Keorapetse William Kgositsile. He was a poet, performer, essayist and university professor; A prominent leader of the African National Congress , he founded the Department of Arts and Culture inspired by the fight against Apartheid . Also known by her pseudonym Bra Willie . His writings focused on pan-African liberation as the fruit of informed heroism and compassionate humanism. He was named the country’s Poet Laureate in 2006 .
Summary
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- 1 Biographical synthesis
- 1 Professional work
- 2 Death
- 2 Sources
Biographical synthesis
Born 19 as September as 1938 , in Johannesburg , South Africa . He was one of the first to establish a bridge between North American black poetry and African poetry, and one of the earliest and most significant poets of the Pan-African movement.
Professional work
He attended Madibane High School in Johannesburg and wrote for the banned political weekly New Age . He began a self-imposed exile in 1961 in Dar es Salaam , Tanzania , writing for Spearhead magazine .
From 1962 to 1975 he lived in the United States , first as a graduate student and then as a professor or poet-in-residence at various universities. There, he developed an extensive reflection on African American literature and culture and was recognized for his readings in jazz clubs in New York . He founded the Black Arts Theater in Harlem .
He then moved to Tanzania to lecture in English at the University of Dar es Salaam. After the end of apartheid, Kgositsile returned to South Africa, and in 2001 he settled in Johannesburg.
His work recognizes and celebrates influences and friendships with other artists and, in particular, his deep love for blues and jazz.
His poetry includes: Spirits unchained ( 1969 ), For Melba ( 1970 ), My name is Afrika ( 1971 ), The present is a dangerous place to live ( 1974 ), Places and bloodstains ( 1975 ), When the clouds clear ( 1990 ) , If i could sing ( 2002 ), and This way i salute you ( 2004 ). He also edited The word is here: poetry from modern Africa ( 1973 ).
Death
He died 3 as January as 2018 , in Johannesburg , South Africa .
