UKZN Appoints Professor Nompumelelo Zondi as Mazisi Kunene Research Chair
“I aim to draw inspiration from these aspects of his work to drive research and creative outputs that explore and amplify marginalised voices and stories.”
The University of KwaZulu-Natal has appointed Professor Nompumelelo Zondi as the Mazisi Kunene Research Chair in the School of Arts - marking an important moment for the College of Humanities and for African-centered scholarship more broadly.
In 2026, the University marks 20 years since the passing of Professor Mazisi Kunene, South Africa’s Poet Laureate and one of the most influential scholars of isiZulu literature and African intellectual traditions. The Chair honours his legacy while advancing new research rooted in language, cultural memory, and community engagement.
For Professor Zondi, the appointment carries both institutional and personal meaning.
“Being appointed as the Mazisi Kunene Research Chair in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is a profound honour and a tremendous responsibility,” she said. “Particularly as we mark 20 years since Mazisi Kunene’s passing.”
A long-standing UKZN alumna, Professor Zondi completed all her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Institution before building a distinguished academic career.
Professor Kunene’s contribution to African literature and language scholarship remains central to the Research Chair’s vision.
A poet, scholar, and intellectual whose work foregrounded African historical memory and oral traditions, Kunene helped shape global understanding of the depth and sophistication of African language scholarship. After years in exile during apartheid, he later returned to teach at the University of Natal, now UKZN, strengthening the Institution’s role in advancing African literary studies.
The Mazisi Kunene Research Chair builds on that legacy by supporting research in African languages, indigenous knowledge systems, literature, and interdisciplinary humanities scholarship. It also reflects an ongoing partnership between the College of Humanities and the Mazisi Kunene Foundation aimed at preserving his archive and expanding access to his work.
Professor Zondi said Kunene’s intellectual vision will remain a guiding influence.
“His intellectual and creative work was marked by a profound commitment to social justice, a celebration of African culture, and a fusion of traditional and modern artistic forms,” she said.
She identified storytelling, cultural identity, language innovation, and social engagement as key elements shaping her priorities in the role.
“I aim to draw inspiration from these aspects of his work to drive research and creative outputs that explore and amplify marginalised voices and stories.”
“By building on Mazisi Kunene’s legacy, I aim to drive impactful research, creative output, and community engagement that elevates the School of Arts and the College of Humanities.”
A central focus of Professor Zondi’s academic work has been the relationship between African languages, literature, and gender. She intends to extend this work through the Chair.
“I will be exploring new avenues of research that highlight the intersection between African languages, literature, and gender, with a focus on how these intersections shape our understanding of identity, culture, and power,” she said.
She also emphasised the importance of strengthening the place of indigenous languages within Higher Education.
She noted that UKZN’s decision to make isiZulu language study compulsory for undergraduate students reflects the University’s commitment to advancing indigenous knowledge systems and linguistic diversity in South Africa.
Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, Head and Dean of the School of Arts at UKZN, welcomed the appointment of Zondi, saying that it was a defining step in advancing African languages and intellectual traditions within Higher Education.
“The establishment of the Mazisi Kunene Chair is both symbolic and strategic,” Hlongwa said. “It affirms our Institutional commitment to centering African intellectual traditions within the academy.”
She said the move strengthens the University’s role as a leader in the development of African scholarship while honouring the legacy of Mazisi Kunene, whose work remains foundational in African literature.
A key focus of the Chair will be advancing isiZulu as a language of scholarship. Hlongwa said this includes producing high-level academic work in isiZulu, supervising postgraduate students, and developing a curriculum that reflects indigenous knowledge systems.
The initiative is also expected to drive interdisciplinary collaboration.
The establishment of the Mazisi Kunene Academic Chair has also been welcomed by the Mazisi Kunene Foundation (MKF).
Chairman of the MKF, Mr Andries Botha, said the development marks the culmination of a partnership with UKZN that has been “long in the making”. For the foundation, the Chair represents a “long-standing goal” to safeguard and advance the late poet’s intellectual legacy.
©Higher Education Media Services.