Barbara Masekela
Barbara Masekela | |
---|---|
Born | Barbara Mosima Joyce Masekela 18 July 1941 Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, South Africa |
Alma mater | University of Zambia: Ohio State University |
Occupation(s) | Poet, educator and activist |
Notable work | Poli Poli (2021) |
Relatives | Hugh Masekela (brother) |
Barbara Mosima Joyce Masekela (born 18 July 1941)[1] is a South African poet, educator, and activist who has held positions of arts leadership within the African National Congress (ANC).
Early life and education
Barbara Masekela was born on 18 July 1941 in the
Six months later, she enrolled in the Basutoland campus of the University of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland. After one semester at the university, she moved to Ghana to help the newly independent country introduce Western-style methods of learning. In February 1963, Masekela contracted tuberculosis and was then sent to the United Kingdom, where she received treatment over the next year. After she was rehabilitated, she stayed in the UK for a few months, before moving IN 1965 to New York City, where she enrolled in Fordham University. Her educational career at Fordham University was short-lived; in her Anthropology classes she experienced racism from her professors, who considered non-Western societies to be primitive and uncivilized. Masekela fell ill again and returned to Africa, continuing her education at the University of Zambia in 1967.[1]
While in her third year at the University of Zambia, she was in a car accident; the resulting injuries forced her to stay with her brother in
Political career
After being away from South Africa for 22 years, Masekela still kept up with and supported her country through the newspapers where African National Congress (ANC) issues were appearing in the headlines almost every day. From the media, Masekela learned about their push for the economic sanctions that would weaken the South African government, and their ever-strengthening ties with the Scandinavian countries, all of which had long been associated with human rights issues. It was noted that Zimbabwe and Mozambique gained independence and were fighting the apartheid system along with South Africa. It was then, in the early 1980s that Masekela joined the anti-apartheid movement and gave speeches and demonstrations in America, giving her the reputation of being a serious activist.[1] In August 1982 Masekela made her trip back to Lusaka, Zambia, where she worked as administrative secretary for the ANC on a full-time basis.[4] After only working for the ANC for a year, she was asked to head the ANC’s Department of Arts and Culture, which she accepted.[3]
In 1990, shortly after his release from his 27-year prison term, Nelson Mandela came to the United States and to India to thank everyone who had helped him and the ANC. Masekela was asked to accompany him, to handle arrangements and scheduling, and also to help raise funds and support from students and politicians for the organization in the multiracial, democratic elections that almost certainly lay ahead. Streamlined and efficient, she impressed Mandela so much that he asked her to become the head of staff in his office. In the same year, Masekela gave a speech that made clear the relationship she always claimed between art and the culture of any society, that art in any form expressed the long-term values of a society, whether political, legal, or social.[1]
She served the South African government at the highest level when, after his inauguration as President, at which she presided, Mandela appointed her the first new South African Ambassador to France and
Writing and literary work
Masekela's poetry is included in such publications at
Her autobiography, entitled Poli Poli, and dedicated to her brother
Masekela, supported by Elinor Sisulu, in February 2023 inaugurated the Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers, hosted by the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS) at the Johannesburg Business School.[14][15]
Awards
Masekela is a recipient of the Order of Luthuli in Silver, which national honour she was awarded for her "excellent contribution to the eradication of apartheid and contributing to the development of the new South African values".[5][16]
In April 2024, Rhodes University awarded her an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Laws (LLD), "for her lifelong commitment to cultural activism, literature, and the fight for human dignity".[17][18]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Masekela, Barbara 1941–". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
- ^ Tsumele, Edward (25 October 2021). "Poli Poli : A story deeper than profiling Barbara Masekela's life…". The Telegram. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Barbara Mosima Joyce Masekela". SAHO (South African History Online). Archived from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ "Masekela, Barbara", Women Marching Into the 21st Century: Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo, HSRC Press, 2000, p. 109.
- ^ a b "Barbara Masekela (1941 - )", The Presidency, Republic of South Africa.
- Callaloo, no. 21, 109–113. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Poli Poli" at Jonathan Ball Publishers.
- ^ a b Masola, Athambile (8 September 2022). "Every time a black woman writes their story they are resisting marginalisation—Athambile Masola reviews Barbara Masekela's memoir Poli Poli". The Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Rosenthal, Jane (21 September 2021). "REVIEW | Barbara Masekela memoir is destined to become a classic". News24.
- Times Live.
- ^ Nkomo, Mokubung (10 January 2022). "Barbara Masekela's 'Poli Poli' resonates deeply for those of us who grew up under apartheid's evil beginnings". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Poli Poli – Barbara Masekela". PolityS. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Ibeh, Chukwuebuka (5 July 2022). "56 Books Longlisted for the 2022 Sunday Times Awards — One of South Africa's Highest Literary Honors". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Moloi, Tshepo Mvulane (14 February 2023). "Inaugural Johannesburg Festival Of Women Writers A Resounding Success". The Bulrushes. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Moloi, Tshepo Mvulane (26 April 2023). "Johannesburg Festival of Women Writers". Culture Review Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "National orders for prominent people". Sowetan Live. 23 April 2008.
- ^ Mbatha, Mbali (3 April 2024). "Rhodes University honours esteemed poet, activist Barbara Masekela with a doctorate". City Press. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ "Rhodes University marks 120 years with memorable graduation". Rhodes University | The Division of Communication and Advancement. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
External links
- "Book Review: Barbara Masekela's memoir entitled 'Poli Poli'", SABC News, 2 January 2022.
- "Poli Poli by Barbara Masekela Book Launch Highlights - 15 February 2022", University of Cape Town.
- "GMA e-Lounge with veteran activist: Barbara Masekela about her book", 7 December 2022.
- "'Nobody teaches us how to get old' - South African pioneer Barbara Masekela", East Coast Radio, 8 March 2023.
- "S7E6 Barbara Masekela and Sisonke Msimang in Conversation: 'The Great Secret of History'", PEN South Africa, Podcast, Season 7, 13 April 2023.