Table of contents
The untold story of the Xitsonga press industry — find out more here! 🗞️
Publication name.
- The Valdezia Bulletin. 🗞️
Publication period.
- 1931 – 1937. 🗞️
Publication history.
This publication was founded in 1931 in Valdezia, Limpopo, by Daniel Marivate, a young schoolteacher who would later become a prominent author and public intellectual. In 1933, he was joined by Etienne Tlakula, a teacher from Elim. The paper began as a humble effort with its first issues handwritten and duplicated by hand, sold at just one penny per copy. Later, articles were typed onto stencils and duplicated, marking a shift in production. By 1936, the publication underwent a significant transformation, adopting the new name The Light: Ku Vonakala. This period also marked its expansion into more formal printing and wider distribution. Each month, copies were sent to Spes Bona Printing Works in Johannesburg, then returned to Valdezia and distributed as a registered newspaper through the General Post Office.
Fun fact about “The Valdezia Bulletin.”
- A complete series of The Valdezia Bulletin / The Light is preserved at the UNISA Documentation Centre for African Studies, as part of the Marivate papers collection.
“Keep exploring, keep learning, and let the language guide you.“
Losani! 😊
