KEYNOTE LECTURE: Es’kia Mphahlele in Memoria: Celebrating Zeke’s 102nd Anniversary (1919-2021) by Dr. Tshepo Mvulane Moloi
Es’kia
Mphahlele in Memoria: Celebrating Zeke’s 102nd Anniversary
(1919-2021)
Dr.
Tshepo Mvulane Moloi
Outgoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow
at Johannesburg Institute of Advanced
Study (JIAS) at University of Johannesburg
&
Research Associate for African Centre for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science (ACEPS) at
University of Johannesburg
Commemoration Co-organised
by Dr. Tshepo Mvulane Moloi and Mr. Khehla Chepape
Makgato
Theme: Commemorating the
102nd Birthday Anniversary of Prof. Es’kia Mphahlele
Date:
Friday 17th December 2021
Venue: Polokwane
Library Gardens
Thobela.
Today we have convened, in order to commemorate the occasion of what chronologically
signifies, the 102nd anniversary of Es’kia Mphahlele (1919-2008). It
is heretofore only appropriate that on this day, we graciously wish him, as the
beloved son of Limpopo / Polokwane a happy posthumous 102nd birthday.
It gives me a great pleasure to pay my humble homage, to Es’kia Mphahlele. I
intend to address, two key details in this memorial lecture. In the initial set
of details, I intend to sketch a somewhat broad primer, as a way of replying to
the question - who was Es’kia Mphahlele?
Then in the second set of details, I plan to offer a form of progress report, which
seeks to reply to the question–what has
transpired regarding Es’kia Mphahlele post his demise in late 2008?
As
part of commencing this lecture, I am of the opinion that it may be essential,
for me to kick-off by sharing (albeit fleetingly) my introductory encounter,
with Es’kia Mphahlele. I opine that my initial encounter regarding Es’kia Mphahlele
differs, from most folks who are usually drawn to him, mostly due to his body
of work relevant to various forms of art. Uppermost in mind of people attracted
to Es’kia Mphahlele, included both established and buddying newshounds. A
sample of the latter include photo journalist Alf Khumalo (1930-2012) and current
deputy news editor of City Press Fred
Khumalo, mostly influenced by Es’kia Mphahlele’s stint while at DRUM Magazine from 1955-1957. Poets include
Wally Serote and Keorapetsi Kgositsile (1938-2018). Curators in ‘Fine Arts’
include Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993) and playwrights include the ilk of Matsemela
Manaka (1956-1998), Eugene Skeef, Lefifi Tladi and Pitika ka Ntuli. It is with
such avant-gardes in mind, that my introduction to Es’kia Mphahlele, may be read
as having been capricious.
I
discovered Mphahlele (as I was never taught about him) in 2003. This was while I
was an undergraduate student, at University of Zululand (UZ) in KwaDlangezwa, sited
in the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). In my usual trips to the campus
library, to read daily newspapers I was drawn to Afrikan Affirmations quotes, oozing ‘words of wisdom’ by Mphahlele
as a ‘doyen of African Literature’. My particular source was The Mercury, which was a provincial KZN weekly
tabloid. It was more than a decade later in 2014, after enrolling for my
doctorate at University of Johannesburg (UJ), when I would learn that Afrikan Affirmations, was the brainchild
of Mike Stainbank. He founded the now defunct Es’kia Mphahlele Institute, which was launched in Midrand, on the 29th
of October 2002.
Who
was Es’kia Mphahlele? By the time
this ‘chronicler of Apartheid’ transitioned to the ancestral realm, his
complete name was Professor Ezekiel Letobe
Mazwi Mphahlele. He was however more commonly known as Es’kia or mokgaga oa
makubela. His totem was Kgaga (an
Armadillo) hence the reference to Mokgaga and his other totem was Phuthi, (a Duiker). Parenthetically me
and Es’kia Mphahlele’s childhood playmate and neighbour in Marabastad (oddly
only called ‘Moloi’), in the autobiography Down
2nd Avenue (1959), share the totem of Phuthi, with all Mphahlele’s.
