Don Mattera - Revision history

Darryl: /* His work in theatre and performance */

2026-05-16T12:33:41Z

His work in theatre and performance

Satj: /* Sources */

2022-07-20T13:26:13Z

Sources

Satj at 13:24, 20 July 2022

2022-07-20T13:24:43Z

Miriamt at 15:24, 18 July 2022

2022-07-18T15:24:19Z

Satj: /* His work in theatre and performance */

2012-11-14T07:33:31Z

His work in theatre and performance

Satj at 07:30, 14 November 2012

2012-11-14T07:30:00Z

Satj: Created page with "(1935-) South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in S..."

2012-11-14T07:13:50Z

Created page with "(1935-) South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in S..."

New page

(1935-) South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in Sophiatown. He is better known as '''Don Mattera'''.

Worked as a journalist on The [[Sunday Times]], The [[Sowetan]], and The [[Weekly Mail]] (now known as the [[Mail and Guardian]]). He wrote the plays Streetkids, Apartheid in the Court of History, and One Time Brother, which were banned in 1984.

He is credited for his in ''[[African Footprint]]''. He wrote the lyrics for the African Union Launch and for the Concert for Summit on Sustainable Development and composed the poem that launched Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “Legends of Africa Award”.

Donato Francisco Mattera was born in Western Native Township, now called Westbury, Johannesburg in 1935. His grandfather was an Italian immigrant who married a Xhosa or Khoisan woman from the Cape. His grandfather then moved to Johannesburg where Mattera's father was born and classified Italian by the authorities. His mother was a Motswana and domestic worker in Johannesburg.

Mattera was raised by his grandparents not his parents. He grew up in the mixed area of Johannesburg called Sophiatown before the apartheid government moved his family to Westbury; an area earmarked for people classified “Coloured” by the government. At the age of eight, his grandmother sent him to study at the St Theresa Catholic Covenant School in Durban. His grandparents were not pleased with the quality of education provided for coloured by the government.

Mattera returned home from boarding school at the age of 14. He continued his secondary studies at Pageview, another suburb of Johannesburg whose residents were forcefully removed. It was during these years that Mattera became involved with gangsterism. He then joined and became the leader of the most notorious gang group called the Vultures. He escaped from death several times. He was stabbed and shot at by rival gang members. At the age of 20, he charged with the murder of a rival gang member and spent time in jail as an awaiting trialist before his acquittal. It was also during this period that he fathered his first child.

It was during the campaign against the removals of Black, Coloured, and Indians from Sophiatown, that Mattera became more aware of the political dimensions of his life. He then joined the African National Congress Youth League and became a political activist. In the early 1970s he, like many others, became involved in the politics of 'Black Consciousness'; he helped to form the Union of Black Journalists, as well as the Congress of South African writers. As a result of his political activities, the South African government from 1973 to 1982 banned him. Three of these years were spent under house arrest. Following this period, he resumed his active life. He became a member of the National Forum, which was against what it referred to as “racial exclusivity” of the United Democratic Front.

Mattera has written poetry and an autobiography, called Memory is the Weapon. He has written plays and children stories. He was awarded the Steve Biko Prize for his autobiography. Mattera has worked as a journalist on The Sunday Times, The Weekly Mail, now Mail & Guardian and The Sowetan. He is a popular motivational speaker and he is often invited to be a Master of Ceremony in different functions. He holds an honorary Doctorate (Dlit) degree in Literature from the University of Natal. He has received fellowships from Sweden and America. He continues to work with street children in the Eldorado community. He is also Muslim. In 31 July 2004, Mattera announced that he was retiring from public performances.

