Zakes Mda

Megan Elizabeth Jones (University of Stellenbosch)
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“I carry my South Africa with me.” Zakes Mda, interview with Damon Galgut, 2006 “Tears are very close to my eyes”, says Bhonco, son of Ximiya. “Not for pain . . . no . . . I do not cry because of pain. I cry only because of beautiful things.” (

The Heart of Redness

, 2000, 1)

Zakes Mda is a leading figure in post-apartheid South African literary circles and has published extensively in theatre, poetry and fiction. He has won every major literary award in South Africa.

Zakes Mda is a leading figure in post-apartheid South African literary circles and has published extensively in theatre, poetry and fiction. He has won every major literary award in South Africa.

Born in Herschel in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province in 1948, Mda’s early education took place in

1675 words

Citation: Jones, Megan Elizabeth. "Zakes Mda". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 April 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3066, accessed 29 March 2024.]

3066 Zakes Mda 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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