Degrees Held
- Bachelor of Arts degree, University of Natal, 1992
- Bachelor of Arts [Honours in IsiZulu], University of Natal, 1993
- Master’s in isiZulu, University of Natal, 1996
- Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management, University of Natal, 2002
- Doctoral (African Languages, IsiZulu), University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008
Research Interests
- Literary Studies
- African Studies
- Gender Studies
Teaching Interests
- Literary Studies
- African Studies
- Gender Studies
Complete Research Record
Books
Journal Articles (Selected from 2020-)
Chapters In Books
Books
- Zondi, N. (2020) Bahlabelelani-Why do they sing? Gender and power in contemporary women’s songs. Pietermaritzburg: UKZN Press.
- Zondi, N., Mkhize, G., Zungu, E.B., Kumalo, S.H. and Reddy, V. (eds). 2023. Thetha Sizwe: Contemporary South African Debates on African Languages and the Politics of Gender and Sexualities. Pretoria: ESI Press.
- Zondi, N.B, N, Zondi & B, Mdletshe. 2026. Standing on the Top of the highest Mountain: Becoming Buzetsheni, the Praise Singer of iSilo uZwelithini kaBhekuzulu. Pietermaritzburg: UKZN Press.
- Zondi, N.B, N, Zondi & B, Mdletshe. 2026. Esicongweni Sentaba: Ubizo lukaBuzetsheni Mdletshe, iNyosi YeSilo SamabandlauZwelithini kaBhekuzulu. Pietermaritzburg: UKZN Press.
Journal Articles (Selected from 2020-)
- Makhiwane, N.P. and Zondi, N.B. 2026. Imvelaphi yokuphikisana kwemibono ngobulili obuhlukene ngokwesimanje okuvezwa ngamanoveli esiZulu. South African Journal of African Languages, 46 (2):138-151. Available at: Taylor & Francis Online.
- Chidi, T., Zondi, N. and Mkhize G. 2024. Comparative analysis of black queer feminist isiXhosa and English poetry. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 61 (1):81-89. DOI 10.17159/tl. v61i1.6060
- Mnisi, L.N., Zondi, N. and Pikirayi, I. 2023. Consumptive and Non-Consumptive Uses of Water Beetles (Aquatic coleopterans) in Sub-Saharan Traditional African Rituals. Insects 14(10):795. https// doi.org/10.3390/insects14100795.
- Nkosi, V. J. and Zondi, N.B. 2022. Imicabango Yababhali Base-Afrika ngempumelelo yabesifazane: kuhlaziywa inoveli KaJabulani Mngadi ethi, Usumenyezelwe-ke Umcebo (African Authors’ Perceptions about female success: Analysis the novel of Jabulani Mngadi, Usumenyezelwe-ke Umcebo, South African Journal of African Languages 42 (2): 144-151. [IBSS-impact factor 0.14] Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2022.2094054.
- Makgabo, M.C., Ramagoshi, R.M. and Zondi, N.B. 2021. Stereotyping in the novel Moelelwa: The dichotomy between laziness and maternal duties, South African Journal of African Languages, 41 (2): 172-178. [IBSS-impact factor 0.14] Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2021.1948218.
- Prinsloo, D.J. and Zondi, N.B. 2020. Lexicographic treatment of zero equivalence in isiZulu dictionaries. Lexikos 30 (Afrilex-reeks/series 30:2020 346- 362.
[ISI, Impact factor 0.667] Available at http://lexikos.journals.ac.za; https://doi.org/10.5788/30-1-1605.
- Reddy, V., Zondi, N. and Mkhize, G. 2020. Gendered and feminist inequalities: A review and framing notes. Agenda 13 (1): 1-13 [IBSS, Impact factor 0.14] Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2020.1767887.
- Zondi, N.B. 2020. Resurrecting the “Black Archives”. Revisiting Benedict Wallet Vilakazi with a focus on the utility and meaning of African Languages and Literatures in Higher Education. Education as Change, 24:1-20. [SCOPUS/SCIELO)I Impact 0.42 Hi12]Available at https://doi.org/10.25159/1947-9417/4626
Chapters In Books
- Kumalo, S.H., Reddy, V., Zondi, N. Mkhize, G. and Zungu, E.B. 2023. ’ Introduction’, in Zondi, N., Mkhize, G., Zungu, E.B., Kumalo, S.H. and Reddy, V. (eds), in Zondi, N., Mkhize, G., Zungu, E.B., Kumalo, S.H. and Reddy, V. (eds).Thetha Sizwe: Contemporary South African Debates on African Languages and the Politics of Gender and Sexualities. Pretoria: ESI Press, pp. 7-14.
