Prof Nompumelelo Zondi
Head: African Languages
Nompumelelo Zondi or Mpume as she prefers to be known, was born and bred in the rural village of KwaNdebeqheke (KwaMadlala Mission) in the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. Her high school education was attained at Montebello High School and Sacred Heart Secondary in Oakford. She studied for a Secondary Teachers’ Diploma at Eshowe College of Education graduating with a distinction. Thereafter she went on to further her education at the University of Natal where she graduated in BA majoring in English and IsiZulu . She then pursued her BA Hons and Masters Degree at the same institution. Her Masters Research Project looked at the Protest Poetry of one of the acclaimed Zulu scholars, B.W. Vilakazi. In this study she underscores the significance of such works as one of the powerful forms of activism during apartheid regime. Wanting to understand people better within the work environment in 2001 Mpume undertook a two year part time Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management at the University of Natal. This diploma, she maintains, opened her eyes to a number of social issues that she was not aware of prior to her immersion in this programme. Between 2002-2003 she undertook Graduate Studies in the Department of Africana Studies at the State University of New York, USA whilst also teaching some aspects of South African history and Zulu Language and Culture at the same university. Besides renewing her commitment for academia, this opportunity exposed her to Gender issues which became one of the passionate areas on which she has published. She uses the platform to engage with literary works to highlight the significance of this much needed discipline.
On her return she assumed doctoral studies which culminated in a successful completion of her PhD in 2008. The focus of her study was gender and power as represented through contemporary women’s songs. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer position in 2009. Between 2009 and 2011 she served as an academic co-ordinator for the department of isiZulu Language and Literature. After 17 years of association with the Universiyt of Natal which later became the University of KwaZulu-Natal, she joined the University of Zululand as an Associate Professor in the Department of African Languages and Culture in 2012. During the second half of the same year she was asked to act as an HOD in the department of Creative Arts-a position she held until the HOD was appointed in 2013.
Mpume has traveled extensively locally and internationally on research related pursuits as well as giving some key note addresses for community related events. In 2017 she joins the University of Pretoria as the Head of Department of African Languages. She believes the strength of the department with four African languages which are offered to both mother tongue and non-mother tongue students can only take the department to greater heights. She also feels motivated that the senior staff constitutes knowledge bank from where she will draw whenever she needs help as they are well researched in their respective fields. She hopes to walk the academic journey with junior staff so that together we can continue to make a meaningful contribution to our department. Finally, she is excited to be joining such a vibrant department and can only hope for the best during her tenure.
For more information on translation and interpreting studies : http://www.up.ac.za/translation-and-interpreting-studies
Copyright © University of Pretoria 2023. All rights reserved.
COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal
To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]
Get Social With Us
Download the UP Mobile App