Pan Macmillan South Africa is proud to announce the publication of Ndibhala Intando Yam, the isiXhosa translation of Steve Biko’s iconic I Write What I Like. The book arrives in stores nationwide on 18 December, commemorating the anniversary of the birth of the Black Consciousness leader.
After years in the making, this long-awaited project is a testament to an enduring legacy. For the first time, Biko’s powerful words are directly accessible to isiXhosa speakers, allowing a new generation to connect with his powerful ideas in their mother tongue.
The release also marks a significant milestone for the publisher, representing a defining moment in Picador Africa’s 21st anniversary year. Andrea Nattrass, Publisher at Pan Macmillan, reflects on the imprint’s full-circle journey:
'Launching Picador Africa in 2004 with Steve Biko’s I Write What I Like was a declaration of Pan Macmillan's intent to centre South African voices. To now close our 21st year of local publishing by releasing Biko’s seminal work in isiXhosa feels incredibly significant. This is a classic work that remains urgent and necessary, and this translation honours Biko’s intellectual rigour.'
The translation was a meticulous process led by the late, renowned scholar Professor Peter Tshobisa Mtuze, who passed away earlier this year, with editorial input from Professor Simphiwe Sesanti and Dr Athambile Masola.
Dr Masola notes that the title choice, Ndibhala Intando Yam (directly translating to 'I write my will'), was deliberate, capturing the rhythm of Biko's voice while speaking to a deeper theme of Black identity.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Ndibhala Intando Yam is the isiXhosa translation of I Write What I Like, featuring the transformative writings of Steve Biko, the activist and Black Consciousness leader whose ideas were instrumental in the struggle against apartheid.
Along with all the material of the original edition, it includes a new Foreword by Nkosinathi Biko, a Preface by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and a moving piece by Father Aelred Stubbs.