Dr Bongephiwe Gladness Myeni
Senior Lecturer
Qualifications:
PhD: IsiZulu (UKZN), Pietermaritzburg Campus (2020), MA: isiZulu (UKZN), Howard College Campus (2015), BSocSc Honours: isiZulu (UKZN), Howard College Campus (2013), BSocSc: Community Development and isiZulu (UKZN), Howard College Campus (2011).
About
Dr Gladness Bongephiwe Myeni is currently a Lecturer of isiZulu in the Department of African Languages and Culture within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zululand, South Africa. Her research interests include Onomastics, Sociolinguistics, Heritage and Culture, and isiZulu Literature.
Dr Myeni has published widely in high-impact international and national journals, as well as in several book chapters. In 2023, she was recognised as an Emerging Researcher through the UNIZULU Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards. She represents the Department of African Languages and Culture on the Faculty Research Committee (FREC) and serves as a committee member of the Women Research in Social Sciences (WoRiHSS) group. Dr Myeni also serves as an external reviewer for various accredited journals.
She is currently writing an isiZulu onomastics book titled “Injula yomlando wesizwe sakwaMkhwanazi eMtubatuba otholakala emagameni: An Onomastics Approach,” funded by the UCDP (2023/2024). In addition, she has published articles in local newspapers such as Isolezwe and the Zululand Observer. Dr Myeni has chaired sessions and presented papers at both international and national conferences. She has successfully supervised doctoral, master’s, and honours candidates to completion.
Dr Myeni has also participated in various community engagement initiatives, serving as a guest speaker and delivering keynote addresses at numerous events.
Research Interests
- Onomastics
- Sociolinguistics
- IsiZulu Literature
- Heritage and Culture
Professional membership
- Member of Usiba Writers Association.
- Member of African Languages Association of Southern Africa (ALASA).
- Member of Batho Abantu African Languages Association (BAALA).
- Member of Naming Society in Southern African (NSSA).
Publications