What follows can be read, as the initial fun fact for this lecture. I am the
eldest grandson of Stephen Moloi (1926-2000), who acted the character of ‘Jack’
in Todd Matshikiza’s (1921-1968) musical play King Kong, which toured London in 1961. My dad Lepoma Moloi has pointed
out to me, that he recalls that they used to live in the same neighborhood of
Orlando West, in Soweto with Mphahlele and his dear friend muso Professor Khabi Mngoma (1922-1999) in the late 1950’s. My dad
alongside Mngoma’s kids, Lindumuzi Mngoma and his sibling Dr. Sibongile Khumalo
(1957-2021), were some of the members of the Ionian Music Society, which was founded by Khabi Mngoma in 1959. My grandmother Leah Moloi also told me,
that she was taught Afrikaans by Mphahlele, during her high school years at
Orlando High School (OHS) in Orlando East, Soweto. Maybe the latter details of
my paternal family foregoing my exiled birth in 1980 in Tanzania, illumines why
I opted to study Mphahlele.
In
brief Es’kia Mphahlele may be summarized, as having been an educator, an award
winning author and an Afrocentric philosopher. Miscellaneous other descriptions,
include Father of African Humanism, Dean
of African Letters, the Prophet of Marabastad and among Founding Fathers of Modern African Literature. The latter vitally acknowledges
Mphahlele as a co-founder of the Mbari
Writers and Artists Club in Ibadan and Enugu, Nigeria (from 1961), also his
pioneering role as editor and contributor to the literary Journal Black Orpheus in Ibadan, Nigeria, (from
1961), his pioneering initiatives to host conferences on African Literature
across Africa and abroad, as the Director
of African Programs of the Congress for Cultural Freedom in Paris, France (1961-63)
and alas his pioneering role as Director
of Chemichemi Creative Centre in Nairobi, Kenya (1963-65).
Here
is the second fun fact, the name Es’kia
was preceded, by nicknames such as Eseki
and Tseke (the latter was common
among his family), Es’ki (was common
among his childhood friends ‘The Foxes’), Bruno
Esekie (was a pseudonym used in some of his articles authored in DRUM magazine in 1950’s) and Zeke (was common among scholars with a
close proximity to him). Mphahlele subsequently decolonized his first name,
from Ezekiel to Es’kia in 1977. Rationale
for the latter was due, from his ontological experience, in tyrannical South
Africa and in exile, which vitally highlighted his ‘integrated self’. Ezekiel
was not an African name but a biblically derived Hebrew name, knottily chosen
due to the systematic imposition of missionary influence, meted upon his
colonized parents. Madala Thepa (the last journalist to interview Es’kia) on
behalf of the now defunct Wordsetc a
‘South African Literary Journal’ (in
its Second Quarter of 2008 edition), narrated that his enquiry about the name
Es’kia being Ndebele, was sternly rebuffed. Mphahlele’s quoted reply to Madala
Thepa was “There is nothing like that. Es’kia is Sotho” (Thepa, 2008:20).
What
follows is a summary, of Mphahlele’s academic track record. His primary years
were at the now defunct Methodist School in Marabastad, Pretoria. A scholarship
afforded him the opportunity to study his high school years at the Anglican
affiliated St. Peters Priory, which was located in Rosettenville, South of
Johannesburg (1935-1937). Then he attended Adams College (1939-1940) in
Amanzimtoti, Durban. He then enrolled at the University of South Africa (UNISA),
where he attained his ‘Joint Matric Board Certificate’ (1942-1943), B.A (1949), a B.A Honours degree with a
capstone titled A Study in English
Romantic Poetry (1955) and finally completed his M.A dissertation by cum laude
entitled The Non-European Character in
South African English Fiction (1957). Alas his doctoral thesis was entitled
The Wanderers, which he completed in
a record eighteen months, as part of the Creative
Writing Program of the University of Denver, Colorado, USA (1968). The
latter was judged as the Best African
Novel for 1968/69 by African Arts
Magazine of University of California, Los Angeles. Es’kia Mphahlele was historically
among the prestigious nominees, for the Nobel
Peace Prize in Literature in 1968, which was eventually won, by the much
elder Japanese novelist Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972).
