The Title of Ambition: A Young Scholar’s Journey at Rhodes
By: Amogelang Mogotsi
For one young Rhodes alumnus, studying African Languages is more than an academic pursuit. His journey into literature did not begin in a lecture hall or with a textbook, It began with connection. After befriending poets, Liyema Mzizi discovered a growing love for literature that would eventually shape his academic journey.
Liyema Mzizi, known as “Ntsika Yezibhalo,” which means the pillar of literature, is a Rhodes University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in African Languages and also a traditional healer, commonly known as “a Sangoma”. He was born and raised in Port Elizabeth and later moved to Grahamstown for his secondary education at Nathaniel Nyaluza High School, where he fell in with a circle of passionate poets. What started as casual companionship became educational and purpose driven, helping him uncover a hidden love for literature. That connection opened the door to a new creative world, he joined a poetry group called “Imini Esisidenge” in his community, where he began putting his own thoughts into words, writing poetry and drama scripts. What began with meeting poets eventually became a personal journey of discovering himself through literature.
He pursued his undergraduate studies at Rhodes University, where he formed a close friendship with an Honours student in African Languages. The friendship became an important source of support and played a significant role in deepening his appreciation for African languages, particularly isiXhosa, which his friend encouraged him to pursue.
His academic journey also carries a deeply personal significance. For him, pursuing a master’s degree represents more than an academic milestone; it is also a way of honouring the memory of his friend, who passed away while working towards his own master’s degree. His friend’s untimely passing left an unfinished academic journey, and in his memory, he made a promise to continue what his friend had started and to “finish the race” he never had the opportunity to complete.
While his academic journey continues to move forward, it has not always been easy to balance the different parts of his life. Between his personal responsibilities and practicing his gift as a traditional healer, he has had to learn how to manage competing demands while remaining committed to the laws of being a traditional healer and his academics. Overcoming this challenge, he decided to focus on his academics and pause his ‘ukuthwasa’ journey because his future depended on education.
Despite his confidence in his academic ability, there was a time when he questioned whether he would make it through university. When he arrived at Rhodes, he expected to focus solely on African Languages, particularly isiXhosa. However, he soon discovered that undergraduate study required him to take additional subjects. Adjusting to the academic structure made him doubt himself and his potential for a while. During this period of uncertainty, the support of those around him became important. Both his friend, (the Honours student) and his academic supervisor encouraged him and helped him overcome his doubts, reminding him of his abilities and giving him the confidence to continue pursuing his goals.
Reflecting on the recognition of African languages in South Africa, he believes that they have historically received less recognition than English and Afrikaans, which dominated many formal and educational spaces. He acknowledges that researchers and scholars have made efforts to intellectualise African Languages but argues that a gap remains. In his view, there is a need to further develop and “re-intellectualise” African Languages so that they can be more widely used as languages for teaching and learning.
His journey at Rhodes University , however, did not end with his undergraduate degree. He has continued to pursue his passion for African Languages through postgraduate studies and is currently completing his master’s degree. With his sights set on a PhD in African Languages, he hopes to take his academic journey even further and contribute to the study and development of African Languages. Looking ahead to his PhD, he hopes that his research will contribute meaningfully to the field of African Languages and to society at large. Although the specific focus of his proposed research remains undisclosed, his ambition is to produce work that contributes to the development, recognition, and use of African Languages, particularly within academic and educational spaces.
As he looks ahead to the next chapter, he leaves young people with a message of perseverance: “A dedicated mind has a future, while a defeated mind has no future. Study in advance and try not to be too hard on yourself. Even if you fail, there is nothing wrong with failing. Failure is a first attempt in life. At least you tried, and that makes you better than those who never tried at all”. For him, the journey is not about never failing, but about continuing to move forward despite the setbacks. His story is a reminder to young people that dedication, resilience, and the willingness to try can shape the future they aspire to build.
Article Edited by: Sihle Bikitsha
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