A teacher who marveled at very-short story writing and a swankiest of note

Karabo Moses Motsisi better known by his pen name Casey 'Kid' Motsisi was born in 1932 in Johannesburg and worked as a teacher in Pretoria.

Picture Credit: Drum Magazine 

First time I came across this Casey Kid Motsisi name must have been over a decade ago while I enjoyed the works of Es'kia Mphahlele, Lewis Nkosi, Can Themba, Nat Nakasa and Bloke Modisane because these writers together worked at Drum magazine at some point or another. Usually they made mention of each other as if to say that we are in this art and cultural business together. By this time, I haven't read any of his work. 

Earlier this year I drove to Makhado with Roelf Matlala, driving distance between Polokwane and Makhado is 109.7km and it would take you 1 Hours 22 minutes to visit one of the country's greatest African Literature connoisseurs Maano Tuwani. Our chance encounter with Morena Tuwani was at the opening reception of Es'kia Mphahlele Centenary Exhibition at Polokwane Art Museum in December 2019 where I showcased my work with Professor Zakes Mda. We exchanged contacts because we shared common love of African arts and literature. The meeting was great and he gave me Casey Motsisi book titled Casey & Co: Selected writings of Casey "Kid" Motsisi as appreciation of our visit. 

These pieces appeared regularly in 'Drum' and 'The World' as well as in literary magazines like 'Classic'. The anthology is unputdownable and its humor grips you enchantedly to the last page of the book. No doubt Casey was one of South Africa's best-known and best-loved black writers over three decades up to his death in September 1977. The 'kid brother' of Can Themba and Nat Nakasa he created a fictional world based on the 'shebeen culture' of Johannesburg and populated by characters you will meet in 'Casey and Company.' This collection is edited by Mothobi Mutloatse, a prolific writer of prose, poetry and plays in his own right. 

Lastly, the 1960s Drum magazine generation had a sharp taste for fashion. Just look at how Kid is pulling the fabrics on this photo. 

Sources: Wikipedia 



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