Here
is a sample list of Mphahlele’s primary texts which were mostly banned under
the Apartheid government’s Publications
Control Act No. 42, making up his oeuvre. His first book was Man Must Live (1946), followed by his
seminal first autobiography Down 2nd
Avenue (1959). Here is the final fun fact, Mphahlele’s latter autobiography was released in a comic version in 1988. Its
script was authored by Lesley Lawson and edited by Joyce Ozynski. Next up was The Living and Dead and Other Stories
(1961), then The African Image:
Essays-Literary, Cultural & Political (1962), then In Corner B and Other Stories (1967), then Mphahlele’s published
version of his doctorate and his first novel The Wanderers (1971), followed by Voices in the Whirlwind and Other Essays (1972), then his second
novel Chirundu (1979), then The Unbroken Song: Selected Writings-Poems
and Short Stories (1981), then Let’s
Write a Novel: A Guide (1981), then his sequel autobiography Afrika My Music (1984), then his third
novel Father Come Home (1984), then Let’s Talk Writing: Poetry- A guide for
writers (1986), then Poetry and
Humanism: Oral Beginnings (1986), then Let’s
Talk Writing: Prose: A guide for writers (1987), then Renewal Time: Short Stories (1988). The latter was the American
version of the earlier The Unbroken Song (1981).
Alas Mphahlele and Alf Khumalo, released Echoes of an Era (1990). Beyond the above list, three other sources
featuring Mphahlele’s writings are also noteworthy. They are the Capricorn Papers (1980-1990), released in monograph form by the Council for Black Education and Research
(CBER), which argued for the necessity of the now besieged Funda Community College, in Diepkloof, Soweto. The other two sources are Mphahlele’s vast
articles, in Es’kia (2002) and Es’kia Continued (2004).
In
Down 2nd Avenue (2009
edition) Mphahlele narrates, that he was a first born, to Moses (“a shop messenger
in an outfitters’ firm” (Mphahlele, 2009:1) and Eva Mphahlele (“a domestic
servant” (Mphahlele, 2009:1), in Marabastad, Pretoria. He was the eldest out of
six siblings (he had three step siblings). His younger brother was Dikgati
Solomon and their baby sister, was Tabitha Basie (nicknamed Girlie). From the
age of five (in 1924), until the age of 13 (in 1932), Es’kia Mphahlele and his
siblings lived with their paternal grandmother in Maupaneng, a village outside
Pietersburg (now Polokwane). The latter village life influenced his Worldview,
as is evident in his philosophy of ‘African Humanism’ from 1971, while in his
last spell of exile in USA. Es’kia’s debate with Addison Gayle Jr., a critic of
Voices in the Whirlwind (1972), popularized
Mphahlele’s Afrocentric thoughts.
Es’kia
Mphahlele’s accolades are quite extensive but here is a sample of them.
Mphahlele was conferred no less than ten honorary degrees. The list includes
University of Pennsylvania, USA in 1982, University of Natal (now University of
KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College) in 1983, Rhodes University (RU) in 1986,
University of Colorado, Boulder, USA in 1994, University of the North (now
University of Limpopo) in 1995, UNISA in 1997, University of Venda in 1998,
University of Denver in USA in 1999, University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2003 and
University of Pretoria (UP) in 2004. Beyond honorary doctorates Mphahlele was
awarded the Ordre des Palmes, by the
French Government in 1986. Then at the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland, he was awarded the Chrystal
Award for distinguished service in the Arts in 1998. Then former president
Nelson Mandela awarded Mphahlele, with the Order
of Southern Cross (presented in a form of a Silver medal) in 1999. The
latter was considered at the time, as the highest recognition to be granted, by
the South African government. It was conferred to recognize Mphahlele’s excellent
achievement, in the field of literature. Alas the National Research Foundation
(NRF) conferred Mphahlele, with the Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2005.
What
follows is a selected update post Mphahlele’s demise, on the 27th of
October 2008?
*
In 2008 shortly after learning about the death of Prof. Es’kia Mphahlele, Prof.
Sam Raditlhalo accepted an invitation, by Prof. Annie Gagiano of the English
Department at Stellenbosch University (SU), to address a memorial seminar which
was meant to reflect, upon the life of Prof. Es’kia Mphahlele. Prof. Gagiano
had supervised a PhD. by Lesibana Rafapa (his now Prof. Lesibana Rafapa
affiliated to University of Limpopo) entitled The Representation of African Humanism in the Narrative Writings of
Es’kia Mphahlele (2006).
*
Another highlight in 2010, was that UNISA’s Polokwane campus, introduced its
annual Es’kia Mphahlele lecture. They secured Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o,
as their first keynote speaker.
*
Still in 2010 Prof. Chabani Manganyi and Prof. David Attwell co-edited the
updated version of Bury Me at the
Marketplace - Es’kia Mphahlele and Company: Letters 1943 to 2006 (Wits
University Press).
*
Marian De Saxe of University of Sydney, Australia completed her PhD. which
featured Es’kia Mphahlele among other South Africans, entitled Sing Me a Song of History: SA poets and
Singers in Exile 1900-1990.
*
In 2010, 2011 & 2018 Penguin Publishers republished Es’kia Mphahlele’s In Corner B [1967]. Observably Es’kia
Mphahlele’s protégé Prof. Peter
Thuynsma, penned the introduction to the 2011 edition.
*June
2011 the current Head of Department of English and current Associate Professor
at Limpopo University Mphoto Mogoboya, completed his PhD. - African Identity in Es’kia Mphahlele’s
Autobiographical and Fictional Novels: A Literary Investigation at the School
of Languages and Communication Studies.
*
In 2012 Es’kia Mphahlele and Helen Moffett’s co-edited prescribed text,
entitled Season’s Come to Pass [2004]
was republished. It targeted high school level, English classes.
*
In 2013 a collection of all the articles Mphahlele contributed as a columnist,
in Tribute Magazine were all
collected and published into one book entitled A Lasting Tribute (published by Stainbank & Associates).
*In
2013 Mphahlele’s second autobiography, Afrika
My Music 1957-1983 [1984] was republished by Kwela.
*
In 2016 Gabriel Morokoe Letswalo completed his M.A in Sociology at Wits, which
referred to Mphahlele extensively. It was titled Either/or in Black (an Ethic from Sorrow).
*In
2016 University of Johannesburg (UJ) named one of the study rooms in its
library after Es’kia Mphahlele.
*In
2017 Phil Ndlela published a tribute article Do not let him die: Celebrating the legacy of Es’kia Mphahlele.
*
In 2017 Es’kia Mphahlele’s adopted literary daughter Mmatshilo Motsei, released
her book Reweaving the Soul of the Nation.
Funda Centre in Diepkloof, was one of the venues where she launched this book.
*2019
marked the Centenary Year for Es’kia
Mphahlele alongside fellow South African literati Noni Jabavu, Peter Abrahams
and CLS Nyembezi. Wits hosted a workshop and two colloquia to engage about all
these centenarians. Selected papers have been set aside, with the view that
they would form part of the upcoming book in early June 2022, titled Foundational African Writers. The latter
was published by Wits University Press and
co-edited by Bhekizizwe Peterson (1961-2021), Makhosazana Xaba and Khwezi
Mkhize.
