Daniel Cornel Marivate

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

• Name — Daniel Cornel Marivate • Born — 18 February 1897 • Birthplace — Valdezia, South African Republic • Died — 30 October 1989 • Place of death — Garankuwa Hospital, South Africa • Occupation — Writer, composer, educator, reverend, scoutmaster • Known for — Writing the first Xitsonga novel (Sasavona) • Spouse — Bertha N'wa-Jonas Manhengeni • Children — * Cornelius Tennyson Daniel Marivate • Russell Marivate • Cecil Roy Marivate • Martin Marivate • Maseve Richard Marivate • Desiree N'wa-Mhamba Marivate • Charles Daniel Marivate • Notable Works — Sasavona, Buku ya Swivuriso

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.

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.

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.

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. Recognizing his linguistic expertise, the Bible Society of South Africa invited Marivate to join the Xitsonga Bible translation committee, led by Reverend T.R. Schneider. The committee completed the translation in 1976, and the official Xitsonga Bible was published in 1989 under the title BIBELE Mahungu Lamanene.

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

Marivate pioneered Xitsonga choral music. In 1931, Eric Gallo's Singer Gramophone company sent Marivate and his choral group to London to record the first Xitsonga and Tshivenda musical tracks. He composed numerous pieces for choirs and the church.

• 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