Makers and Shapers Profile

William Wellington Gqoba

Person

1840 - 1888

[Source - Henry Fagan for FHYA, 2022, using information acquired from Wikipedia: W.W. Gqoba was a prominent African intellectual who played a major part in developing isiXhosa literature. Gqoba was born in Gaba in the Eastern Cape region and attended Mission School at Tyhume, followed by the Lovedale Institute. Gqoba worked as a wagon maker from 1856 - 1858, but was then installed as a Church elder in Tiyo Soga's mission church at Mgwali. In 1884, he became the editor of Isigidimi samaXhosa, an isiXhosa newspaper. He also wrote numerous articles himself, in addition to several books and many poems and hymns.]