Dawid Engela

Dawid Engela (1931-1967) was a South African author, broadcaster, composer, musicologist and translator.

Biography

Born Dawid Sofius Engela in Florida, Johannesburg, on 30 October 1931, he matriculated from Voortrekker High School, Boksburg, in 1947. Intending to enter the ministry, he finished one year of a BA degree at Potchefstroom University in 1948, but then moved to the University of the Witwatersrand in 1949 for a three-year B.Mus. degree.

He worked for the SABC in various capacities between 1948 and 1953. Having met and married the singer Mimi Coertze in 1953, the couple went to Europe in 1953 intending to travel and then study music in Vienna. In 1956 Engela moved to England, where he obtained a position with the BBC in London, working for them for seven years, during which time he completed his studies at at the Royal College of Music and became a naturalised British citizen. Initially he worked in the Afrikaans Division and later in the Overseas Regional Service, as announcer, translator, programme compiler and drama organiser and producer, even occasionally doing duty as a sports commentator.[1]

Engela left the BBC during 1963 and he and his family moved to Cape Town. He then worked Music Organiser for the SABC (1963-1965), after which he became a music manager for the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) a post he would hold until his death in a motor accident on 25 November 1967.

He was married three times, to singers Mimi Coertse (1953-1956) and Ruth Morrison (1958-1967, with whom he had two children), and Ansie Fouché (1967).

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

Besides his many compositions and publications on South African music, and his role as music organizer, Engela also on occasion translated plays and oversaw or facilitated a number of dramatic works For example, while working for the BBC in London he organised the entire London production of Bartho Smit's award-winning play The Maimed. The performance was by the English Stage Society and took place on Sunday, 27 November 1960, at the Royal Court Theatre.

His translations include Arme Marat (1967)