*
Also in 2019 the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala, released a tribute
article in the media outlet called Polity
(whose motto is ‘Deepening Democracy through Access to Info’). The article was
titled Remembering Es’kia Mphahlele and
his call to Stand Together for a United and Just Cause.
*
Still in 2019 the online outlet New Frame,
published a two part interview, from the archive entitled In Search of Es’kia Mphahlele by Psychologist Chabani Manganyi. The
latter was the second biographer of Es’kia Mphahlele and his works, after
Ursula Burnett’s released her Ezekiel Mphahlele biography in 1976.
*
Still in 2019 artists Prof. Zakes Mda alongside Khehla Chepape Makgato, contributed
toward the exhibition of Es’kia Mphahlele, right here at the Polokwane Library
Gardens, as part of the Polokwane Art Museum.
*
Prof. Mabogo More’s book looking through
Philosophy in Black (2019), reflected Es’kia as a Philosopher.
* Tshepo
Madlingozi (currently Director at the Wits Centre for Legal Studies) completed
his PhD at Birbeck College, University of London in 2019, which features a
chapter on Es’kia Mphahlele. He has further penned Decolonising Decolonization with Es’kia Mphahlele (see New Frame). He has also presented his
thoughts on Mphahlele at the Johannesburg
Institute of Advanced Study (JIAS) & UNISA’s annual lecture in 2021.
*
In 2019 Prof. Ntongela Masilela was flown in to South Africa from his
self-imposed exile of Thailand, to deliver two memorial lectures at UNISA &
at JIAS (UJ). His paper was titled Ezekiel
Mphahlele: An Incomparable Historical Figure for all Horizons: The New African
Intellectual of the New African Movement.
*
In 2019 on the 23rd of November, Dr. Tshepo Mvulane Moloi delivered
his first keynote address on Es’kia Mphahlele at the June 16 Interpretation Centre, in Jabavu, Soweto. That occasion was
organised under Mollo wa Ditshomo by Phumzile
Twala and Simangaliso Sibiya, as cadets of Funda Community College.
*
In 2020 and 2021 Dr. Tshepo Mvulane Moloi has published various articles about
Es’kia Mphahlele, such as on Cultural
Review, Sunday Independent, City Press, Uncensored Opinion and Mayihlome News.
*
In 2021 Dr. Ali Hlongwane (a Pan-Africanist historian) acknowledged Es’kia
Mphahlele’s extensive insights on his contemporary Zephaniah Mothopeng, which
he secured in a 200l interview with him.
*
In 2021 Jaki Seroke (a Pan-African activist), also evoked Mphahlele’s memory,
in his Zwelethu memoir.
*
Also in 2021 The Yunus Emre Institute
(a Turkish Arts and Culture Outlet) hosted a memorial lecture about both the
would-be 753 years old Yunus Emre and the would-be 102 years old
Es’kia Mphahlele. Owing to the success of the latter event, there is a plan, to
host a similar lecture in Turkey next year.
*Next
year in early 2022, Adams College in Amanzimtoti, on the outskirts of Durban,
will be launching its website. I have contributed to it some details, on Es’kia
Mphahlele’s student days, while at Adams College.
In
a nutshell from the above sample of miscellaneous activities by different
people, that have engaged a single or some events, post Es’kia Mphahlele’s
demise on 27th October 2008, it may be left to the audience to make
up their minds, whether there is a reason to worry about Es’kia Mphahlele (as a
deceased griot) and his oeuvre (his
legacy of work) having the potential to be forgotten. I opine that the most constructive
way to pay homage to this ‘doyen of African Literature’ or ‘Dean of Letters’ as
Es’kia Mphahlele was dubbed, is to simply read his works and seek to grasp the
lessons that may (in his words) ‘increase us’. In other words, the insights
that Mphahlele has bequeathed to us all, demand that we earnestly seek out his oeuvre and read read read. Happy 102nd anniversary Mokgaga.
Mokgaga wa Mmakubela…mabjoko a
letile, tsena o re fahlolose. Badimo ba le roballe.
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