This week’s Writer of the Week is Sphamandla Mdletshe – a poet, who loves writing in his mother tongue, isiZulu. His featured work is ‘Nhlupheko’ – READ it here.

What is your mother tongue? What is the language of your dreams and desires? In what language do you feel you can express yourself fully and forcefully and be completely YOU? Spend a few minutes thinking about yourself and the role that language plays in your life.

To find out how others have approached the matter of language, READ these essays:
Essay 1 by Zimasa Govuzela
Essay 2 by Zandile Ngxuma
Essay 3 by Phenyo

Now it’s your turn! WRITE your own essay on the topic ‘Languages and Me’, and submit it to us for publication! If you’ve never submitted writing to FunDza before, CHECK OUT this document detailing how to get published as a Fanz writer.

Finally, if you just want to read – and read in your mother tongue – SEARCH for your language using the language tags (scroll to the bottom) on this page.

Have fun with your language today! And, don’t forget to tell us how you are getting along 20 days into Lockdown.