- Kumalo, S.H., Reddy, V.,Zondi, N. Mkhize, G. and Zungu, EB. 2023. ‘Thetha Sizwe: Challenging Fixities through Interventions from the Margins Using African Languages’, in Zondi, N., Mkhize, G., Zungu, E.B., Kumalo, S.H. and Reddy, V. (eds), in Thetha Sizwe: Contemporary South African Debates on African Languages and the Politics of Gender and Sexualities. Pretoria: ESI Press. Pp.15-29.
- Mhlongo, B. and Zondi, N. 2023. ‘Iqhaza Elibanjwe Ngababhali Besifazane Bamanje Ukudiliza Imingcele Yobulili’, in Zondi, N., Mkhize, G., Zungu, E.B., Kumalo, S.H. and Reddy, V. (eds). Thetha Sizwe: Contemporary South African Debates on African Languages and the Politics of Gender and Sexualities. Pretoria: ESI Press. Pp. 94-116.
- Kumalo, S.H. and Zondi, N. 2023. ‘Thokoza Ngwenyama!-Unsettling Gendered African Language(s) Using Umsamo’, in Zondi, N., Mkhize, G., Zungu, E.B., Kumalo, S.H. and Reddy, V. (eds). Thetha Sizwe: Contemporary South African Debates on African Languages and the Politics of Gender and Sexualities. Pretoria: ESI Press. Pp.134-157.
- Zondi, N. 2021. ‘Intrinsic Power of Songs Sung During Protests at Institutions of Higher Learning (South Africa) Students’ Perspectives’, in Andre, Naomi, Y Denise Cvinghton-Ward, and J. Hungbo (eds). African Performance Arts and Political Acts. Michigan: Michigan State University Press, pp.201-268
Community Involvement
- Kwandebeqheke- Emmaus Catholic Worker House Educational Programme (2002-203).
- KwaNgwanase Women Empowerment Project (2013-2015)
- Zwelibomvu Women Empowerment Initiative (2010-2021)
Teaching Expertise
- Literary Studies
- African Studies
- Gender Studies
- Research Methodology
Student Supervision
Masters
Doctoral
Masters
- Nokubonga Phakathi. 2026. Linguistic Analysis of the Impact of Selected Social Media Platforms on the Evolution of isiZulu in KwaZulu-Natal. (In progress at UKZN).
- Makhiwane Nombulelo. 2024. Contemporary Gender Discourse and its Implications for Emerging Zulu Writers. University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Thango Menzi. 2021. Reimagining the Poetry of B.W. Vilakazi as the social tool for ukuxwayisa (deterrent). University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Makgoko, Bodibadi Dorothy. 2019. Teaching Setswana as a home language subject in secondary schools in a linguistically diverse community in Northwest. University of Pretoria (Co-supervisor).
- Mkhize, Zamambo. 2012. Polygamy and Gender: Narratives of Professional Women in Peri-Urban Areas of Contemporary KwaZulu-Natal (Supervisor).
- Ntshangase, Mpumelelo. 2012. Some Gendered African Ritual Practices: The case of impepho (an indigenous African plant) University of KwaZulu-Natal (Supervisor).
Doctoral
- Mkhize Thobisile. 2016. Signs and Signification in Indigenous Poetics: A Semiotic Study of Mazisi Kunene’s UNodumehlezi kaMenzi. (in progress at UKZN)
- Makhiwane. 2025 (new student): Exploring Ingoma and Other Traditional Dance Forms as a Means of Addressing and Alleviating Gender Based Violence (GBV). University of Pretoria (work in progress-External Supervisor).
- Chidi Tsosheletso. 2025. Representations of Homosexuality in Indigenous African Languages: An analysis of Selected Fictional Literary Texts by Black Writers. University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Nkosi Vusumuzi, J. 2021. African Authors’ Perception of Women’s Achievements: Exploring Cultural Expectations in Selected Zulu Literary Texts. University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Bokaba Brenda N. An Evaluation and Analysis of Detective Narratives with Specific Reference to isiZulu and Sepedi. University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Motsepe Queen. 2020. The influence of Social Background in the Milieus of Mathoko, Matlhoko and Mmualebe by R.M. Malope. University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Makgabo Connie 2018. Boitshwaro le thuto Dikanegelong tsa Sepedi. University of Pretoria (Supervisor).
- Bonakele Mhlongo 2018. Onomastics as a Device for Constructing Characters in Select Post Democracy Literary Texts. University of Zululand (Supervisor).
- 10 Mzonelo Irene. 2018. African Male Voices: Representation of Women in Select Zulu Literary Texts- Realism or Idealism? University of Pretoria