Njabulo Ndebele
Encyclopedia
Professor Njabulo Simakahle Ndebele (born 4 July 1948 in Johannesburg
), an academic, a literary and a writer of fiction, is the former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Cape Town
.
in 1975; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Writing by the University of Denver
in 1983. He also studied at Churchill College, University of Cambridge
, where he was the first recipient of the South African Bursary.
Njabulo Ndebele was Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Cape Town
from July 2000 to June 2008, following tenure as a scholar in residence at the Ford Foundation
’s headquarters in New York. He joined the Foundation in September 1998, immediately after a five-year term of office as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Limpopo
in Sovenga, in the then Northern Province. Previously he served as Vice-Rector of the University of the Western Cape
. Earlier positions include Chair of the Department of African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand
; and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
, Dean, and Head of the English Department at the National University of Lesotho
.
An established author, Njabulo Ndebele recently published a novel The Cry of Winnie Mandela to critical acclaim. An earlier publication Fools and Other Stories won the Noma Award
, Africa’s highest literary award for the best book published in Africa in 1984. His highly influential essays on South African literature and culture
were published in a collection Rediscovery of the Ordinary.
Njabulo Ndebele served as President of the Congress of South African Writers
for many years. As a public figure he is known for his incisive insights in commentaries on a range of public issues in South Africa.
Njabulo Ndebele is also a key figure in South African higher education. He has served as Chair of the South African Universities Vice-Chancellor’s Association from 2002–2005, and served on the Executive Board of the Association of African Universities
since 2001. He has done public service in South Africa in the areas of broadcasting policy, school curriculum in history, and more recently as chair of a government commission on the development and use of African languages as media of instruction in South African higher education. He recently became President of the AAU and Chair of the Southern African Regional Universities Association
. He is also a Fellow of UCT.
He holds honorary doctorates from universities in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan, South Africa and the United States of America. The University of Cambridge
awarded him an Honorary
Doctorate in Law
in 2006, and he was made an honorary fellow of Churchill College in 2007. In 2008 the University of Michigan
awarded him another Honorary
Doctorate in Law
.
Njabulo Ndebele also contributed to Chimurenga magazine
.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
), an academic, a literary and a writer of fiction, is the former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of 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...
.
Life and career
Ndebele's father was Nimrod Njabulo Ndebele and his mother was Makhosazana Regina Tshabangu. He married Mpho Kathleen Malebo on 30 July 1971. They have one son and two daughters. Ndebele was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy by the University of Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland in 1973; a Master of Arts in English Literature by the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1975; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Writing by the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
in 1983. He also studied at Churchill College, University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he was the first recipient of the South African Bursary.
Njabulo Ndebele was Vice-Chancellor and Principal 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...
from July 2000 to June 2008, following tenure as a scholar in residence at the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
’s headquarters in New York. He joined the Foundation in September 1998, immediately after a five-year term of office as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Limpopo
University of Limpopo
The University of Limpopo is a university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by the merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa...
in Sovenga, in the then Northern Province. Previously he served as Vice-Rector of the University of the Western Cape
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape is a public university located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university for Coloured people only...
. Earlier positions include Chair of the Department of African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
; and Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Pro-Vice-Chancellor
In a university, an assistant to a vice-chancellor is called a pro-vice-chancellor . These are sometimes teaching academics who take on additional responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities are in charge of Administration, Research and Development, Academic and Education affairs...
, Dean, and Head of the English Department at the National University of Lesotho
National University of Lesotho
The National University of Lesotho is situated at Roma some 34 kilometers southeast of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The Roma valley is broad and is surrounded by a barrier of rugged mountains which provides magnificent scenery. The University enjoys a temperate climate with four distinctive...
.
An established author, Njabulo Ndebele recently published a novel The Cry of Winnie Mandela to critical acclaim. An earlier publication Fools and Other Stories won the Noma Award
Noma Award
The Noma Award for Publishing in Africa is a $10,000 prize for outstanding African writers and scholars who publish in Africa. Established in 1979, the award is annual and given to any new book published in three categories: literature, juvenile and scholarly...
, Africa’s highest literary award for the best book published in Africa in 1984. His highly influential essays on South African literature and culture
Culture of South Africa
South Africa is known for its ethnic and cultural diversity. Therefore, there is no single culture of South Africa.The South African black majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants who lead largely impoverished lives...
were published in a collection Rediscovery of the Ordinary.
Njabulo Ndebele served as President of the Congress of South African Writers
Congress of South African Writers
The Congress of South African Writers is a South African grassroots writer’s organisation.Launched in July 1987, its initial aims were to promote literature and redress the imbalances of apartheid education...
for many years. As a public figure he is known for his incisive insights in commentaries on a range of public issues in South Africa.
Njabulo Ndebele is also a key figure in South African higher education. He has served as Chair of the South African Universities Vice-Chancellor’s Association from 2002–2005, and served on the Executive Board of the Association of African Universities
Association of African Universities
The Association of African Universities was established in 1967 to facilitate co-operation between its members and with the international academic community. It is based in Accra, Ghana...
since 2001. He has done public service in South Africa in the areas of broadcasting policy, school curriculum in history, and more recently as chair of a government commission on the development and use of African languages as media of instruction in South African higher education. He recently became President of the AAU and Chair of the Southern African Regional Universities Association
Southern African Regional Universities Association
The Southern African Regional Universities Association was established in 2005 as a membership based association for the 66 public universities in the 15 countries of the Southern African Development Community ....
. He is also a Fellow of UCT.
He holds honorary doctorates from universities in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan, South Africa and the United States of America. The University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
awarded him an Honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctorate in Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
in 2006, and he was made an honorary fellow of Churchill College in 2007. In 2008 the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
awarded him another Honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctorate in Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
.
Works
- Fine Lines from the Box: Further Thoughts About Our Country, 2007
- Rediscovery of the Ordinary: Essays on South African Literature and Culture, 1991, Reissued 2006
- Fools and Other Stories, 1983, reissued 2006
- The Cry of Winnie Mandela, 2004
- Umpropheti/The Prophetess, 1999
- Death of a Son, 1996
- Bonolo and the Peach Tree, 1994
- Sarah, Rings, and I, 1993
- Africans must treasure their literature, London Independent, 30 July 2002
Njabulo Ndebele also contributed to Chimurenga magazine
Chimurenga magazine
Chimurenga is a publication, of arts, culture and politics from and about Africa and its diasporas, founded and edited by Ntone Edjabe. Both the title Chimurenga and the content capture the connection between African cultures and politics on the continent and beyond.- History :Chimurenga was...
.