Difference between revisions of "Don Mattera"

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(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...")
 
 
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(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'''.  
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[[Don Mattera]] (1935-2022). South African journalist, poet and author.  
  
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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.
 
  
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== Biography ==
  
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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”.
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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]]'''.  
  
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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.
  
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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.
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He passed away on 18 July 2022.
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== His career ==
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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.  
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In later years he worked with street children in the Eldorado community.
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== His writing ==
 
   
 
   
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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.
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Mattera has written poetry, plays, children stories and an autobiography, called ''Memory is the Weapon'' for which he was awarded the [[Steve Biko Prize]].  
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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.
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== His work in theatre and performance ==
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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.
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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”.
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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.
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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.
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== Honours ==
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He held an honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) degree in Literature from the [[University of Natal]]. He has received fellowships from Sweden and America.  
  
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== Sources ==
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= Sources =
  
 
http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/don-mattera
 
http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/don-mattera
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Mattera
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Mattera
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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]]
  
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== Return to ==
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= Return to =
  
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]

Latest revision as of 15:26, 20 July 2022

Don Mattera (1935-2022). South African journalist, poet and author.


Biography

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.

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.

He passed away on 18 July 2022.


His career

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.

In later years he worked with street children in the Eldorado community.

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.

His work in theatre and performance

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”.

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.

Honours

He held an honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) degree in Literature from the University of Natal. He has received fellowships from Sweden and America.

Sources

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

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

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

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities M

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

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