Zakes Mda talks Trump, #AdamCatzavelos, and SA's land issue
Popular South African novelist Zakes Mda joined Damon in studio to chat more about his work, his upcoming public lecture at the Durban University of Technology, and his views on what's making headlines in South Africa.
Listen to Zakes' interview with Damon or read the details under the podcast.
I have interviewed many people during my career as a radio presenter, but I was chuffed when I got to interview the legendary Zakes Mda.
The 70-year-old uses Zakes Mda as his pen name, but his real name is Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda. He was born in the town of Herschel in the Eastern Cape. It is reported that he chose the name Zakes as it reminds him of Dobsonville, the town where he spent his childhood.
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According to his bio, the writer, painter, and music composer holds an MFA in Theater and an MA in Telecommunications from Ohio University. He also holds a PhD from the University of Cape Town.
"He has published 22 books, ten of which are novels and the rest collections of plays, poetry and a monograph on the theory and practice of theatre-for-development," the bio adds.
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He recently took to Twitter to share news of a new book that he will publish in 2019. Titled, The Zulus of New York, the novel is set in the 1880s and is about a group of Zulus and their time spent at William Leonard Hunt's circus, which saw them performing to peak the interest of others, reports The Journalist.
I’m dropping this book early next year. Get ready. I warned you that I’m now in the habit of “dropping” stuff. pic.twitter.com/AAjeWElda3
— Zakes Mda (@ZakesMda) August 24, 2018
Mda also showcases some of his work as an artist on his website. "My art celebrates the coalescence of the materials and traditions of these diverse regions," he said.
This multi-talented man will be in Durban this week for a public lecture taking place on Wednesday at DUT. His topic is "Unsilencing an Occluded Cultural and Historical Heritage”.
If you want to get a chance to meet and hear from this industry great, I suggest you book a seat today!
In case you missed it, watch part one and two from the live studio interview below: