Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation
A unique anthology containing over five decades of protest poetry.

'i may have been born on 27 April 1994 - but i was never born free.' Mjiele Msimang

Contemporary poet Mjiele Msimang captures something of today's zeitgeist in his poem 'born(e) to the grave.' But what of the past half-century of protest poetry in South Africa, a rich tradition born in response to colonialism, and fed by apartheid and a faltering democracy?

In Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation, over fifty years of protest poetry are gathered in one single volume, bringing together some of the most remarkable and thought-provoking poems that have emerged from struggle. The animating impulse behind this collection of old and new voices is 'decolonisation', a term which has regained prominence over the last few years. It allows us to perceive how different South African poets have placed their work in the world, and how that work might relate to the struggle for radical social transformation.

Compiled by award-winning literary critic Wamuwi Mbao, this collection includes established voices such as HIE Dhlomo, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, Mongane Wally, Serote, Sipho Sepamla, and Es'kia Mphahlele, as well as prominent contemporary poets such as Vangile Gantsho, Lebohang Masango and Sihle Ntuli.

1138879619
Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation
A unique anthology containing over five decades of protest poetry.

'i may have been born on 27 April 1994 - but i was never born free.' Mjiele Msimang

Contemporary poet Mjiele Msimang captures something of today's zeitgeist in his poem 'born(e) to the grave.' But what of the past half-century of protest poetry in South Africa, a rich tradition born in response to colonialism, and fed by apartheid and a faltering democracy?

In Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation, over fifty years of protest poetry are gathered in one single volume, bringing together some of the most remarkable and thought-provoking poems that have emerged from struggle. The animating impulse behind this collection of old and new voices is 'decolonisation', a term which has regained prominence over the last few years. It allows us to perceive how different South African poets have placed their work in the world, and how that work might relate to the struggle for radical social transformation.

Compiled by award-winning literary critic Wamuwi Mbao, this collection includes established voices such as HIE Dhlomo, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, Mongane Wally, Serote, Sipho Sepamla, and Es'kia Mphahlele, as well as prominent contemporary poets such as Vangile Gantsho, Lebohang Masango and Sihle Ntuli.

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Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation

Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation

by Wamuwi Mbao
Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation

Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation

by Wamuwi Mbao

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$18.99 
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Overview

A unique anthology containing over five decades of protest poetry.

'i may have been born on 27 April 1994 - but i was never born free.' Mjiele Msimang

Contemporary poet Mjiele Msimang captures something of today's zeitgeist in his poem 'born(e) to the grave.' But what of the past half-century of protest poetry in South Africa, a rich tradition born in response to colonialism, and fed by apartheid and a faltering democracy?

In Years of Fire and Ash: South African Poems of Decolonisation, over fifty years of protest poetry are gathered in one single volume, bringing together some of the most remarkable and thought-provoking poems that have emerged from struggle. The animating impulse behind this collection of old and new voices is 'decolonisation', a term which has regained prominence over the last few years. It allows us to perceive how different South African poets have placed their work in the world, and how that work might relate to the struggle for radical social transformation.

Compiled by award-winning literary critic Wamuwi Mbao, this collection includes established voices such as HIE Dhlomo, Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, Mongane Wally, Serote, Sipho Sepamla, and Es'kia Mphahlele, as well as prominent contemporary poets such as Vangile Gantsho, Lebohang Masango and Sihle Ntuli.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781776191444
Publisher: Amberley Publishing
Publication date: 10/07/2021
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 5.08(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

DR WAMUWI MBAO lectures in English studies at Stellenbosch University. He writes short fiction, and his research interests are in South African post-apartheid literature, architecture and popular culture. He is a SALA-winning literary critic with the Johannesburg Review of Books. His short story The Bath is included in Twenty in 20, a collection of the twenty most significant short stories post-1994.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Pre-Sharpeville (1890-1960)

Africa: My Native Land Mrs AC Dube 25

'Civilised' Labour Policy - Ir 26

The Making of a Servant JJR Jolobe 27

The Gold Mines BW Vilakazi 30

Freedom's Child Peter Abrahams 36

Because I'm Black HIE Dhlomo 40

Post-Sharpeville (1960-1976)

Always a Suspect Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali 43

The Pension Jiveass Mandlenkosi Langa 44

The Miners Mafika Mbuli 45

Kneel and Pray Nkathazo ka Mnyayiza 47

The Man of Smoke Njabulo S Ndebele 48

Location Fires Jennifer Davids 52

What's in this Black 'Shit' Mongane Wally Serote 53

Getting off the Ride Mafika Gwala 55

Post-Soweto (1976-)

The morning caught me Shabbir Banoobhai 67

Thinking about a white Christmas Fhazel Johennesse 68

The Dying Ground Monnapule Lebakeng 69

From: black trial Ingoapele Madingoane 71

The Question Themba ka Miya 78

Soul's Disparity Motlase Mogotsi 82

Old Homes David Moja-Mphuso 83

Our Immortal Mother Molahlehi wa Mmutle 84

Death Es'kia Mphahlele 86

Nineteen Seventy-Six Oupa Thando Mthimkulu 90

Ngwana wa Azania Mothobi Mutloatse 91

In this World, my Sister Nthambeleni Phalanndwa 96

My Name Magoleng wa Selepe 104

We the Dancers Eugene Skeef 105

Custodian of our Spirit Farouk Stemmet 107

Wooden Spoon K Zwide 109

A Riot Policeman Christopher van Wyk 110

Present Day

John 1:1 and me Lebohang Masango 115

Clots of blood Vangile Gantsho 118

Black Beauty Katleho Kano Shoro 120

Born(e) to the grave Mjele Msimang 121

Jol'iinkomo David wa Maahlamela 124

Citizen Minus Khadija Heeger 130

A love poem to the 'Problematic' Black Womxn Puleng Lange Stewart 133

Your Poem Saved Me Ayanda Billie 138

Untitled poem #1 Ashanti Kunene 139

Izint'eziphukile / Broken things Siza Nkosi Mokhele 140

#FeesMustFall Zewande Bk. Bhengu 144

The Forgotten Sithembiso 'Sthe Khali' Khalishwayo 146

Midnight in Lusikisiki (or The Ruin of the Gentlewomen) Sindiswa Busuku 152

Crowd Gathered, Salivating for a Taste of Blood Sihle Ntuli 153

Letsatsi Maneo Mohale 154

Blvcksuburbia Anga Mamfanya 156

History in my Body Uhuru Phalafala 158

The ocean seeks revenge Sibongile Fisher 161

Fatigue of revolution Masai Sepuru 163

Index of poems 167

Index of poets 171

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