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S'està carregant… Lover of His People: A Biography of Sol Plaatjede Seetsele Modiri Molema
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Seetsele Modiri Molema's Sol T. Plaatje: Morata Wabo is the first biography of Solomon Plaatje written in his mother-tongue, Setswana, and the only book-length biography written by someone who actually knew him. The manuscript had long been housed in the Wits Historical Papers and was accessible only to scholars. D.S. Matjila and Karen Haire have mined the archive to produce the first English translation of Molema's biography, Lover of His People. Molema balances Plaatje's public and political persona - as a pioneer black politician and man of letters - with an intimate account of Plaatje, the human being: his physical features, habits, temperament, talents, personality, character, fears, struggles, dreams and aspirations. He illuminates the spirit of Plaatje, painting a personal portrait. Recognising that the biographer was an extraordinary scholar, intellectual and politician in his own right, the book includes an essay on the life and legacy of Seetsele Modiri Molema and his contribution to South Africa's black intellectual heritage. The editors highlight some of the ways in which the book might be relevant to contemporary South African readers and, in inspiring them about a local historical figure, prompt critical thinking about pertinent issues such as gender, the future of African languages and the re-writing of history. No s'han trobat descripcions de biblioteca. |
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Google Books — S'està carregant… GèneresClassificació Decimal de Dewey (DDC)323.168092Social sciences Political Science Civil and political rights Minority PoliticsLCC (Clas. Bibl. Congrés EUA)ValoracióMitjana:
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Sol Plaatje was a giant South African in his work as an interpreter and translator , doughty political fighter, writer, linguist and editor. His Boer War diary written during the seize of Mafeking gives a unique African perspective of surviving that war It was he who moved the motion to establish the South African Native National Congress as the ANC was then called, at its founding in 1912 and became the first secretary general. He was an active voice in mobilizing opposition to the 1913 Native Land Act. Plaatje was a member of the ANC deputation to raise consciousness in England and wrote Native Life in South Africa during the voyage. His combative journalism gave him a powerful and distinctive voice.
This biography of Plaatje was written in Setswana in the 1960s. One needs to know something about Plaatje for this book to add value to ones store of knowledge. Nonetheless this book is a slight but important addition to the biographic literature on Sol Plaatje. It is slight because it is more of a memoir than a critical or scholarly biography. It is important because it brings to a English readership, an archived little known Setswana manuscript written by Seetsele Modiri Molema, who knew and admired Plaatje. Setswana was Plaatje’s mother tongue.
The work has been translated and edited by D S Matjila and Karen Haire who have added an introductory prefatory essay about the manuscript and the context for this particular biographical study. The manuscript comprises fewer than 90 pages but three supplementary chapters of extracts of Plaatje’s writings in English and Setswana ( translated into English) and some information on Seetsele Modiri Molema adds depth. The editors have provided a framework of chapter notes to explain perhaps unfamiliar terms or places or provide contextual information. There could be more biographical information about the contemporary people mentioned in the text . A bibliography usefully lists all other biographies to date.
The appeal of the Molema text is its warmth and humanity and very human portrait of Plaatje. In this it has something of the feel of a long funeral oration but also highlights that Molema was himself an important contributor to South Africa’s black literary and cultural heritage.
The book is meant to reach beyond a scholarly audience and could well be a useful historical and literary teaching text. Although written in the 1960s and in a voice of its time, many of the issues touched on such a gender, historical interpretation and the future of African languages are as topical today as they were in the times of both Plaatje and Molema. The book reproduces some unusual black and white photographs of Plaatjes and his world. It is fitting that Wits University Press has published this work in the 100 anniversary year of the ANC. It is a tribute to Plaatje and draws attention to the important Plaate archives in the Wits Historical Papers. .
Reviewed by K A Munro ( )