for writers, poets, and activists to engage in political discourse and challenge colonial narratives.

Notable contributors included:

  • Nontsizi Mgqwetho, a pioneering Xhosa poet known for her political and social critiques.
  • Various political commentators who debated issues of land dispossession, labor rights, and racial segregation.

Archival Access

Historical editions of Umteteli wa Bantu are preserved in various locations, including the University of Johannesburg Library and the National Library of South Africa. Researchers can access digital archives through:

References

  1. ^ a b c "Umteteli wa Bantu - University of Johannesburg TEBA Collection". University of Johannesburg. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Umteteli wa Bantu - CONTENTdm Digital Archives". National Library of South Africa. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  3. ^ Dlamini, Jacob (24 November 2020). "Game parks: exploring SA ideas of nature and nationality". Daily Dispatch – via PressReader. On August 9, 1924, Umteteli wa Bantu, a newspaper founded in 1920 by the Chamber of Mines to counter the spread of radical ideas among urbanized blacks in South Africa, ran an editorial headlined "The Natives ' Leisure. "
  4. ^ Dlamini, Jacob (14 April 2011). "SA has history extending far beyond its borders". Business Day – via PressReader. Umteteli wa Bantu, which marketed itself as the "mouthpiece of the Native peoples", was a fiercely anticommunist publication founded in May 1920 with financial backing from the Chamber of Mines.
  5. ^ "A History of Umteteli Wabantu - 1920-1956". South African History Online. 18 July 2013.

Further reading

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