The Black Man Is His Own Worst Enemy (English translation) Original Zulu title: Isitha somuntu nguye uqobo lwakhe (sometimes written as Isitha Somuntu Nguye Uqobo Lwakhe)
Author: John Langalibalele Dube (also known as Mafukuzela), 1871–1946 — a prominent South African Zulu educator, minister, journalist, author, and the first president of the African National Congress (ANC).
Key Details:
- Published in 1922.
- It is one of the earliest books written in Zulu by a black South African author.
- The book promotes themes of self-help, personal responsibility, inner change, and moral upliftment within the African community. Dube encouraged black South Africans to focus on self-improvement rather than solely blaming external factors.
- It earned him significant recognition and contributed to him receiving an honorary doctorate.
This fits with Dube’s broader body of work, which often blended Christian values, Zulu pride, and calls for progress through education and self-reliance. His other notable books include:
- Insila ka Tshaka (1930) — later translated as Jeqe, the Body-servant of King Shaka
- UShembe (1936) — a biography of the prophet Isaiah Shembe
The book is relatively rare today and not widely available in modern reprints, but it’s historically significant in South African literature, especially Zulu-language writing.
Let me know if you’re looking for a PDF, summary, where to buy it, or more info on John Dube!
https://emandulo.apc.uct.ac.za/collection/FHYA%20Depot/Dube_Isita_Somuntu.pdf
