Avuxeni,
Our story begins with a turning point in the digital preservation of the Xitsonga language.
When Mukondleteri Dumela, the visionary founder of Xitsonga.org, announced the closure of the platform to pursue a new venture called Angula, it marked the end of an era but also the beginning of a new chapter. I, Shitshembiso Mabasa, approached Mukondli with a request to carry forward the legacy. He entrusted me with the brand, the domain, and the name — gifting not just a platform, but a responsibility to deepen and expand the work he had begun.
This moment coincided with a personal journey that would shape the direction of this new chapter. It began with the naming of my son: Umbe, short for Umbe-u-nawe (Xikwembu xi na wena) — God is with you. When my child’s mother asked about its significance, I explained its resonance with the sacred. Yet, her response and the broader reaction from others in our community, revealed something deeper. Some, especially among Vatsonga, believed the name had Nguni or Zulu origins, and not divine Xitsonga meaning. This divergence compelled me to investigate our identity more rigorously.
I soon realized that our understanding of self has long been shaped by external forces, colonial interpretations, missionary influence, and the categorization of African groups for administrative convenience. Labels like Ronga or Tonga were often externally imposed or born out of temporary political configurations. They may not reflect the deep, original names we gave ourselves. Determined to peel back these layers, I explored the linguistic clues buried in our language and traced the traditions of groups such as the Tjopi (Copi) and the Xilenge. These names and oral histories form a living map of our past, full of sacred knowledge, spiritual codes, and cultural blueprints.
I chose not to rely solely on written records often written through colonial lenses, but to trust in our oral tradition. In the spoken word lies the essence of our identity. Language is more than communication, it is our expression of life, our prayer to the universe, and our collective soul. Through our words, we shape meaning, bend time, and create new forms of existence. This understanding is echoed across cultures and religions. In Christianity, for instance, we are told that “In the beginning was the Word,” and that light emerged from darkness. Africa, too, holds stories of elemental creation — of water, fire, and soil combining to birth life. These are not just metaphors; they are encoded wisdoms, shared across time by our ancestors.
Yet our journey of creation is not singular. Just as a smartphone has native apps and third-party ones, our universe reflects multiple creators, energies, and lineages. This complexity challenges us. It forces us to question not only who we are, but what we are becoming and what we must protect in the process. Today, even as we thrive in music, fashion, and modern expression, something vital remains at risk: our language. Our true wealth is in our words. When a language dies, so too does a worldview, a people, and a spiritual frequency. Xitsonga has survived for over 2,000 years and possibly more. It has lived through migrations, war, colonialism, displacement, and forced assimilation. Yet it remains a sacred flame passed down from tongue to tongue, generation to generation.
This project, this platform, is not simply a website or an archive. It is a vow. A vow to remember, to preserve, to revive, and to speak. To build a future where Xitsonga is not merely surviving but thriving in homes, schools, technology, entertainment, and dreams.
This is our calling.
Let us honour our ancestors by honouring our language.
Let us protect our identity by protecting our words.
Let us shape the future by remembering who we are.