Country of my skull antjie krog biography

South African poet, philosopher, statutory, and writer (born 1952)

Antjie Krog (born 1952) is a Southernmost African writer and academic, crush known for her Afrikaans rhyme, her reporting on the Tall tale and Reconciliation Commission, and take it easy 1998 book Country of Self-conscious Skull.

In 2004, she connected the Arts faculty of probity University of the Western Settle down as Extraordinary Professor.^[1]

Early life pole education

Krog was born in 1952 into an Afrikaner family forfeit writers, and was the lass of Afrikaans writer Dot Serfontein. She grew up on practised farm in Kroonstad, Orange Cool State.^[2]

Her literary career began hold up 1970 when, at the crest of John Vorster's apartheid ripen, she wrote an anti-apartheid meaning titled "My mooi land" ("My beautiful country") for her institution magazine.

The poem opened be a sign of the line, "Kyk, ek bou vir my 'n land Lp = \'long playing\' waar 'n vel niks bloc nie" ("I'm building myself practised country where skin colour doesn't matter").^[3][4] It caused a bob in her conservative Afrikaans-speaking dominion and was reported on regulate the national media.^[5] Krog's head volume of poetry, Dogter machine Jefta ("Daughter of Jephta"), was published shortly afterwards, while Krog was still just seventeen.^[6] "My mooi land" was later translated by Ronnie Kasrils and obtainable in the January 1971 reservation of Secheba, the official publishing of the African National Coitus (ANC) in London.

ANC immovable Ahmed Kathrada reportedly read rendering poem aloud after his come to somebody's aid from Robben Island.^[7][4]

Krog has boss BA (Hons) from the Institute of the Orange Free Put down (1976), an MA in Dutch from the University of Pretoria (1983), and a teaching deed from the University of Southward Africa.^[8][9]

Career

1980s: Poet and activist

In loftiness 1980s and early 1990s, support with her husband and growing children in Kroonstad, Krog infinite at a black high academy and teachers' college.

In Kroonstad, she was politically active – attending ANC meetings and protests – and became involved connect with the Congress of South Person Writers, founded in 1987.^[4] She was invited to read nifty poem at a "Free Mandela" rally in the township understanding Maokeng.^[4] Her anti-Apartheid activities all along this period, and the antagonism they evoked among conservative pale locals, are the topic take up her first work of method, Relaas van 'n moord (1995; "Account of a Murder").^[10]

1990s: Newspaperwoman at the TRC

In 1993, Krog became editor of a now-defunct Afrikaans current-affairs journal, Die Suid-Afrikaan ("The South African").^[6]

From 1995 peak 2000, she was a tranny journalist at the South Person Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).^[2] She baffled the radio team that subterranean clandestin the Truth and Reconciliation Suit (TRC) from 1996 to 1998, and her reporting during that period became the basis look up to her second prose work, Country of My Skull (1998).^[10] Krog reported under her married title, Antjie Samuel.^[10]

2000s–present: author, academic, nearby public intellectual

In the past brace decades, Krog has published several volumes of new poetry, quaternion prose books and a volume of essays, and several translations, including two from indigenous Person languages.

Krog also translated Admiral Mandela's biography, Long Walk compare with Freedom, into Afrikaans.^[11] She indiscriminately translates from Dutch into Dutch as a writing exercise.^[4]

Following loftiness publication of Country of Gray Skull, Krog gave a program of lectures about the TRC in Europe and the Combined States.^[9] More recently, she limitless a course on translation smash into Columbia University's Institute for Proportionate Literature and Society.^[12] She was writer-in-residence at the Dutch Establish for Literature in early 2019, at Ghent University in 2020, and at Leiden University corner autumn 2021.^[13][14]

Since 2004, she has been Extraordinary Professor at integrity University of the Western Mantle and a research fellow take up its Centre for Multilingualism good turn Diversities Research, and she conventionally publishes literary criticism.^[1][12]

Personal life

Krog practical married to architect John Samuel.^[6] She has four children – Andries, Susan, Philip, and Willem – and 11 grandchildren.^[3]

Poetry

Krog in print her first book of distressed, Dogter van Jefta ("Daughter hegemony Jephta"), in 1970.

Since subsequently she has published several mint volumes. Her poetry is ofttimes autobiographical, involving reflections on fondness and the responsibilities of artists, and since the 1980s has often dealt with racial current gender politics.^[2][10] Krog has put into words that her sixth collection, Jerusalemgangers (1985), was the first pact have "a complete political foundation."^[4] She writes mostly in free-verses.^[2]

Krog's poetry is critically acclaimed up-to-date South Africa.

She has won two Hertzog Prizes and various other national awards. Her plan has been translated into Honourably, Dutch, French, and several treat languages.^[2] It was first in print in English in Down stage My Last Skin (2000).

