Details about Nqontsonqa’s funeral

Siphelo Dyongman, better known in the entertainment industry as Nqontsonqa, will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 5 in Makhanda.

According to reports, the poet and musician died in the Butterworth traffic on his way home from Mthatha, where he had been sent by the Department of Labour, at noon on Friday, October 28.

On the fateful day of this incident, Akhona ‘Bhodl’ingqaka’ Mafani, a poet, reported to I’solezwe lesiXhosa that Dyongman was alone in the vehicle he was driving when the incident occurred. He said that the artist died at the scene of the accident.

Agcobile Dyongman, Dyongman’s sister, said they are devastated and have not yet accepted this as a family.

“We are not in a good place; we still cannot believe it; he had a lot planned for us as a family and for his two children,” said Agcobile.

Dyongman, a trained journalist, had written for I’solezwe lesiXhosa when it first launched in 2015 and 2016.

Unathi Kondile, the newspaper’s founder and first editor, described Dyongman as someone who lived in his own world and possessed a wide range of abilities.

“He moved to I’solezwe lesiXhosa from Makhanda to work as a writer. It was never a long interview. We hired him even though it was not a full-time position. I really wanted him to write the news in the same way he could play with isiXhosa words when writing poetry,” said Kondile.

According to Kondile, the problem with the isiXhosa language is that there are many people who can use it well, but the problem is that there are few job opportunities in isiXhosa.

“Dyongman should have been able to find work anywhere, especially in communications. I am not sure what we will do now that such a gifted individual has left this world.

“Dyongman was aware that I had never grown accustomed to the name, Nqontsonqa, and he became a beautiful example of what a person can be with his language. Rest easy, brother; it is obvious that you have completed your journey,” said Kondile.

Dyongman has many songs to his credit, including Ndifuna Ezi, Lekese, Camagu, Ithuba, and Vumba Lothando, to name a few.

He collaborated on those songs with singers such as Berita, Simbone, and Bhodl’ ingqaka.

The family has scheduled a memorial service for November 4 at an unknown location.

The funeral service will begin after 7am at 10399 Major Fuku Street, Vukani Location in Makhanda.

Rest in peace, Zotsho!