Thami Mnyele's life spanned the era of apartheid. He was born
the same year the National Party won office and came of age in a
time (the 1960s) and a place (Johannesburg) that offered a
sensitive young black artist little encouragement. In 1985, in the
waning days of apartheid, he was killed by South African Special
Forces operatives in Gaborone, Botswana, where he had joined the
banned African National Congress. Although reticent by nature, he
played a vanguard role in efforts to throw open the doors of South
African culture.
Thami Mnyele's story sheds light on this tumultuous era from an
unusual perspective: that of an artist and not a "young lion." Not
only does Mnyele's story help us understand the birth of a modern
African aesthetic; it also addresses the genesis of revolutionary
commitment. How did a man come to face the prospect of martyrdom
and learn to accept it? How did this choice affect what he was able
to express as an artist?
Diana Wylie's beautifully written and illustrated literary
biography reveals the struggles inside and around a gentle South
African artist as he remade himself into a revolutionary soldier,
and brings fresh insights to our understanding of South Africa's
recent history.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!