It is not going to be easy to fill the gap left by the two giants of the written word Athol Fugard and Gomolemo Mokae
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
Two recent deaths in South Africa have left the country traumatized, the first death, that of writer and medical doctor Gomolemo Mokae happened last week and was as a result of violence, and the other death being that of veteran South African playwright Athol Fugard.
Mokae was aged 60.
Though Fugard died on Sunday, at the age of 92, the country still needed more from him, and that is more plays as his mind was one of the sharpest theatre minds in South Africa, especially when it comes to grappling with the ideas of race. In fact, one cannot think of a single individual who has written so clearly on this issue, other than Fugard.
Though Fugard has written many plays in his life time, many will remember masterpieces such as The Island,Master Hardold and the Boys and Blood Knot, for example.
Mokae died tragically in his Garankuwa home, alone. The police are treating the case as murder.
Mokae’s death and life, especially after suffering that stroke that in many respects left him a shadow of his former self, as he never fully recovered from it, is one of the most painful to befall an individual of his talent. He was no longer in a position to pain the novels and plays in his Setswana language, a skill he had mastered so well in his life time to the extent that his plays were turned into successful TV shows.
Some will remember his as the biographer of Robert McBride, a book that was critically acclaimed when it was released, earning the author an honorary doctorate from Vista University.
However, Mokae’s life became complicated when he suffered a stroke in the 2000s, a tragedy that was not unrelated to the demands of his job at the National Arts Council where he was Chairperson of the NAC during one of its several turbulent times.
In short in Mokae and Fugard, the country has lost some of its leading lights when it comes to the written word. It is not going to be easy to fill the gap left by the two giants of the written word.