The rebel writer and proponent for the Black Consciousness Movement James Matthew has died at 95. 

Matthew was a trailblazing South African writer, and his death marks the end of an era. He was known for his vehement criticism of the apartheid government, which led to jail time and a ban on his works.

Early in his career his writing was limited to small magazine publications; however in 1972 his first collection, Cry Rage was published. It was banned by the apartheid regime, as would also happen to his later works. The subsequent banning of his publications led him to focus even more on the subject of government criticism. He published 6 works during the apartheid government, being jailed multiple times over the years for the collections. After the apartheid regime was over his works continued, though focused on various social issues, and eventually the idea of mortality and “the end”. In his life he had 11 official publications, with uncountable more being magazine articles. His writing has always been praised as bold, moving, and undoubtedly rallying.

When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Matthew said

If I must be remembered, remember the things I did to help people. But not me, James Matthews. Who the hell is James Matthews? It’s not what I did that’s important; what I did to benefit people is important. I don’t want to be known as a black poet: I’m a poet. A dissident poet.

Matthew was born on May 24, 1929 in the Bo-Kaap district of Cape Town, the eldest of six children. He attended school in District Six, which suffered heavily from government regulations and forced removal. He worked as a reporter for the legendary black South African newspaper Golden City Post in Johannesburg, and later wrote for Muslim News, under the editorship of Imam Abdullah Haron. Interested in writing since childhood, his talent was nurtured by teachers and persisted even after his education ended. Matthew published his first story in a Cape Town newspaper, The Sun, at the age of 17 and the rest is history.

Today we think of James Matthews as an important politically committed writer, his words being the outcry of the people during a time of extreme oppression in South Africa. He was a persistent voice of political liberation, freedom of expression, and individuality. 

As stated in Hein Willemse’s book on Matthews “Internationally he has been recognized as a person of extraordinary courage and honoured for his consistent commitment to the values of justice and humanity.”

 

We are devastated by his loss, and offer condolences to those who knew and loved him.