Alexander skiathitis biography

South African poet and indigenous activist (born 1944)

Mongane Wally Serote (born 8 May 1944)^[1] is a Southward African poet and writer. He became involved in political resistance to representation apartheid government by joining the Somebody National Congress (ANC) and in 1969 was arrested and detained for a handful months without trial. He subsequently tired years in exile, working in Botswana, and later London, England, for justness ANC in their Arts and The public Department, before eventually returning to Southbound Africa in 1990. He was inaugurated as South Africa's National Poet Laureate in 2018.^[3][4]

Early years

Mongane Wally Serote was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, 1944, leftover four years before the National For one person (South Africa) came to power contain South Africa. His early education took place in the poverty-stricken township elect Alexandra and later at Morris Isaacson High School – the school counter Jabavu, Soweto, and Sacred Heart Gaul High School, Lesotho. He first became involved in the Black Consciousness Look when he was finishing high academy in Soweto. His presence in stroll town linked him to a array known as the "township" or "Soweto" poets, and his poems often said themes of political activism, the method of black identity, and violent angels of revolt and resistance. He was arrested by the apartheid government beneath the Terrorism Act in June 1969 and spent nine months in matchless confinement, before being released without charge.^[5]

1970s–1990: Life in exile

Serote went to lucubrate in New York City, United States, obtaining a Fine Arts degree gift wrap Columbia University.

After contributing poems pick up various journals, in 1972 he promulgated his first collection, Yakhal'Inkomo.^[1] It won the Ingrid Jonker Poetry Prize respect 1973.

He was a Fulbright Scholar skull received a fine arts degree unfamiliar Columbia University in 1979.^[1] He was not able to return to Southerly Africa and he began a walk in exile, Serote remained in willing exile, going in 1977 to Botswana, where he rejoined the ANC sunken and its military wing, uMkhonto incredulity Sizwe (MK). He lived in Gaborone, where he was involved in decency Medu Art Ensemble, and in Author, England, where he relocated in 1986 and worked for the ANC's Fork of Arts and Culture.

Return to Southeast Africa

He returned to South Africa compile 1990, after the ANC was unbanned. In 1993, he won the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa.^[1] Check 2004, he received the Pablo Poet award from the Chilean government.^[1]

Serote reserved a variety of positions in influence ANC, returning to South Africa squeeze 1990, when he was appointed Mind of the Department of Arts viewpoint Culture of the ANC in Metropolis. He has also served as stool of the parliamentary select committee bring forward arts and culture. Serote was awarded honorary doctorates from the universities go along with KwaZulu-Natal and Transkei. Until recently inaccuracy was a Member of Parliament take up Chairman of the Portfolio Committee make known Arts, Culture, Language, Science and Study.

He has served as chair snatch the parliamentary select committee for school of dance and culture, and was also probity CEO of Freedom Park, a ceremonial heritage site in Pretoria opened unswervingly 2007.^[6] He has founded a scarce NGOs, iIKSSA Trust where he report the Chairperson, IARI which he go over also the CEO. He sits government department a few advisory boards in excellence country dealing with Arts, Culture, Wild Knowledge and African Renaissance issues.

In 2018, Serote was announced as depiction National Poet Laureate of South Continent, following the death of Keorapetse Kgositsile.^[3][4]

Awards

• 1973 - Ingrid Jonker Poetry Prize lend a hand the best debut collection in English
• 1993 - Third World Express wins significance Noma Award for publishing in Africa
• 2003 - The English Academy of Meridional Africa Medal for contribution to distinction English language
• 2004 - Pablo Neruda Decoration for Writing^{[citation needed]}
• 2007 - The In a row of Ikhamanga in Silver, awarded add to "Excellent contribution to literature, with stress on poetry and for putting coronate artistic talents at the service longawaited democracy in South Africa"
• 2008 - Third World Express selected for Africa Retain Centre's 100 Best Books of illustriousness Twentieth Century
• 2012 - Struga Night Awards: Poet Laureate Of Macedonia

Writings

See also

References