List of Xhosa people
Encyclopedia
General
- Nelson MandelaNelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, former President of South Africa is a Xhosa-speaking member of the Thembu people. - Griffiths MxengeGriffiths MxengeGriffiths Mxenge, was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Trained as a lawyer, he was assassinated by the apartheid secret police in 1981. He was a member of the African National Congress . He was sent to Robben Island in 1966 because of his political activities...
- Victoria MxengeVictoria MxengeVictoria Mxenge, was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Trained as a nurse and midwife, she began practising law....
- Busiswa Nxazonke
- Pelani Fetman
- Barney PityanaBarney PityanaNyameko Barney Pityana FKC is a human rights lawyer and theologian in South Africa. He is an exponent of Black theology....
- Hector Peterson
- John Knox Bokwe
- John Gomomo
- Elijah Barayi
Politicians
- Stephen Biko
- Winnie Madikizela-MandelaWinnie Madikizela-MandelaWinnie Madikizela-Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is currently a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee...
- Govan MbekiGovan MbekiGovan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki was a South African politician, and father of the former South African president Thabo Mbeki and political economist Moeletsi Mbeki...
- Thabo MbekiThabo MbekiThabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
- Walter SisuluWalter SisuluWalter Max Ulyate Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress .-Family and Education:...
- Robert SobukweRobert SobukweRobert Mangaliso Sobukwe was a South African political dissident, who founded the Pan Africanist Congress in opposition to the apartheid regime. In 2004 Sobukwe was voted 42nd in the SABC3's Great South Africans....
- Oliver TamboOliver TamboOliver Reginald Tambo was a South African anti-apartheid politician and a central figure in the African National Congress .-Biography:Oliver Tambo was born in Bizana in eastern Pondoland in what is now Eastern Cape...
- Chris HaniChris HaniChris Hani, born Martin Thembisile Hani was the leader of the South African Communist Party and chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress . He was a fierce opponent of the apartheid government...
- Bantu HolomisaBantu HolomisaBantubonke Harrington Holomisa is a South African Member of Parliament and President of the United Democratic Movement.Holomisa was born in Mqanduli, Eastern Cape. He joined the Transkei Defence Force in 1976 and had become a Brigadier by 1985...
- Gwede MantasheGwede MantasheGwede Mantashe is a South African politician, holding posts of ANC secretary general and chairperson of the South African Communist Party.- Posts :...
- Zwelinzima VaviZwelinzima VaviZwelinzima Vavi is General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions , and Vice-Chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council.-Early life:...
- Fikile MbalulaFikile MbalulaFikile Mbalula is the minister of sport in the Cabinet of South Africa, a former deputy minister of police, a member of the national executive committee of the African National Congress and former leader of the African National Congress Youth League.-Career:Mbalula was appointed deputy minister of...
- Walter Benson Rubusana
- John Tengo JabavuJohn Tengo JabavuJohn Tengo Jabavu was a political activist and the editor of South Africa's first newspaper to be written in Xhosa....
- Alfred Xuma
- Clarence Makwetu
- Sabelo Pama
- Thami Mcerwa
Artists and writers
- Chief D.M. Jongilanga
- Chief Sipho Mangindi Burns-NcamasheSipho Burns-NcamasheSipho Mangindi Burns-Ncamashe Ah! Zilimbola was a South African poet, short story writer and Xhosa imbongi . He was also the chief of the AmaGwali Xhosa sub-group in Alice....
- Johnny Mbizo Dyani
- AmampondoAmampondoAmampondo is a South African percussion ensemble which was started by Dizu Plaatjies in Langa Cape Town in 1978. The other founding members were Simpiwe Matole; Michael Ludonga; Mzwandile Qotoyi; Leo Mbizela and Mandla Lande.-Origins:...
- Brenda FassieBrenda FassieBrenda Fassie , was a South African pop singer. She was known for her "outrageousness" and widely considered a voice for disenfranchised blacks during apartheid. She was affectionately known as the Queen of African Pop and her nickname amongst fans was Mabrr.-Biography:Brenda was born in Langa,...
- Archibald Campbell JordanArchibald Campbell JordanArchibald Campbell Mzolisa Jordan was a novelist, literary historian and intellectual pioneer of African studies in South Africa.-Early life:...
- John KaniJohn KaniBonsile John Kani is a South African actor, director and playwright.He was born in New Brighton, South Africa.Kani joined The Serpent Players in Port Elizabeth in 1965 and helped to create many plays that went unpublished but were performed to a resounding reception.These...
- Miriam MakebaMiriam MakebaMiriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
- S.E.K. Mqhayi
- K.S Bongela
- Bongani Ndodana-BreenBongani Ndodana-BreenBongani Ndodana-Breen is a South African-born composer, musician and cultural activist. He was born in 1975 in Queenstown, South Africa and is a member of the Xhosa clan. He is often referred to by his Xhosa paternal ancestral name or isiduko, Rhadebe. He was educated at St...
- Bulelani NgcukaBulelani NgcukaBulelani T Ngcuka was the first national Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa, and is the husband of former Deputy President of South Africa Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. He was embroiled in controversy after being accused of being an apartheid spy...
- Winston NtshonaWinston NtshonaWinston Ntshona is a South African playwright and actor.Born in Port Elizabeth, Ntshona worked alongside fellow South African Athol Fugard on several occasions and played a minor role in Richard Attenborough's acclaimed film Gandhi....
