Prof Maluleke pays homage to Rev DC Marivate in memorial lecture

The life and times of music and literary giant Rev Daniel Cornel Marivate were honoured in a musical extravaganza and a public lecture held at the South Africa State Theatre on 3 October 2026. The lecture, delivered by Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, celebrated Marivate’s contribution to literature, choral and South African folk music.

Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke delivers the Rev DC Marivate Memorial Lecture. Prof Maluleke described Marivate as an exceptional writer, teacher, Scout Master, pastor and music composer extraordinaire. He published the first Xitsonga novel, Sasavona in 1938. In his lecture, Prof Maluleke further noted that though Sasanova was a pioneering and seminal work in its own right, it is lamentable that it has not been translated into any other language.

Prof Maluleke was at pains to sketch as broadly as possible the full weight of the multifaceted work of Marivate: his multilingual musical compositions; his three published books as well five unpublished manuscripts; his two compilations of songs as three short stories, his Bible translation; and his more than 20 recordings of songs and dozens of musical compositions. Marivate also founded a newspaper – the  Valdezia Bulletin. Though based in Valdezia where he was born and where he worked as teacher and principal, Marivate was well travelled and well networked, spending time in Lovedale for further studies and in London and Lausanne, Switzerland.*

Marivate, who lived from 18 February 1897 to 30 October 1989 and died at 92, is also revered for his prolific contribution to Xitsonga choral music. He recorded the first Xitsonga and Tshivenda choral music in London in 1931 under Gallo Music.

“If DC Marivate did no other creative work except write his novel Sasavona, he would still be a universe creator worthy to be counted among the best writers beyond his era, especially in the Xitsonga language,” said Prof Maluleke.

“Sasavona is one of the most riveting, evocative and beautiful pieces of South African literature, 88 years since its publication. The book commands our attention because of the art with which it is crafted. No sooner does one start reading Sasavona, does one get captured by its narrative effervescence, its colourful language, its hard-hitting realism, its meticulous construction of characters, its boundless sarcasm and pithy aphorisms as well as the musical tempo of the chapters of the book which seem to swing from moderato to allegro to adagio and back.

“Sasavona is set in a drought-ravaged rural community, forcing men to migrate to Johannesburg and Pretoria in search of livelihoods. DC Marivate skilfully outlines the challenges to these difficult circumstances through the life of the main character, Sasavona,” he said.

Prof Maluleke also paid tribute to Marivate’s musical genius, saying his boundless energy and his love for African culture were palpable. “By the time DC Marivate passed on, he had composed a remarkable number of songs. His songs are at least 70 if not more,” he said.

Prof Maluleke was also in awe of Marivate’s meticulous record-keeping, including speech notes, invoices, minutes and letters to his children. So famous was his record-keeping that his personal notes were relied on whenever there were disputes on what was said at community meetings.

“Eighty-eight years since his pioneering Sasavona, and 37 years since he died, the genius and influence of DV Marivate still reverberates across the South African choral and literary communities,” said Prof Maluleke.

Marivate’s life was also celebrated through a feast of choral and orchestral music featuring the Mozambique and South Africa choirs, MOSA. The evening featured spectacular performances by local and Mozambican sopranos, tenors and bass. The choral music performances were accompanied by a 35-piece orchestra.