Difference between revisions of "H.I.E. Dhlomo"

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== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
 +
Born Herbert Isaac Ezra Dhlomo at Siyamu, near Pietermaritzburg.
  
=== Education ===
+
He became a journalist on ''[[Bantu World]]'' and ''[[Ilanga lase Natal]]''. Organiser of the Carnegie Library in Germiston.
 +
 
 +
In 1933 he founded the [[Bantu Dramatic Society]]  in Johannesburg, serving as its vice-president for a period.
  
 +
In 1983 a group of artists, aware of the contribution made by Dhlomo, founded and named a theatre after him:  The [[Dhlomo Theatre]] (situated a hundred yards from the [[Market Theatre]]) It opened on 21 March 1983 with ''[[Night of the Long Wake]]'' by [[Dukuza ka Macu]].
  
 +
His biography (''The New African: A Study of the Life and Work of H.I.E. Dhlomo'') was writtten by [[Tim Couzens]] and published in 1985. (See: Couzens, 1985, De Beer, 1995).
  
Born Herbert Isaac Ezra Dhlomo at Siyamu, near Pietermaritzburg. Graduated of Amanzimtoti College, became a journalist on ''[[Bantu World]]'' and ''[[Ilanga lase Natal]]''. Organiser of the Carnegie Library in Germiston. He wrote a number of important articles on “African theatre” (see References). Directed his brother [[R.R.R. Dhlomo|Rolfes]]’s “dramatic sketches” for the ''[[Emancipation Centenary Celebrations]]'' at the [[Bantu Men's Social Centre]] in 1934. Later the vice-president of the [[Bantu Dramatic Society]] *** (??) and wrote ** plays in English, of which one - ''[[Nonqause: The Girl who Killed to Save]]'' - was published in 1936, the only play published in his lifetime and the first published English play by a black South African. The rest of the plays were only published in 1985 as a collection entitled ''Collected Works''. (Edited by [[Tim Couzens]] and [[Nick Visser]]) He wrote a historical play called ''[[Dingane]]'' as well as a play about Shaka which was to be grouped with  Moshoeshoe, Cetshwayo and collectively called ''[[The Black Bulls]]'' (1936-38). He also wrote urban plays such as ''[[Ruby and Frank]]'' (1939), ''[[The Workers]]'' and ''[[The Pass]]'' (1941-43)****.  His biography (''The New African: A Study of the Life and Work of H.I.E. Dhlomo'') was writtten by [[Tim Couzens]] and published in 1985. (See: Couzens, 1985, De Beer, 1995).
+
=== Education ===
  
In 1933 he founded the [[Bantu Dramatic Society]]  in Johannesburg.  He wrote a considerable body of dramatic theory & criticism  & numerous plays which allegorised black African history for his contemporaries. 
+
Graduated of Amanzimtoti College,
  
In 1983 a group of artists, aware of the contribution made by Dhlomo, founded and named a theatre after him:  The [[Dhlomo Theatre]] (situated a hundred yards from the [[Market Theatre]]) It opened on 21 March 1983 with ''[[Night of the Long Wake]]'' by [[Dukuza ka Macu]].
 
  
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
Line 19: Line 23:
  
 
=== Plays ===
 
=== Plays ===
 +
 +
and wrote ** plays in English, of which one - ''[[Nonqause: The Girl who Killed to Save]]'' - was published in 1936, the only play published in his lifetime and the first published English play by a black South African. The rest of the plays were only published in 1985 as a collection entitled ''Collected Works''. (Edited by [[Tim Couzens]] and [[Nick Visser]]) He wrote a historical play called ''[[Dingane]]'' as well as a play about Shaka which was to be grouped with  Moshoeshoe, Cetshwayo and collectively called ''[[The Black Bulls]]'' (1936-38). He also wrote urban plays such as ''[[Ruby and Frank]]'' (1939), ''[[The Workers]]'' and ''[[The Pass]]'' (1941-43)****.
  
 
=== Other works ===
 
=== Other works ===
 +
 +
He wrote a number of important articles on “African theatre” (see References).
 +
 +
He wrote a considerable body of dramatic theory & criticism  & numerous plays which allegorised black African history for his contemporaries. 
  
 
== Dhlomo as actor and/or director ==
 
== Dhlomo as actor and/or director ==
  
 +
Directed his brother [[R.R.R. Dhlomo|Rolfes]]’s “dramatic sketches” for the ''[[Emancipation Centenary Celebrations]]'' at the [[Bantu Men's Social Centre]] in 1934.
  
 
== Awards, etc ==
 
== Awards, etc ==

Revision as of 17:15, 12 October 2023

H.I.E. Dhlomo (1904-1956) was a South African actor, writer, dramatist, director, animator, journalist and cultural theorist.

Biography

Born Herbert Isaac Ezra Dhlomo at Siyamu, near Pietermaritzburg.

He became a journalist on Bantu World and Ilanga lase Natal. Organiser of the Carnegie Library in Germiston.

In 1933 he founded the Bantu Dramatic Society in Johannesburg, serving as its vice-president for a period.

In 1983 a group of artists, aware of the contribution made by Dhlomo, founded and named a theatre after him: The Dhlomo Theatre (situated a hundred yards from the Market Theatre) It opened on 21 March 1983 with Night of the Long Wake by Dukuza ka Macu.

His biography (The New African: A Study of the Life and Work of H.I.E. Dhlomo) was writtten by Tim Couzens and published in 1985. (See: Couzens, 1985, De Beer, 1995).

Education

Graduated of Amanzimtoti College,


Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Dhlomo as writer

Plays

and wrote ** plays in English, of which one - Nonqause: The Girl who Killed to Save - was published in 1936, the only play published in his lifetime and the first published English play by a black South African. The rest of the plays were only published in 1985 as a collection entitled Collected Works. (Edited by Tim Couzens and Nick Visser) He wrote a historical play called Dingane as well as a play about Shaka which was to be grouped with Moshoeshoe, Cetshwayo and collectively called The Black Bulls (1936-38). He also wrote urban plays such as Ruby and Frank (1939), The Workers and The Pass (1941-43)****.

Other works

He wrote a number of important articles on “African theatre” (see References).

He wrote a considerable body of dramatic theory & criticism & numerous plays which allegorised black African history for his contemporaries.

Dhlomo as actor and/or director

Directed his brother Rolfes’s “dramatic sketches” for the Emancipation Centenary Celebrations at the Bantu Men's Social Centre in 1934.

Awards, etc

Sources

Tim Couzens. 1985. The New African: A Study of the Life and Work of H.I.E. Dhlomo. Johannesburg: Ravan Press.

Visser and Couzens (eds). 1985. H.I.E. Dhlomo Collected Works. Johannesburg: Ravan Press.

Mona de Beer. 1995. Who Did What in South Africa. Johannesburg: Ad Donker.


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