- Percy QobozaPercy QobozaPercy Peter Tshidiso Qoboza was an influential black South African journalist, author, and outspoken critic of the apartheid government in South Africa during the early periods of world recognition of the problems evident in the racially divided land...
- Enoch SontongaEnoch SontongaEnoch Mankayi Sontonga was the composer of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika , which has been part of the South African national anthem since 1994. It was also the official African National Congress anthem since 1925 and is still the national anthem of Tanzania and Zambia...
- Desmond TutuDesmond TutuDesmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
- Thandiswa MazwaiThandiswa MazwaiThandiswa Mazwai is a multi-award winning South African musician, and is also the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bongo Maffin.-Early life:...
- Mongezi FezaMongezi FezaMongezi Feza was a South African jazz trumpet player and flautist.-Biography:Feza was born in Queenstown, South Africa in 1945. A member of The Blue Notes, he left South Africa in 1964 and settled in Europe, living in London and Copenhagen. As a trumpeter, his influences included hard bopper...
- Dizu PlaatjiesDizu PlaatjiesDizu Plaatjies is the founder and former leader of the South African group, Amampondo. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Town School of Music and now lectures there in African Music. Since leaving Amampondo he has started a new ensemble called Ibuyambo...
- Dudu PukwanaDudu PukwanaMtutuzel Dudu Pukwana was a South African saxophonist, composer and pianist .-Early years in South Africa:...
- Mhlobo JadezweniMhlobo JadezweniMhlobo Jadezweni is a South African academic. He studied at Fort Hare University. He has been attached to the Department of African Languages at Stellenbosch University since 1983, where he teaches Xhosa literature and language, and studies isiXhosa poetry...
- Sindiwe MagonaSindiwe Magona-Early life and education:A native of the Transkei, she grew up in a township near Cape Town, where she worked as a domestic and completed her secondary education by correspondence. Magona later graduated from the University of South Africa and earned a graduate degree from Columbia...
- John MatshikizaJohn MatshikizaJohn Matshikiza was a South African actor, theatre director, poet and journalist.John Matshikiza was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Todd Matshikiza and Esme Matshikiza. Todd was a renowned jazz pianist, composer and journalist. Due to apartheid, the Matshikiza family went into exile in...
- Todd MatshikizaTodd MatshikizaTodd Tozama Matshikiza was a South African jazz pianist, composer and journalist.-Overview:Matshikiza came from a musical family. He graduated from St Peter's College in Rosettenville, Johannesburg and went on to obtain a diploma in music and a teaching diploma. He then taught English and...
- Simphiwe DanaSimphiwe DanaSimphiwe Dana is a Xhosa pop singer in South Africa. With her unique combination of jazz, pop, and traditional music, she has been hailed as the "new Miriam Makeba"....
- Ringo Madlingozi
- Zakes MdaZakes MdaZakes Mda , legally Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda , is a South African novelist, poet and playwright. He has won major South African and British literary awards for his novels and plays.-Early life and education:...
- Trevor NoahTrevor NoahTrevor Noah is an award winning South African comedian. He became well known in South Africa as the "Customer Experience Officer" of Cell C, through their "Tell Trevor" marketing campaigns...
- Ken GampuKen GampuKen Gampu was a South African actor.Before he began his career, Gampu was a physical training instructor, salesman, interpreter and police officer. His first acting job was in Athol Fugard's play, No Good Friday . His big break came in in the 1965 film Dingaka by Jamie Uys...
- Pamela Nomvete
Sportspeople
- Welcome NcitaWelcome NcitaWelcome Ncita was a professional boxer and IBF Super Bantamweight Champion. Ncita was born in Mdantsane, South Africa.Known as "The Hawk", Ncita turned professional in 1984 and in 1994 captured the International Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight Title with a victory over Fabrice Benichou in a...
- Vuyani BunguVuyani BunguVuyani Bungu was a professional boxer. Known as "Carousel Kid" or "The Beast", Bungu was a force in the super bantamweight division throughout the 1990s.-Professional career:...
- Xolile YawaXolile YawaXolile Yawa is a retired athlete from South Africa. He specialised in long-distance running, including marathons....
- Mbulelo BotileMbulelo BotileMbulelo Botile is a former South African boxer in the Bantamweight division. -Professional career:...
- Thulani MalingaThulani MalingaThulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga Thulani "Sugarboy" Malinga (born December 11, 1955 in Ladysmith, South Africa, was a professional boxer in the Super Middleweight (168lb) division, and was twice WBC super middleweight champion.- Professional career :...
- Masibulele MakepulaMasibulele MakepulaMasibulele Makepula is a professional boxer.- Amateur Achievements :*Gold Medalist at the 1995 African Championships in Harare as a Light Flyweight....
- Mzukisi SikaliMzukisi SikaliMzukisi Sikali, , was a South African boxer who served as a world champion in three different weight categories: junior flyweight, flyweight, and super flyweight.-Murder:...
- Mzolisi YoyoMzolisi YoyoMzolisi Yoyo is a South African lightweight boxer based in Mdantsane. His record stands at 11 wins and 2 losses after 13 bouts.-External links:...
- Makhaya NtiniMakhaya NtiniMakhaya Ntini is a former South African cricketer who was the first ethnically black player to play for the South African team. A fast bowler, he tends to bowl from wide of the crease with brisk, although not express, pace...
- Chumani Booi
- Nkosana Mgxaji