== Sources ==

http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/don-mattera

http://www.whoswho.co.za/donato-mattera-6322

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Mattera

Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

== Return to ==

Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]

Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]

Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 == His work in theatre and performance ==
+He wrote a number of plays, including  ''[[Kagiso Sechaba]]'', ''[[Streetkids]]'', ''[[Apartheid in the Court of History]]'', and ''[[One Time Brother]]'', which was banned in 1984. He is credited in the programme of ''[[African Footprint]]'' for the use of his poetry. He wrote the lyrics for the African Union Launch and for the Concert for Summit on Sustainable Development and composed the poem that launched Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “Legends of Africa Award”.
 A popular motivational speaker, he is often invited to be a Master of Ceremonies in different functions. However, On 31 July 2004, Mattera announced that he was retiring from public performances.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:26, 20 July 2022
Line 41:		Line 41:

	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Mattera		http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Mattera
		+
		+	https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-07-19-don-matteras-voice-has-been-stilled-but-his-powerful-words-linger-on-in-memory/

	Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]		Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Don Mattera]] (1935-2022). South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in Sophiatown. He is better known as '''Don Mattera'''.
+[[Don Mattera]] (1935-2022). South African journalist, poet and author.
 == Biography ==
 His schooling was received at St Theresa Catholic Covenant School in Durban, and he continued his secondary studies at Pageview in Johannesburg. As a youth he joined and became the leader of the gang called The Vultures and at the age of 20, he was charged with the murder of a rival gang member and spent time in jail as an awaiting trialist before his acquittal.
@@ Line 13: / Line 14: @@
-He went on to work as a journalist on The [[Sunday Times]], The [[Sowetan]], and The [[Weekly Mail]] (now known as the [[Mail and Guardian]]). As a political activist he  joined the African National Congress Youth League, and in the early 1970s became involved in the politics of the [[Black Consciousness Movement]].  He helped to form the Union of Black Journalists, as well as the Congress of South African writers. As a result of his political activities, the South African government from 1973 to 1982 banned him. Three of these years were spent under house arrest. Following this period, he resumed his active life. He became a member of the National Forum, which was against what it referred to as “racial exclusivity” of the United Democratic Front.
+He went on to work as a journalist on The [[Sunday Times]], The [[Sowetan]], and The [[Weekly Mail]] (now known as the [[Mail and Guardian]]). As a political activist he  joined the African National Congress Youth League, and in the early 1970s became involved in the politics of the [[Black Consciousness Movement]].  He helped to form the Union of Black Journalists, as well as the [[Congress of South African Writers]]. As a result of his political activities, the South African government from 1973 to 1982 banned him. Three of these years were spent under house arrest. Following this period, he resumed his active life. He became a member of the National Forum, which was against what it referred to as “racial exclusivity” of the United Democratic Front.
 == His writing ==
-Mattera has written poetry, plays, children stories and an autobiography, called ''Memory is the Weapon'' for which he was awarded the Steve Biko Prize.
+Mattera has written poetry, plays, children stories and an autobiography, called ''Memory is the Weapon'' for which he was awarded the [[Steve Biko Prize]].
 == His work in theatre and performance ==
@@ Line 30: / Line 32: @@
-He holds an honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) degree in Literature from the University of Natal. He has received fellowships from Sweden and America. He continues to work with street children in the Eldorado community.
+He held an honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) degree in Literature from the [[University of Natal]]. He has received fellowships from Sweden and America.
 = Sources =

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-(1935-) South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in Sophiatown. He is better known as '''Don Mattera'''.
+[[Don Mattera]] (1935-2022). South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in Sophiatown. He is better known as '''Don Mattera'''.
-== Youth ==
+== Biography ==
 His schooling was received at St Theresa Catholic Covenant School in Durban, and he continued his secondary studies at Pageview in Johannesburg. As a youth he joined and became the leader of the gang called The Vultures and at the age of 20, he was charged with the murder of a rival gang member and spent time in jail as an awaiting trialist before his acquittal.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:33, 14 November 2012
Line 21:		Line 21:


−	He wrote ~~the~~ plays Streetkids, Apartheid in the Court of History, and One Time Brother, which ~~were~~ banned in 1984.	+	He wrote a number of plays, including ''[[Streetkids]]'', ''[[Apartheid in the Court of History]]'', and ''[[One Time Brother]]'', which was banned in 1984. He is credited in the programme of ''[[African Footprint]]'' for the use of his poetry. He wrote the lyrics for the African Union Launch and for the Concert for Summit on Sustainable Development and composed the poem that launched Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “Legends of Africa Award”.
−	He is credited in the programme of ''[[African Footprint]]'' for the use of his poetry. He wrote the lyrics for the African Union Launch and for the Concert for Summit on Sustainable Development and composed the poem that launched Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “Legends of Africa Award”.

