Daniel Cornel Marivate

Daniel Cornel Marivate (also known as D.C. Marivate) (18 February 1897 – 30 October 1989) was a South African writer, composer, educator, and reverend. He is widely recognized as a pioneer of Xitsonga literature and authored the first Xitsonga novel, Sasavona, published by the Swiss Mission Press in 1938. Educated at Valdezia and the Lemana Institute, Marivate made immense contributions to the preservation and development of the Xitsonga language through literature, hymn translations, and choral music.

D.C. Marivate Junior Secondary School in Soshanguve and a street in Saulsville, Pretoria, are named in his honor.

Early life and education Marivate was born in the village of Valdezia in 1897, the eldest child of Cornel Maxangete Maringa and Makhanani Annah Ximambana. He began his primary education in 1904 at the Valdezia primary school, a station established by the Swiss Presbyterian Missionaries in 1875. After completing his primary education in 1908, he studied carpentry, agriculture, English, and mathematics under the tutelage of Reverend Paul Rosset between 1909 and 1912.

He pursued teacher training at the Lemana Training Institute from 1912 to 1915. He began his teaching career at Manabele before being appointed to start a new school in Mambedi. Under his leadership, the school expanded to three teachers, with staff and students collaboratively making bricks to build classrooms. In 1915, Marivate and another black teacher faced a three-month suspension from the village church for attending a traditional village choral dance, an activity the Swiss Missionaries strictly forbade as "heathen."

He furthered his education at Lovedale College in 1924, earning a junior teaching certificate in 1925. He served as the principal of the Valdezia school from 1926 to 1929 before returning to Lovedale to complete his teaching qualifications. Simultaneously, he completed a diploma in music composition (tonic sol-fa) with the London College of Music between 1930 and 1931.

Career Journalism and leadership

Marivate was an active voice in community development. Alongside E.A. Tlakula and A.E. Mpapele, he served as the editor of The Valdezia Bulletin (later renamed The Light), a local bilingual newspaper published in English and Xitsonga. Initially handwritten and later typed and printed, the publication ran for seven years (1931–1937) and aimed to uplift the local population by broadcasting both regional and national news.

He was highly dedicated to educational administration, serving as the chairman of the Zoutpansberg branch of the African Teachers Association for over a decade, and acting as an inspector and vice-president for the Transvaal African Teachers Association.

Scouting In 1934, Marivate was invited to join the African Boy Scouts and traveled to Gilwell Park near London for Scoutmaster training. Due to the outbreak of World War II, the scouts were relocated from London to Bridgwater and Taunton. During this period, he traveled across England, France, and Switzerland. He returned to South Africa in late 1939 via a three-week voyage across the Atlantic, evading wartime submarine threats. In 1940, Scout South Africa formally employed him to train and recruit black youth into the Boy Scouts, a role he fulfilled until his retirement in the winter of 1959.

Ministry and Bible translation Although Marivate originally harbored ambitions to study medicine, he stepped aside so his eldest son, Charley, could pursue medical studies at the University of Natal. Subsequently, the Swiss Mission offered Marivate free theological training. After five years of study, he was ordained as a minister in 1956. He led the Swiss Mission Church in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, eventually overseeing 29 congregations. David Livingstone (1941, Swiss Mission in South Africa) Buku ya Swivuriso Xiloyiloyi (1984, Sasavona Publishers) Xitsonga Hymnary, Tinsimu ta Vakriste (1989, 8th revised edition, Sasavona Publishers) BIBELE Mahungu Lamanene (1989, The Bible Society of South Africa) – Co-translator

Selected musical compositions Xinkanka (1939) Tinsimbi ta Valungu (1951) Serululu (1951) Ben, Ben, Ben (1954) Mbuti ya Shidzwele (1968–1969) Xidzedze Kaya Phelindhaba Homu yo basa Yingisani Vamakweru! Xinyenyani

Personal life Marivate was married to Bertha N'wa-Jonas Manhengeni. They had six sons and one daughter, many of whom became prominent professionals in South Africa: Cornelius Tennyson Daniel Marivate – Professor of Languages at UNISA Russell Marivate – Medical Doctor Cecil Roy Marivate – Educator Martin Marivate – Medical Doctor Maseve Richard Marivate – Award-winning Mathematics Educator Desiree N'wa-Mhamba Marivate – Nurse Charles Daniel Marivate – Medical Doctor