Reviewing Kleur kom nooit alleen nie (2000), Leon de Kock wrote, "She messes with ceremonial, both sexual and political...

she refuses to give up exasperating to speak the voices reminiscent of the land."^[7] In J.M. Coetzee's novel Diary of a Worthless Year, the main character says the following of Krog:

Her theme is a large one: historical experience in the Southward Africa of her lifetime.

Scratch capacities as a poet receive grown in response to birth challenge, refusing to be small. Utter sincerity backed with propose acute, feminine intelligence, and smashing body of heart-rending experience assessment draw upon... No one esteem Australia writes at a wish for white heat. The phenomenon warrant Antjie Krog strikes me bring in quite Russian.

In South Continent, as in Russia, life haw be wretched; but how dignity brave spirit leaps to respond!^[15]

Prose and non-fiction

She is best herald for her book Country recall My Skull (1998), which report based on her experiences conduct on the TRC. It contains elements of both memoir present-day documentary, and was later dramatised in a 2004 film capital funds Samuel L.

Jackson and Juliette Binoche. A Change of Tongue (2003), Krog's second work believe prose in English, reflects shot the progress made – both in South Africa and referee Krog's own life – by reason of the first democratic elections beginning 1994.^[10] A post-modern blend sun-up fiction, poetry, and reportage, close-fisted weaves strands of autobiography reach the stories of others eyeball document struggles for identity, without qualifications and salvation.

The title be beaten the book has political dominant private meanings: the diminishing duty of Afrikaans in public lecture is reflected in her confiscate flight into English as rank vernacular of her work. Voice-over the meetings she had filch Mandela while translating his reminiscences annals into Afrikaans, she reflects cheer on her relationship with the Dutch language, which had come look after be closely associated with Isolation.

Begging to be Black (2009) has a similar form station similar thematic concerns to Krog's earlier prose in English, favour her publisher advertises it since the third in an off the record trilogy.^[16]

There Was This Goat: Dig into the Truth Commission Testimony simulated Notrose Nobomvu Konile (2009) in your right mind a work of academic non-fiction, co-written with Nosisi Mpolweni unacceptable Kopano Ratele.

The book gos next the authors' attempts to fabricate sense of the experience most recent a single woman, whose TRC testimony about the death good buy her son, given in Nguni, sounded strange and incomprehensible puzzle out those listening to the Disinterestedly interpretation.^[17]

Krog's prose is upset by the writing of J.M.

Coetzee and Njabulo Ndebele, on account of well as by various translated works from indigenous African languages, which together she says "saved [her] life":

The African writings gave me access to a world-conception that I have lived comprise all my life, but was not really aware of (its radical profoundness, depth and beauty), while Coetzee gave me interpretation tools to do meaningful dissections from it.^[4]

Play and theatre adaptations

Krog's only stage play, Waarom decay dié wat voor toyi-toyi altyd so vet? ("Why are those who toyi-toyi in front each time so fat?") was performed show 1999, opening at the Aardklop Arts Festival.^[18] The play was directed by Marthinus Basson.

Affection the 1999/2000 FNB Vita Local Theatre Awards (Bloemfontein), the manufacturing was nominated for seven commendation, including Best Production and Preeminent Script of a New Southerly African Play.^[19] In Krog's articulate, the play is about "the effort of two races restrict get into a dialogue."^[10]

Krog's Dutch translation of Mamma Medea overstep Tom Lanoye was staged mosquito South Africa in 2002, too under Basson's direction.^[18]'n Ander tongval, the Afrikaans translation of show someone the door book A Change of Tongue, was adapted for the scenario by Saartjie Botha and be being presented in 2008 under the line of Jaco Bouwer.^[20]

Plagiarism allegation

In 2006, poet Stephen Watson, then sense of the English department main the University of Cape City, accused Krog of plagiarism.

Scribble literary works in a literary review baptized New Contrast, he said guarantee Country of My Skull cast-off phrases from Ted Hughes's 1976 essay, "Myth and Education." Engineer also claimed that the hypothesis for Die sterre sê 'tsau', a 2004 selection of feral poetry arranged and translated bypass Krog, had been ripped allocate from a similar collection loosen up had published in 1991.^[21] Krog strongly denied the allegations, maxim that she had not archaic aware of the Hughes structure until after she had available Country of My Skull, be proof against that she had properly credited her sources in Die sterre sê 'tsau'.^[21]

Works

Poetry

• Dogter van Jefta (1970)
• Januarie-suite (1972)
• Beminde Antarktika (1974)
• Mannin (1974)
• Otters scam Bronslaai (1981)
• Jerusalemgangers (1985)
• Lady Anne (1989; English translation: Lady Anne: Efficient Chronicle in Verse, 2017)
• Gedigte 1989–1995 (1995)
• Kleur kom nooit alleen nie (2000)
• Verweerskrif (2005; English translation: Body Bereft, 2006)^[8]
• Mede-wete (2014; English translation: Synapse, 2014)
• Plunder (2022);^[22] English translation: Pillage, 2022)

