Deuteronomy Bhekinkosi ‘DBZ’ Ntuli was born at Gcotsheni, Eshowe, on 8 May 1940. He matriculated at St Francis College, Mariannhill, and completed his junior degree at the University College of Zululand. After working for three years as an announcer/producer for the Zulu service of the SABC, he joined the staff of the University of South Africa (UNISA) as a lecturer in the Department of African Languages. In 1978 he was awarded a D Litt degree and he was head of the Sub-department of Zulu before his retirement in 1999 after thirty-two years of service at UNISA. He was twenty-one years of age when his first book, a novel, UBheka, was published.

His second novel Ngiyoze ngimthole was published eight years later. It is in the category of short stories and essays that Ntuli has contributed most. To date he has published sixteen volumes of short stories and essays – including ten books of drama and eight anthologies of poetry he authored or co-authored or edited. He has translated into IsiZulu numerous manuals and books, the most outstanding ones of which are Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom (Uhambo olude oluya enkululekweni) and Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet (UMpholofethi). Ntuli has won about twenty awards for his various literary works. On four occasions, over the past twenty years he won the BW Vilakazi Award, the most prestigious award for IsiZulu literature, for his books: Imicibisholo and Izizenze which are short stories and essays, Izimpande, a history of Zulu literature and Imilando YakwaZulu, a drama. Six doctoral theses have been written on his works. He is a founder member of Usiba Writers’ Guild which will be celebrating its twentieth anniversary in August 2005, and is currently a freelance reviewer, editor and translator for publishing firms.

Bibliograpy

1978. The Poetry of B. W. Vilakazi.
1978. Uthingo lwenkosazana.
1980. Ugqozi, 1.
1985. Ngamafuphi: Izindaba Ezimfushane.
1987. Umtshingo.
1988. Woza Nendlebe.
1990. Isicamelo: Izindaba Ezimfushane.
1991. Lalela-ke: Imidlalo yomsakazo.
1992. Indoni yamanzi - Induku.
1994. Isibhakabhaka.
1996. Amandl'Esam bane.
1997. Impilo engcono.
1998. Yekantni Ulzuzenza.
2001. Izinyembezi zothando.
2002. Ugqozi olumaphiko.
2002. Imibhalo ka-D.B.Z. Ntuli: Incwadi yokubonga.
2003. Amadlelo aluhlaza.
2003. Kazi Ikusas Lisiphatheleni.
2006. NginguSosobala Mbatha.

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