Ezekiel Mphahlele
Ezekiel Mphahlele, also known as Es'kia or Zeke (1919-2008). Poet, playwright, novelist, academic and cultural leader.
Contents
Biography
In 1957 he went into exile to live in Nigeria, Paris and Nairobi, Kenya (where he became a leading figure in the literary landscape in both East and West Africa. He then moved to the USA.
He died in October 2008 at the age of 89.
Career
He taught Afrikaans at Orlando High School in Soweto in the late 1940s and early 1950s and contributed to Drum magazine as journalist.
He lectured for a while at the University of Denver, before returning to South Africa in 1979 to become Professor of Comparative and African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Dramatised A Tale of Two Cities, which toured Transvaal.
As headmaster of Orlando High School in 1945, he introduced drama into the school. He later became director of the African Music and Drama Association (AMDA). Because blacks were prohibited from going to theatres or concert halls, he and Khabi Mngoma founded the Syndicate of African Artists in 1948, and under its auspices promoted music and theatre throughout the fifties.
His autobiography - Down Second Avenue (1959) - recounts his earlier life in South Africa.
His plays include Oganda's Journey (1979). His short story, The Suitcase, was adapted to the stage in 2005, starring Mbulelo Grootboom and directed by James Ngcobo.
[TH, JH]
Sources
Mona de Beer 1995. Revised ed. Who Did What in South Africa. Johannesburg: Ad Donker.
Sydney Paul Gosher. 1988. A historical and critical survey of the South African one-act play written in English. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
The Star, 30 October 2008; 12 November 2008.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to ESAT Personalities M
Return to South African Theatre Personalities
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
