CHIEF O BOLAJI ON THE LATE FLAXMAN QOOPANE

The literary fraternity has been reeling with the recent death of Flaxman Qoopane, a long standing flamboyant journalist, author, poet, and literary activist.

The award winning, incredibly prolific writer, Chief O Bolaji, whilst wrapped in sorrow over Qoopane’s death, briefly went down memory lane this week as he reflected on his close association with the late writer over the decades.  Bolaji said.

"When I first arrived in South Africa over 20 years ago Qoopane was the one who took me under his wing, showing me the ropes as it were. We were so close that many people used to refer to us as twins! Qoopane himself used to say that I was the only real friend he had.

“But this was not strictly true of course, as he was a friendly man, ebullient and effervescent to boot, with so many people he was quite close to. There was the great Gilbert Modise for one; and other people strutting their stuff in arts and culture.

“But it was true that in terns of working together and letting our hairs down too, I was the closest to him,” Bolaji continued. “ Professionally we worked on countless stories, news, articles, features and the like. We wrote for publications like Next, Realtime, Hola, Daily Sun, Mangaung News, Free State News, Kopanang, E and E magazine…

Bolaji laughed lightly, going on:  “You know he (Qoopane) was a born journalist. His glee knew no bounds after his writings came out in any publication – he would issue whoops of delight and canter around like the free spirit he was. He meticulously kept hundreds of stories we wrote over the years; whilst I do not even have just one, myself now!

“As regards relaxation, we did that a lot. He was so generous that whenever any remuneration came in he would insist on buying us drinks first with his own share of the money. We would go to many joints or centres, enjoy beers and fine food (laughing). He has written about this in some of his books like Adventures in Journalism

“We’ll return to the books presently, but I must also stress that he used to be something of a ladies’ man too… as he was so famous,” Bolaji pointed out. “He knew I was very shy but yet he would introduce ladies to me and encourage them to follow me to my place…with that prodding, authoritative baritone voice of his!”

Talking about books, Bolaji stressed: “As for Qoopane’s books, he published over ten of them, more or less all of them important for historical, scholarly, sociological or journalistic reasons. The books included A poet abroad, The Conference, Macufe 2001 and his favourite work, Reneiloe-Mpho’s story which involved his beloved daughter, now a beautiful young woman. I will give you a full list of his books at the end…”

“To be honest, I would need a book to talk about Mr Qoopane, but let me just stress two other things briefly. Firstly at the latter part of his life he was blessed with a wonderful wife, Mme Emily (a writer herself), who gave him much happiness. Secondly, he was a very versatile, finicky, punctilious writer; he published biographies, fiction, criticism, poetry, general works, and lots more. His departure is horrific for arts and culture”

- Feature by Dan Xangaza

BOOKS BY FLAXMAN QOOPANE

A Poet Abroad
Memoirs of a Cultural Activist
Adventures in Journalism
Reneiloe-Mpho's story
Macufe 2001
Women of Talent
Gilbert Modise: the man and the myth
View from my Window
Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work
The Conference
THE CREST
City of Roses and Literary Icons
Scintillating stars from the vibrant soil

MINE BOY. By Peter Abrahams

The importance of this early novel from any black or coloured African in the pantheon of African literature can not be over emphasized. Pa Abrahams who sadly died this year after glimpsing becoming a Centenarian was a very good perceptive writer with sensitivity. 

Despite growing up in the hell of a racist enclave – where blacks were considered very inferior - he always managed to write from the “human” point of view with restraint and civility and great intelligence. This is obvious in this work as we zero in on Xuma and his metamorphosis into a man and thinker over the years. From a very simple, naïve country bumpkin he attains awareness late on in a way that would strike clanging chords among all readers…as it did over the decades, with the world realizing how “apartheid’ was a horrific, unbearable thing in South Africa. 

And the work is a fine read too, right from the beginning as Xuma arrives at Malay camp, gets to mix with a medley of people…he gets a job in the Mines and is struck with the way the life of whites – with their many comforts and appurtenants – contrasts sordidly with the life of blacks. Why should whites be free and drink liberally whilst blacks were constrained to carry passes in the land of their birth? And also arrested for selling and drinking “local drink”?

Leah, the powerful ‘Skokiaan queen’ is a splendid woman and somewhat takes the naïve Xuma under her wing. His initial naivety is charming, and his great strength very impressive too. Life would have been fairly okay if not for all the constrictive structures of racism in society. The descriptions are beguiling and unforgettable here, including the colourful weekends in the townships! Hark at the dancing sequences, coquetry, flirting and drinking. 

Xuma himself is not celibate as the story unfolds, and he is very much entranced and “in love” with Eliza who is presented as beautiful; but conflicted and eccentric as she “craves for the fine things of the whites” which she can never have. It is a haunting, somber aspect and we are happy for Xuma as things initially go well between him and Eliza - till she disappears! Eliza has gone…Yet the other woman, Maisy, is always there for Xuma and understands him and handles her own frustration with extraordinary selflessness and maturity. 

Xuma begins to think about things, and the irony is that it is a white man, Paddy, who conscientizes him and lets him fully realize that one should not believe in racial superiority or otherwise, and the “good things of life” should be for everybody, not only whites. That all men should be free and equal. If only it were so…the whole idea grips Xuma and he begins to think along these lines…man as man, never mind colour or race…goodness and fairness and freedom!

It is the making of Xuma, as a series of undesirable and tragic events unfold in the last part of the work. Xuma leads a rebellion in the mines at the end and is none the worse for it,; he is ready to settle down with Maisy at last (once he has left jail). This is grim and halcyon at the same time. A wonderful work indeed.

- Malome Eric