As I listened to the BBC coverage of Mandela’s funeral service in Qunu, I was thrilled and amazed to hear Mandela’s Xhosa “praise poet,” Zolani Mkiva (left), perform during the ceremony.
These traditional poets are called imbongi and they travel with tribal royalty and introduce them at special events.
I haven’t found video of him performing during the ceremony, but I did find this video of him “saying what he was going to say” to a reporter.
Watch the video here: Madiba’s Praise Poet
Rose Marie Berger 
Good to discover your website, Rose Marie, and especially happy to have this record of Zolani Mkiva. I came across your site while drafting a blog on the imbongi in South African tradition. I look forward to future excursions to your site, with its many parallel interests to my own, and welcome you to check out my own musings.
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HE IS EXTRAORDINARY,YET MAGNIFICENT AND ELIGIBLE.HE IS THE BEST POET THAT THIS BEUTIFUL COUNTRY HAS EVER PRODUCED,HE IS THE BEST AMONG THE BEST,SOUTH AFRICA IS VERY PROUD TO SUCH A WONDERFULL PERSON.KEEP IT MR MKIVA WE ARE VERY PROUD OF U AND WE LOVE YOU.
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MR MKIVA YOU ARE THE BEST AMONG THE BEST PERSON THAT THIS BEUTIFUL COUNTRY OF SOUTH AFRICA HAS EVER PRODUCED,WE ARE PROUD OF YOU,WE LOVE YOU AND WE WANNA SEE YOU GOING AS FAR AS YOU POSSIBLE CAN.SIYAZINGCA NGAWE MNTWANA WOMNGQHUBA.XAMAGU NKOSIYAM
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