Bloke of All Ages – Perspectives on Bloke Modisane

Why Bloke Modisane Still Matters

Edited by Siyabonga Njica and Siphiwo Mahala

Bloke of All Ages offers refreshing new insights into the works of one of South Africa’s most important literary, intellectual and artistic figures, William Bloke Modisane. Moreover, it highlights the resilience of his work.

The book situates his intellectual and cultural contribution within the historical context of South African creative arts.

Bloke of All Ages is an expansive reflection

It offers refreshing new insights into the works of one of South Africa’s most important literary, intellectual, and artistic figures, William Bloke Modisane. He was born in Sophiatown. Modisane was a remarkable author, playwright, and actor. In addition, he was a leading member of the DRUM generation in the 1950s.

The contributors trace Modisane’s intellectual and cultural journey. They begin with his early years in South Africa. They then follow his exile to the United Kingdom, East Africa, North America, Italy, the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. Furthermore, they provide a comprehensive and diverse exploration of Modisane’s body of work.

The contributors offer critical literary essays on his early short stories, his autobiography Blame Me on History, his journalism, as well as his writings while in exile. In addition, the volume includes little-known and previously unpublished essays by Modisane. He wrote these essays during his time in exile.

Bloke of All Ages highlights the timelessness and resilience of Modisane’s work. It also situates his significant intellectual and cultural contribution within South African creative arts.

About the editors

Siyabonga Njica is a literary and cultural historian. He is also the Isaac Newton Trust Fellow in Global African History at the University of Cambridge.

Siphiwo Mahala is an accomplished short story writer, novelist, playwright, and literary critic. He is an associate professor in the English Department at the University of Johannesburg. Furthermore, his book Can Themba: The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi (2022) won the Creative Non-Fiction Award at the South African Literary Awards.