CHRIS VAN WYK (1957 - 2014)

  

 By Raphael Mokoena

"An amiable, warm man passionately in love with the world of writing"  This was the impression I got of Chris van Wyk at a workshop on literature we both attended some years ago.     

Chris van Wyk was a much more versatile writer than he was perhaps given credit for. His early publications like It is time to go home (poetry, 1979) and A message in the wind (fiction 1982) underlined his talent. And of course he went on to publish many other works primarily aimed at youngsters.

But The year of the Tapeworm (1996) is very much an adult novel. Autobiographical works like Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, and, Eggs to lay and Chickens to Hatch have been quite acclaimed.

One of the outstanding highlights of van Wyk's writing career was the publication of an abridged version of Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom for children - a work adults can easily read and learn
a lot from too.       

For many others, van Wyk's magnum opus might well be his long list of books - biographies of famous
Southern African people - for teenagers. They include:

* Oliver Tambo.      * Helen Joseph.      * Chris Hani.        * Steve

Biko.        * Walter Sisulu.     * Yusuf Dadoo.       * Lilian Ngoyi.
     * Nelson Mandela.    * Bram Fischer.      * Desmond Tutu.      *
Mohandas Gandhi.   * Cissie Gool.       * Albert Luthuli.    * Robert
Sobukwe.    * Thabo Mbeki.       * Sol Plaatje.       * John Dube.
    * Joe Slovo.         * Winnie Mandela.    * Ruth First.

Chris van Wyk won many awards for his extensive writing, including the Olive Schreiner Prize, Masker Miller Longman Literature Award, and the Sanlam Literary Award.

Other works by van Wyk.

My cousin Thabo.

Take a chance

My name is Selina

April in the Cape of Storms

Sergeant Dlamini falls in love

DAMBUDZO MARECHERA: (Black Sunlight)

 
Overview by Paul Lothane

Although the outstanding Zimbabwean writer, Dambudzo Marechera, died so young (at only 35) he had already cemented himself as one of Africa's all-time distinguished writers. Marechera was a novelist, short story writer, poet, and playwright. He was also a polished reviewer of diverse books during his lifetime.  

     

His novel, Black Sunlight was published in his lifetime. His publishers pointed out that he "used language without inhibitions", and so it is in Black Sunlight. The following excerpts/quotations come from the work: 

"fiery bush of cloud, fierce rays, vermillion in vivid colours" (i.e the sun) "the wrinkled curl of the lip around the rim of squalor" "the falcon beat its wings of cymbals". 

 "You are dragged over hot coals of vision by the third leg. It's all things to all men, but basically we are it. We are the great cunt. Whatever you
do, think, feel, aspire to, it's dictated by the great cunt".

"Prometheus hurling defiance at Zeus even as he watches vultures
engorge themselves on his chained body".   

 (Prometheus, one of the early deities, The Titans, having created man from clay, gave him fire - stealing from Olympus - against Zeus' wishes. Zeus chained Prometheus on Mount Caucasus where his entrails were continually fed upon by a vulture). 

"I am astonished by the audience's ignorance" (said Nick, a lecturer) "I did not expect such a low cultural level among you. Those who do not understand my work are simply illiterate..."

Other works by Marechera

House of Hunger 

Black Insider

Mindblast    

Cemetery of mind

Scrapiron Blues