By Zoliswa Mdawini
The Amazwi South African Museum of Literature recently honoured the life and literary legacy of South Africa’s Poet Laureate, Mongane Wally Serote, in a powerful two-day celebration that featured the launch of his latest work and the opening of an extensive exhibition showcasing his contributions to the nation’s literary and cultural identity.
The event kicked off with the official launch of Serote’s latest work, Listen, first published in 2024. This epic poem was inspired by the socio-economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and reflects on themes of loss, injustice, resilience, and black identity in a crisis.
“When it was said that many kinds of doctors, at many times, had to take the responsibility to say who lives and who passes, that struck me deeply and made me write about it,” Serote said during the launch.
Appointed South Africa’s Poet Laureate in 2018, Serote has long been recognised not only for his vast body of work but also for his commitment to making poetry meaningful and accessible to the public. “It is imperative that I keep as close as possible to the nation,” he said.
Born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, on 8 May 1944, Mongane Wally Serote has spent decades writing down the soul of a nation through verse, prose, and activism. His legacy, built on resistance, healing, and introspection themes, continues to challenge new generations.
In collaboration with local high schools in Makhanda and the Amazwi Museum, Serote participated in an educational outreach programme that allowed students to interact with his poetry. He said one of his most touching experiences from the day was hearing 16-year-olds analyse and discuss poems written decades before they were born.
“Listening to 16-year-olds take a poem that is 50 years old, reading it, interpreting it, analysing it, and displaying a deep understanding — not only of the poem but of what the poem says about life — was the best experience of the day,” he reflected. A student asked Serote when he began writing. He fondly recalled, “I started when I was 14. My first poem was titled The Cat and the Bird.”
“It is extremely exciting to realise what poetry can do to people,” he added.
The Amazwi celebration continued the following day with the opening of a compelling exhibition dedicated to Serote’s life and literary journey. The exhibition features manuscripts, photographs, letters, early publications, and awards, offering visitors a visual journey through Serote’s career as a writer, activist, and cultural thinker.
“This exhibition might have taken a lot of commitment,” Serote noted, visibly moved by the care taken to present his legacy.
Crystal Warren, head curator at Amazwi, explained: “The exhibition has two components. Around the walls, you’ll find detailed information about his life, his time in exile, his collaborations with other authors, and his many accolades. We also highlight several of his most powerful poems.” She added that the exhibition includes personal letters and other rare literary artefacts. “We hope it gives viewers insight into an extraordinary writer and the influence he’s had.”
Warren emphasised that Amazwi is more than just an archive. “We don’t want to store literature away in a safe space. We want to make it accessible. We want people to learn about South African literature and connect with the voices that have shaped our nation.”
The exhibition is open to the public until June 2026, allowing ample time for literature lovers, students, and the curious to engage with Serote’s enduring body of work.
Before Serote and long-time collaborator Raks Seakhoa, a managing director for Write associates and the South African Literary Awards executive director, took the stage at the Amazwi Museum Theatre, members of the audience shared their personal encounters with Serote’s work. Some recited poems, while others spoke of how his writing shaped their views and inspired their creativity.
Among those celebrating with Serote were notable local figures such as Dr Pateka Ntshuntshe-Matshaya, CEO of the Library for the Blind in Makhanda; Professor Anton Krueger, head of the Department of Literary Studies in English at Rhodes University; Professor Julia Wells, who studied with Serote at Columbia University; as well as writers, professionals, poets and artists, including Andile Nayika from the Public Service Accountability Monitor and Xolile Madinda from The Black Power Station.
A particularly touching moment came when a student recited a stanza from A Sleeping Black Boy and offered a heartfelt analysis, linking its themes to the struggles faced by today’s youth.
“What are we doing with our own lives?” the event seemed to ask. “Are we using our talents to inspire, heal, and leave a lasting impact?”
In a country where literature was once silenced, Serote reflected on how far South African writers have come. “Now writers can openly write about anything without fear of being banned or cancelled,” he said.
Amazwi Museum is open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am-4 pm.
