Professor Letobe Ezekiel Mphahlele, popularly known as Uncle Zeke or Es’kia, was born on 19 December 1919 in Marabastad near Pretoria, South Africa. He died on 27 October 2008 in Lebowakgomo near Polokwane in the Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa. By the time he died (aged 89) he had gained a world-wide reputation as teacher, educationist, thinker and author. His numerous achievements earned him enviable honours. These include nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature and election to Phi Beta Kappa by the University of Denver in the USA, both in 1969; being awarded the Ordre des Palmes by the French government in 1986; receiving the prize for the best essay in African Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, in 1997; and President Nelson Mandela conferring on…

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Citation: Rafapa, Lesibana Jacobus. "Es'kia Mphahlele". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 December 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3235, accessed 19 March 2024.]

3235 Es'kia Mphahlele 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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