Danie Marais

Danie Marais (1971-) is a South African poet, journalist and editor. Born Daniël Johannes Marais on 30 May 1971 in Kimberley, he was schooled in Pretoria, took a B.Com at Stellenbosch University in 1993, and studied at the Carl von Ossietzky Universität in Oldenburg, Germany; he later registered for an MA in Creative Writing at Stellenbosch University under Marlene van Niekerk.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and performance

Marais is primarily a poet, with four collections: In die buitenste ruimte (2006), Al is die maan 'n misverstand (2009), Solank verlange die sweep swaai (2015)* and Ek en jy bestaan nie (2024). His work has reached the stage chiefly through others. At the US Woordfees in 2012, Juanita Swanepoel compiled the woordkuns production Die gras is groener from his anthology of the same name, and in 2025 a selection from his four collections was woven into the one-man music-theatre production Ek is nie Danie (text credited to Marais, directed by Nico Scheepers, performed by Albert Pretorius and Schalk Joubert). Beyond poetry he has worked as a books journalist and rock columnist, compiled anthologies including As almal ver is (2009) and, with Ronel de Goede, Nuwe stemme 4 (2010), and has served as manager of PEN Afrikaans.

Awards

His debut, In die buitenste ruimte (2006), received the Ingrid Jonker, Eugène Marais and UJ debut prizes; Al is die maan 'n misverstand (2009) won the South African Literary Award (SALA) for Afrikaans poetry. In 2015 he received the Cordis Trust's Orde van die Beiteltjie for his contribution to Afrikaans letters.