Ngokufutshane ngobomi bakhe, usebenze kwiizitishi zemishini njengomfundisi womthetho-siseko wenkolo yobuKhrestu, waze wayigqibezela inkqubela-phambili yobomi bakhe njengomhleli wephepha-ndaba laseLovedale, Isigidimi samaXhosa, apho athe wayila waze wancedisa ekubhaleni izibongo ezithetha phandle ngokubhukuqa nokugweba imfundo yaseNtshona, ukulawulwa kwabantu abamnyama ngabaseNtshona nocalu-calulo ababephantsi kwalo. Lo kaGqoba wayengumfanekiso wendoda yomXhosa efundileyo. Ngokungenakulinganiswa nabani na, ngexesha lakhe lohlobo loluhlu lokubhala kwakhe, ebengumbhali weeleta, amabali eembali ezimfutshane, iinkcazelo zamaqhina, iimbali nezibongo, kuquka izibongo ezimbini ezide ezikwintlobo yeengxoxo-mpikiswano nezabakho ngaphezu kweminyaka engamashumi amahlanu kulwimi lwesiXhosa.