iimbongi

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English

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Xhosa iimbongi, from iim- +‎ imbongi.

Noun

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iimbongi

  1. plural of imbongi.
    • 1983, Jeff Opland, “Change in the Tradition”, in Xhosa Oral Poetry: Aspects of a Black South African Tradition (Cambridge Studies in Oral and Literate Culture; 7), Cambridge, New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 234:
      [] Mbutuma and Manisi are both "traditional" iimbongi, but Manisi's oral poetry is more historical than Mbutuma's – so that the bearer of a tradition is an individual creative artist even though he shares attributes with other participants in the tradition. [] Few Xhosa iimbongi today are untouched by urbanization, literacy, and exposure to mass media. How have these forces affected the tradition? To what extent can modern iimbongi be considered traditional?