	A popular motivational speaker, he is often invited to be a Master of Ceremonies in different functions. However, On 31 July 2004, Mattera announced that he was retiring from public performances.		A popular motivational speaker, he is often invited to be a Master of Ceremonies in different functions. However, On 31 July 2004, Mattera announced that he was retiring from public performances.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 (1935-) South African journalist, poet and author. Born '''Donato Francisco Mattera''' in Western Native Township (now Westbury), Johannesburg, South Africa, Mattera grew up in Sophiatown. He is better known as '''Don Mattera'''.
-Donato Francisco Mattera was born in Western Native Township, now called Westbury, Johannesburg in 1935. His grandfather was an Italian immigrant who married a Xhosa or Khoisan woman from the Cape. His grandfather then moved to Johannesburg where Mattera's father was born and classified Italian by the authorities. His mother was a Motswana and domestic worker in Johannesburg.
-Mattera was raised by his grandparents not his parents. He grew up in the mixed area of Johannesburg called Sophiatown before the apartheid government moved his family to Westbury; an area earmarked for people classified “Coloured” by the government. At the age of eight, his grandmother sent him to study at the St Theresa Catholic Covenant School in Durban. His grandparents were not pleased with the quality of education provided for coloured by the government.
+Mattera has written poetry, plays, children stories and an autobiography, called ''Memory is the Weapon'' for which he was awarded the Steve Biko Prize.
-−
-Mattera returned home from boarding school at the age of 14. He continued his secondary studies at Pageview, another suburb of Johannesburg whose residents were forcefully removed. It was during these years that Mattera became involved with gangsterism. He then joined and became the leader of the most notorious gang group called the Vultures. He escaped from death several times. He was stabbed and shot at by rival gang members. At the age of 20, he charged with the murder of a rival gang member and spent time in jail as an awaiting trialist before his acquittal. It was also during this period that he fathered his first child.
+== His work in theatre and performance ==
-−
-It was during the campaign against the removals of Black, Coloured, and Indians from Sophiatown, that Mattera became more aware of the political dimensions of his life. He then joined the African National Congress Youth League and became a political activist. In the early 1970s he, like many others, became involved in the politics of 'Black Consciousness'; he helped to form the Union of Black Journalists, as well as the Congress of South African writers. As a result of his political activities, the South African government from 1973 to 1982 banned him. Three of these years were spent under house arrest. Following this period, he resumed his active life. He became a member of the National Forum, which was against what it referred to as “racial exclusivity” of the United Democratic Front.
+He wrote the plays Streetkids, Apartheid in the Court of History, and One Time Brother, which were banned in 1984.
-Mattera has written poetry and an autobiography, called Memory is the Weapon. He has written plays and children stories. He was awarded the Steve Biko Prize for his autobiography. Mattera has worked as a journalist on The Sunday Times, The Weekly Mail, now Mail & Guardian and The Sowetan. He is a popular motivational speaker and he is often invited to be a Master of Ceremony in different functions. He holds an honorary Doctorate (Dlit) degree in Literature from the University of Natal. He has received fellowships from Sweden and America. He continues to work with street children in the Eldorado community. He is also Muslim. In 31 July 2004, Mattera announced that he was retiring from public performances.
+He is credited in the programme of ''[[African Footprint]]'' for the use of his poetry. He wrote the lyrics for the African Union Launch and for the Concert for Summit on Sustainable Development and composed the poem that launched Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “Legends of Africa Award”.
-== Sources ==
+= Sources =
 http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/don-mattera
@@ Line 27: / Line 41: @@
 Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
-== Return to ==
+= Return to =
 Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]