Reminiscing about the might of ‘Babyboy’ Kondile
THEMBILE NDABENI takes a trip down memory lane and unearths the story of Minnerton “Babyboy” Kondile
Three months ago the Langa community celebrated 70 years of former pro boxer Babyboy Kondile’s life.
In his youth, Babyboy was a naturally energetic boxer and as he grew older he channelled that into the right direction of using sport as a deterrent to social ills.
He sought to minimise “tsotsis” in the townships by promoting boxing. Just like many sporting codes, boxing was meant to keep you fit and working towards being a professional one day.
Among his opponents were the likes of Daluxolo “Smallboy” Tyekana and Monde Mpulampula.
Babyboy is not just a former boxer, but a fountain of knowledge.
He assisted me in preparation for writing an article about one of our legends, Themba “Bakstina” Ngwenya. Therefore, we still need him for his knowledge and selflessness. May God spare him many more years. We still need him to guide, assist, direct, and channel us in writing about other icons, especially the unsung ones. Ukuba ungabona indlela avakalelwa ngayo xa ekuphokozela ekhupha kuvimba wakhe , hayi ukukunkinkishela, ungabamba ongezantsi.
The good feeling is the same whether he speaks about his former opponents, he speaks as if they are right in front of him.
As a result, you will feel like spending the whole day listening to him. He too does not mind because of love of what he is doing or admiration of the people or events he is speaking about. Keep up the good work. You are walking archive, a master of oral history in your field of knowledge, not only in boxing, Tangana! Mpilonde Krila, Mbamba, Thangana!
- Thembile Ndabeni is a Langa author and historian