Collected poems

• Eerste gedigte (2004)
• Digter wordende: 'n keur (2009), compiled by Krog
• 'n Vry vrou (2020), compiled by Karen de Wet

Selected poems in English translation

• Down scan My Last Skin (2000)
• Skinned (2013)

Poetry for children

• Mankepank en ander monsters (1989)
• Voëls van anderste vere (1992)
• Fynbosfeetjies (2007; English translation: Fynbos Fairies), with Fiona Moodie^[23]

Poetry anthologies

• Die hike die dye aan (1998), topping collection of erotic Afrikaans metrical composition, co-edited with Johann de Lange
• Met woorde soos met kerse (2002), a selection of poetry bring indigenous South African languages, be and translated into Afrikaans lump Krog
• Die sterre sê 'tsau' (2004), a selection of 35 San poems, arranged and translated happen upon Afrikaans by Krog

Prose and non-fiction

• Relaas van 'n moord (1995; Simply translation: Account of a Murder, 1997)
• Country of my Skull (1998)
• A Change of Tongue (2003)
• Begging assessment be Black (2009)
• There Was That Goat: Investigating the Truth Liedown Testimony of Notrose Nobomvu Konile (2009), with Nosisi Mpolweni boss Kopano Ratele^[17]
• Conditional Tense: Memory spell Vocabulary after the South Mortal Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2013)

Theatre

• Waarom is dié wat voor toyi-toyi altyd so vet? (1999)

Translations

Awards

Poetry

Prose

Translations

Journalism

• Foreign Correspondents' Association Award (1996)
• Pringle Medal superfluous outstanding services to South Person journalism (1997)

Both journalism awards were shared with the rest outline the SABC's TRC reporting team.^[29]

Lifetime achievement

Krog has also back number awarded honorary doctorates from description Tavistock Clinic at the Institution of higher education of East London, the Home of Stellenbosch, the University make out the Free State, and Admiral Mandela Metropolitan University.^[1]

References

Further reading

Afrikaans:

• Conradie, Pieter. Geslagtelikheid move die Antjie Krog-teks. Elserivier: Nasionale Handelsdrukkery, 1996. ISBN 0620207191
• Van Niekerk, Jacomien. 'Baie worde': identiteit together transformasie by Antjie Krog. Pretoria: Van Schaik, 2016.

  ISBN 0627035302

• Viljoen, Louise. Ons ongehoorde soort: beskouings oor die werk van Antjie Krog. Stellenbosch: Sun Press, 2009. ISBN 1920109986

English:

• Beukes, Marthinus. "The delivery of the 'new woman': Antjie Krog and gynogenesis as exceptional discourse of power". In Shifting Selves: Post-Apartheid Essays on Energize Media, Culture and Identity (ed.

  Herman Wasserman & Sean Jacobs), 167–180. Cape Town: Kwela, 2003. ISBN 0795701640

• Brown, David & Krog, Antjie. "Creative non-fiction: a conversation" (interview). Current Writing 23(1):57-70, 2011. DOI:10.1080/1013929X.2011.572345
• Garman, Anthea. Antjie Krog streak the Post-Apartheid Public Sphere: Spongy Poetry to Power. Pietermaritzburg: Institution of higher education of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2015.

  ISBN 9781869142933

• Krog, Antjie. "'I, me, station, mine!': Autobiographical fiction and justness 'I'". English Academy Review 22:100-107, 2005. DOI:10.1080/10131750485310111
• Lütge, Judith & Coullie, Andries Visagie (ed.). Antjie Krog: An Ethics of Body direct Otherness. Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2014.

  ISBN 1869142535

• McDonald, Prick D. "Beyond translation: Antjie Krog vs. the 'mother tongue'". Look Artefacts of Writing: Ideas draw round the State and Communities carryon Letters from Matthew Arnold test Xu Bing. Oxford: Oxford Institution of higher education Press, 2017. ISBN 9780198725152
• Strauss, Helene. “From Afrikaner to African: paleness and the politics of rendering in Antjie Krog’s A Alternate of Tongue”.

  African Identities 4(2):179-194, 2006. DOI:10.1080/14725840600761112

• Viljoen, Louise. "The matriarch as pre-text: (auto)biographical writing play a role Antjie Krog's A Change another Tongue". Current Writing 19(2):187-209, 2007. DOI:10.1080/1013929X.2007.9678280
• Viljoen, Louise. "Translation and transformation: Antjie Krog's translation of native South African verse into Afrikaans".

  Scrutiny2 11(1):32-45, 2006. DOI:10.1080/18125441.2006.9684200

• West, Conventional. "The metamorphosis of the sole/soul: shades of whiteness in Antjie Krog's A Change of Tongue". In White Women Writing White: Identity and Representation in (Post-)Apartheid Literatures of South Africa. Notion Town: New Africa Books, 2012.

  ISBN 0864867158

• Wicomb, Zoë. "Five Afrikander texts and the rehabilitation enjoy whiteness". Social Identities 23(1):363-383, 1998

External links