REVISITING GOMOLEMO MOKAE

Gomolemo Mokae is rightly regarded as one of the most outstanding, well respected Black writers in the country. Author of at least six works, he has contributed solidly to arts and culture.


He is a fairly versatile writer, though he has done very well in fiction in particular; also writing and publishing novels, short stories, works in his native Setswana, and an excellent academic study on Robert McBride. Mokae has also contributed to criticism.

Perhaps his most famous work is his novel, The secret in my bosom which was hailed as probably the first detective/mystery work published by a Black South African. It is an interesting, humorous work which deserves more attention than it has received.

Surprisingly, Mokae has attracted relatively very little criticism of his work over the years. Yet Free State writer and critic, Flaxman Qoopane, has published the following about Mokae’s The secret in my bosom:

“...for example, Gomolemo Mokae’s detective novel, The Secret in my bosom, can be called a success, but I have always believed it has a major flaw. Is it really possible that the lady in question (Moloi) would not be recognised by anybody till late, despite undergoing surgery?”*

Yet the truth is that by even average standards, over the last decade or so, Mokae’s literary output seems to be very small, considering his great talent. This columnist is well aware that he was very sick for some time, yet the world still expects more from this distinguished writer.

Gomolemo Mokae’s published books include Nnete ke serunya, Masego, Kaine le Abel, Short not tall stories, The secret in my bosom, Robert McBride, a coloured life

- KA Motheane

Reference

• Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work. (Book) 2003. By Flaxman Qoopane. (Page 17)