Modikwe Dikobe (pseudonym of Marks Rammitloa, 1913 – July 2005) was a South African novelist, poet, trade unionist and squatter leader in Johannesburg, in the 1940s. He wrote one book and one collection of poetry, whilst working as a hawker, clerk, domestic servant and night watchman.[1][2]
Dikobe was born in Mutse village, in north-central Transvaal. When he was young his mother went to Johannesburg to work and he lived with his grandmother, looking after goats. When he was nine he moved to Sophiatown in the city to be with his mother. Then they moved to a shack in Doornfontein.[3] He learnt to read and write, as well as being introduced to leftwing ideas, by the Communist Party’s Mayibuye night-schools in the 1930s.[4]
Activismedit
His first job was selling newspapers and this is how he met his future wife, Ruth. They married in 1936 and lived in Newclare and Sophiatown, before moving to the Alexandra township.[3] In the early 1940s, Dikobe began to organise tenants' movements and bus boycotts, alongside other people such as Schreiner Baduza and James Mpanza.[5]
Owing to the high rents, people began to squat in the veld. Dikobe joined them and became a squatter leader. He wrote for a newspaper called Inkululeko ('Freedom'). The police arrested Dikobe alongside many other people in 1960. He was quickly released, but forbidden from being associated with politics or trade unions. In 1963, he took a job as a nightwatchman and began to write his book The Marabi Dance about shackdwellers in Doornfontein. Dikobe then left his wife and moved to Seabe in (modern-day Mpumalanga) with another woman.[3]
Legacyedit
Literary historian Tim Couzens, editor of Dikobe's volume of poetry, Dispossessed, states that "Dikobe is unique in South African literature because he has been until recently [...] the only substantial writer who is, while writing, fairly strongly working class."[4]
Worksedit
The Marabi Dance [novel] (1973)
The Dispossessed [poetry] (1983)
Referencesedit
^South Africa’s mineral and industrial revolution [dead link]
^Education, Equal (2016). Amagama Enkululeko! Words for Freedom: Writing Life Under Apartheid i. African Books Collective. ISBN9781928346357.
^ abc"The great man they once called SKAAPIE". Learn and Teach Magazine. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
^ abStaff (30 June 1995). "The bard of township culture". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
^Stadler, A.W. (1979). "Birds in the Cornfield: Squatter Movements in Johannesbur" (PDF). Journal of Southern African Studies. 6 (1): 93–123. doi:10.1080/03057077908708008. hdl:10539/9876. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
Further readingedit
Bonner, P. "The Politics of Black Squatter Movements on the Rand, 1944–1952", Radical History Review, 1990.
"The bard of township culture", Mark Gevisser, Mail & Guardian, 1995.
This biographical article about a South African activist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
modikwe, dikobe, pseudonym, marks, rammitloa, 1913, july, 2005, south, african, novelist, poet, trade, unionist, squatter, leader, johannesburg, 1940s, wrote, book, collection, poetry, whilst, working, hawker, clerk, domestic, servant, night, watchman, content. Modikwe Dikobe pseudonym of Marks Rammitloa 1913 July 2005 was a South African novelist poet trade unionist and squatter leader in Johannesburg in the 1940s He wrote one book and one collection of poetry whilst working as a hawker clerk domestic servant and night watchman 1 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Activism 3 Legacy 4 Works 5 References 6 Further readingEarly life editDikobe was born in Mutse village in north central Transvaal When he was young his mother went to Johannesburg to work and he lived with his grandmother looking after goats When he was nine he moved to Sophiatown in the city to be with his mother Then they moved to a shack in Doornfontein 3 He learnt to read and write as well as being introduced to leftwing ideas by the Communist Party s Mayibuye night schools in the 1930s 4 Activism editHis first job was selling newspapers and this is how he met his future wife Ruth They married in 1936 and lived in Newclare and Sophiatown before moving to the Alexandra township 3 In the early 1940s Dikobe began to organise tenants movements and bus boycotts alongside other people such as Schreiner Baduza and James Mpanza 5 Owing to the high rents people began to squat in the veld Dikobe joined them and became a squatter leader He wrote for a newspaper called Inkululeko Freedom The police arrested Dikobe alongside many other people in 1960 He was quickly released but forbidden from being associated with politics or trade unions In 1963 he took a job as a nightwatchman and began to write his book The Marabi Dance about shackdwellers in Doornfontein Dikobe then left his wife and moved to Seabe in modern day Mpumalanga with another woman 3 Legacy editLiterary historian Tim Couzens editor of Dikobe s volume of poetry Dispossessed states that Dikobe is unique in South African literature because he has been until recently the only substantial writer who is while writing fairly strongly working class 4 Works editThe Marabi Dance novel 1973 The Dispossessed poetry 1983 References edit South Africa s mineral and industrial revolution dead link Education Equal 2016 Amagama Enkululeko Words for Freedom Writing Life Under Apartheid i African Books Collective ISBN 9781928346357 a b c The great man they once called SKAAPIE Learn and Teach Magazine 7 August 2013 Retrieved 7 May 2019 a b Staff 30 June 1995 The bard of township culture Mail amp Guardian Retrieved 7 May 2019 Stadler A W 1979 Birds in the Cornfield Squatter Movements in Johannesbur PDF Journal of Southern African Studies 6 1 93 123 doi 10 1080 03057077908708008 hdl 10539 9876 Retrieved 7 May 2019 Further reading editBonner P The Politics of Black Squatter Movements on the Rand 1944 1952 Radical History Review 1990 The bard of township culture Mark Gevisser Mail amp Guardian 1995 nbsp This biographical article about a South African activist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a South African writer or poet is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Modikwe Dikobe amp oldid 1204769522, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
