Very hard times written about by a North African (6)

I haven't cracked this one yet — but the brilliant team at Fifteensquared have:

SO (very) + H (abbreviation for hard, as in 2H pencils) + X (multiplication symbol = times), all reversed (written about), then A + N (abbreviation for north). Adjective from Xhosa = a people group in southern Africa, or their language.