Archibald Campbell Jordan
Encyclopedia
Archibald Campbell Mzolisa Jordan (30 October 1906 - 20 October 1968) was a novelist, literary historian and intellectual pioneer of African studies
in South Africa
.
, completed his junior certificate at Lovedale College, Alice, and then won a scholarship to Fort Hare University College. His literary and linguistic training consisted in a BA Degree (1934), followed by a Masters thesis (or "dissertation"), submitted to the University of Cape Town
(UCT) in 1942, entitled Some features of the phonetic and grammatical structure of Baca (that is, of Bhaca
), which was an important early contribution to the study of non-standard Nguni languages, specifically, of a Tekela Nguni language. This was followed in 1957 by a doctoral degree: A Phonological and Grammatical Study of Literary Xhosa.
(then in the Orange Free State
) between 1934 and 1944 Jordan mastered Sotho, became president of the African Teachers’ Association, and started his writing career with the publication of poetry in the newspaper Imvo Zabantsundu. He also started work on his classic Xhosa novel, Ingqumbo Yezinyanya (1940), later translated by the author and his wife, Phyllis Ntantala, into English as The Wrath of the Ancestors (1980). This novel, considered as one of the masterpieces of Xhosa writing and South African literature, was translated into Afrikaans
as Die Toorn van die Voorvaders, published in 1990, and a Dutch translation, De Wraak van het Voorgeslacht, appearing in the classic African writers series in the Netherlands in 1999. The novel tells a gripping epic-tragic tale of the conflicting forces of Western education and Xhosa traditional beliefs amongst the “School people” and the “Ochre people” of the Mpondomise people.
After a brief stint as Senior Lecturer in Bantu Languages at the Fort Hare University College, beginning 1944, Jordan was appointed Senior Lecturer in African Languages at the University of Cape Town
in 1946. He worked in that capacity until September 1961.
While at UCT he began a new method of teaching Xhosa to non-mother tongue speakers, which he published as A Practical Course In Xhosa (1966).
by the South African government. As a result of political pressure, Jordan was forced to leave South Africa on an exit permit. He settled in America where he was appointed professor in African Languages and Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles
and later moved, in similar capacity, to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. In 1968, Jordan died in Madison, after a long illness.
One eminent South African scholar who studied Xhosa under Jordan’s guidance was the writer and academic, Professor Vernon February. Decades later he still testified to the enormous influence Jordan had on those students, and the inspiring and vital knowledge he imparted about Xhosa culture and language. Similarly, Professor Carol Eastman recounted, in Johannesburg, at the "Sociolinguistics in Africa" conference organised by Prof Bob Herbert, her inspiration for African culture and language instilled by Jordan when he taught her Xhosa
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1960s. She said there was a "quiet sadness" about Jordan, living as he was in exile, very far from home.
Jordan's other important publications include a book on short stories entitled Kwezo Mpindo zeTsitsa, published in 1973 as Tales from Southern Africa, and an important pioneering critical study, entitled Towards an African Literature
: The Emergence of Literary Form in Xhosa (1972).
For his creative works, his pioneering research and his sustained efforts at preserving and recording in his writing the culture and history of the Xhosa people of the Eastern Cape, the University of Port Elizabeth posthumously bestowed on Jordan an honorary doctorate in literature, on 24 April 2004.
African studies
African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and societies of Africa .The field includes the study of:Culture of Africa, History of Africa , Anthropology of Africa , Politics of Africa, Economy of Africa African studies is the study of Africa, especially the cultures and...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Early life
He was born at the Mbokothwane Mission in the Tsolo district, Pondoland (later Transkei), as son of an Anglican church minister. He trained as teacher at St John's College in MthathaMthatha
Mthatha is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town has an airport, previously known by the name K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima....
, completed his junior certificate at Lovedale College, Alice, and then won a scholarship to Fort Hare University College. His literary and linguistic training consisted in a BA Degree (1934), followed by a Masters thesis (or "dissertation"), submitted to the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
(UCT) in 1942, entitled Some features of the phonetic and grammatical structure of Baca (that is, of Bhaca
Bhaca
The Bhaca people or amaBhaca are an ethnic group in South Africa, mainly found in the small towns of the former Transkei homeland, Mount Frere and Umzimkhulu, and surrounding areas .Their dialect, isiBhaca, is Xhosa with strong Zulu and some Swati influences. The origin of their name is unclear...
), which was an important early contribution to the study of non-standard Nguni languages, specifically, of a Tekela Nguni language. This was followed in 1957 by a doctoral degree: A Phonological and Grammatical Study of Literary Xhosa.
Writing career
While teaching in KroonstadKroonstad
Kroonstad is the third-largest town in the Free State province of South Africa, and lies two hours drive from Gauteng. In the 1991 census it had a population of 110,963...
(then in the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
) between 1934 and 1944 Jordan mastered Sotho, became president of the African Teachers’ Association, and started his writing career with the publication of poetry in the newspaper Imvo Zabantsundu. He also started work on his classic Xhosa novel, Ingqumbo Yezinyanya (1940), later translated by the author and his wife, Phyllis Ntantala, into English as The Wrath of the Ancestors (1980). This novel, considered as one of the masterpieces of Xhosa writing and South African literature, was translated into Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
as Die Toorn van die Voorvaders, published in 1990, and a Dutch translation, De Wraak van het Voorgeslacht, appearing in the classic African writers series in the Netherlands in 1999. The novel tells a gripping epic-tragic tale of the conflicting forces of Western education and Xhosa traditional beliefs amongst the “School people” and the “Ochre people” of the Mpondomise people.
After a brief stint as Senior Lecturer in Bantu Languages at the Fort Hare University College, beginning 1944, Jordan was appointed Senior Lecturer in African Languages at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in 1946. He worked in that capacity until September 1961.
While at UCT he began a new method of teaching Xhosa to non-mother tongue speakers, which he published as A Practical Course In Xhosa (1966).
Exile
In 1961 Jordan was offered a Carnegie bursary to do research in the United States of America, but was refused a passportPassport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
by the South African government. As a result of political pressure, Jordan was forced to leave South Africa on an exit permit. He settled in America where he was appointed professor in African Languages and Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and later moved, in similar capacity, to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. In 1968, Jordan died in Madison, after a long illness.
One eminent South African scholar who studied Xhosa under Jordan’s guidance was the writer and academic, Professor Vernon February. Decades later he still testified to the enormous influence Jordan had on those students, and the inspiring and vital knowledge he imparted about Xhosa culture and language. Similarly, Professor Carol Eastman recounted, in Johannesburg, at the "Sociolinguistics in Africa" conference organised by Prof Bob Herbert, her inspiration for African culture and language instilled by Jordan when he taught her Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1960s. She said there was a "quiet sadness" about Jordan, living as he was in exile, very far from home.
Jordan's other important publications include a book on short stories entitled Kwezo Mpindo zeTsitsa, published in 1973 as Tales from Southern Africa, and an important pioneering critical study, entitled Towards an African Literature
African literature
African literature refers to literature of and from Africa. As George Joseph notes on the first page of his chapter on African literature in Understanding Contemporary Africa, while the European perception of literature generally refers to written letters, the African concept includes oral...
: The Emergence of Literary Form in Xhosa (1972).
For his creative works, his pioneering research and his sustained efforts at preserving and recording in his writing the culture and history of the Xhosa people of the Eastern Cape, the University of Port Elizabeth posthumously bestowed on Jordan an honorary doctorate in literature, on 24 April 2004.