Difference between revisions of "Mongane Wally Serote"
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== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
| − | Serote was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, South Africa on 8 May 1944, and went to school in Alexandra, Lesotho, and Soweto | + | Serote was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, South Africa on 8 May 1944, and went to school in Alexandra, Lesotho, and Soweto. |
| − | + | He was held in detention in 1969 for nine months in solitary confinement under the Terrorism Act. | |
| + | |||
| + | Serote was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and received an MFA from Columbia University in 1979. Unable to return to South Africa after completing his studies, Serote remained in voluntary exile, moving to Botswana where he became a founding member of [[Medu Art Ensemble]]. | ||
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| + | Serote held a variety of positions in the ANC, returning to South Africa in 1990, when he was appointed Head of the Department of Arts and Culture of the ANC in Johannesburg. He has also served as chair of the parliamentary select committee for arts and culture. He was also a Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Portfolio Committee for Arts, Culture, Language, Science and Technology. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Serote, a deeply spiritual man, is involved in the vital healing the country needs. In his private capacity as a traditional healer – a sangoma – and as CEO of the Freedom Park Trust, he was instrumental in overseeing the construction of the Freedom Park Memorial that opened recently in Pretoria. | ||
===His writing=== | ===His writing=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | As Serote’s high school years came to a close, he joined the African National Congress. He soon became involved with the Black Consciousness (BC) movement and was inspired by the poetry that spoke of black identity, resistance and revolt. | ||
His published poems include ''Yakhal ‘inkomo'' (1972), ''Tsetlo'' (1974), ''No Baby Must Weep'' (1975) ''Behold: Mama, Flowers'' (1978) ''Selected Poems'' (1981), ''Come and Hope with Me'' (1994) and the novel ''To Every Birth its Blood'' (1981). | His published poems include ''Yakhal ‘inkomo'' (1972), ''Tsetlo'' (1974), ''No Baby Must Weep'' (1975) ''Behold: Mama, Flowers'' (1978) ''Selected Poems'' (1981), ''Come and Hope with Me'' (1994) and the novel ''To Every Birth its Blood'' (1981). | ||
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== Awards, etc. == | == Awards, etc. == | ||
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| + | In 1972, his first collection, ''Yakhal’inkomo'' went on to win the Ingrid Jonker Prize for debut poetry in English. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1993, his seventh poetry collection, Third World Express (David Phillips, 1992) won the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 2004, he received the Pablo Neruda award from the Chilean government. | ||
| + | |||
[[ACT]] Award 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award – Literature. | [[ACT]] Award 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award – Literature. | ||
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| + | Serote was awarded honorary doctorates from the universities of KwaZulu-Natal and Transkei. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 13:43, 8 October 2026
Mongane Wally Serote (1944-). Highly regarded poet and novelist.
Contents
Biography
Serote was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, South Africa on 8 May 1944, and went to school in Alexandra, Lesotho, and Soweto.
He was held in detention in 1969 for nine months in solitary confinement under the Terrorism Act.
Serote was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and received an MFA from Columbia University in 1979. Unable to return to South Africa after completing his studies, Serote remained in voluntary exile, moving to Botswana where he became a founding member of Medu Art Ensemble.
Serote held a variety of positions in the ANC, returning to South Africa in 1990, when he was appointed Head of the Department of Arts and Culture of the ANC in Johannesburg. He has also served as chair of the parliamentary select committee for arts and culture. He was also a Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Portfolio Committee for Arts, Culture, Language, Science and Technology.
Serote, a deeply spiritual man, is involved in the vital healing the country needs. In his private capacity as a traditional healer – a sangoma – and as CEO of the Freedom Park Trust, he was instrumental in overseeing the construction of the Freedom Park Memorial that opened recently in Pretoria.
His writing
As Serote’s high school years came to a close, he joined the African National Congress. He soon became involved with the Black Consciousness (BC) movement and was inspired by the poetry that spoke of black identity, resistance and revolt.
His published poems include Yakhal ‘inkomo (1972), Tsetlo (1974), No Baby Must Weep (1975) Behold: Mama, Flowers (1978) Selected Poems (1981), Come and Hope with Me (1994) and the novel To Every Birth its Blood (1981).
His poetry has often been used in performances. Notably also at MDALI’s Black Arts Festival in Soweto in 1973.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
For a time he was chairman of the Board of Directors of Joburg City Theatres.
As playwright
His plays include:
- Phiri (with Barney Simon, Oswald Mtshali, Stanley Motjuwadi, 1972)
- Shades of Change (1982)
- The Way We Heal (2013)
- Sikhahlel'u OR (2023) (adapted from the poem of the same name)
Documentary
Serote is featured in Wally Serote - South African Poet, a 1987 documentary film by Meridian Productions.
Awards, etc.
In 1972, his first collection, Yakhal’inkomo went on to win the Ingrid Jonker Prize for debut poetry in English.
In 1993, his seventh poetry collection, Third World Express (David Phillips, 1992) won the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa.
In 2004, he received the Pablo Neruda award from the Chilean government.
ACT Award 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award – Literature.
Serote was awarded honorary doctorates from the universities of KwaZulu-Natal and Transkei.
Sources
SA History Online [1].
Wikipedia [2].
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/244087/shades-of-change
https://poetryinternationalweb.org/pi/site/poet/item/15594
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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