Sandile Dikeni

Sandile Dikeni (1966 – 9 November 2019) was a South African poet and editor.

Sandile Dikeni
Born1966 (1966)
Victoria West
Died (aged 53)
Cape Town, South Africa
OccupationPoet, editor
NationalitySouth African

Career

Dikeni was born in the small Karoo town of Victoria West and studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand and University of the Western Cape, where he was a member of the SRC and obtained a diploma in journalism through Peninsula Technikon.[1] While detained by the apartheid government, he began writing poetry, and later performed at political rallies, and is quoted saying:

My point of fame wasn’t really how eloquently I could articulate an anti-apartheid stance in strict political terms. It was more [a] cultural articulation of my anti-apartheidism.[2]

After the end of apartheid, he worked as a journalist and political commentator, started the AM Live and PM Live radio shows at SAFM in 1995,[3] and worked as arts editor for the Cape Times, editor of Die Suid Afrikaan and political editor of This Day.[4]

Dikeni is the author of three collections of poems, including Guava Juice, (Mayibuye Books, 1992), which is followed by Telegraph to the Sky (UKZN Press, 2001) and Planting Water (UKZN Press, 2007). He also published a collection of his articles from the Cape Times, Soul Fire: Writing the Transition (UKZN Press, 2002), and his essay 'How The West Was Lost' appeared in Chimurenga 07: Kaapstad! And Jozi the Night Moses Died (July 2005).[5] On 10 February 2005, he recorded in collaboration with German composer Klaus Hinrich Stahmer a collection of his poetry published by Wergo, accompanied by musicians Carin Levine (flutes);Jennifer Hymer (piano); Stephan Froleyks and Olaf Pyras (percussion); Omphalo-Quartett (African drums); Andreas König and Aki Hoffmann (piano).[6]

He was described by Cape Times editor Aneez Salie as "one of the finest poets and journalists our Struggle has produced".[7]

He survived a car accident in 2005 and recovering slowly after a coma, he continued to participate in events, such as the launch of Planting Water in 2007. His death on 9 November 2019 from tuberculosis[7] was mourned in numerous obituaries.[8][9][10][11][12]

Poetry
  • Guava Juice (1992)
  • Telegraph to the Sky (2002)[4]

Other works
  • Soul Fire: Writing the Transition (2002).

References
  1. "Sandile Dikeni | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  2. "A life of poetic activism". The Mail & Guardian. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  3. Gevisser, Mark (26 July 1996). "Sandile Dikeni, poet and radio broadcaster, in". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. Corrêa, Rúbia C G; Haminiuk, Charles W I; Sora, Gisele T S; Bergamasco, Rosangela; Vieira, Angélica M S (17 June 2013). "Sandile Dikeni - Badilisha Poetry – Pan-African Poets". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 94 (1): 146–152. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6233. PMID 23696312. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  5. Dikeni, Sandile (30 July 2005). "HOW THE WEST WAS LOST". The Chimurenga Chronic. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. Dikeni, Sandile; Stahmer, Klaus Hinrich (21 October 2011). "Stahmer & Dikeni: The Drum Speaks". youtube – via 2006 Wergo, a division of Schott Music and Media GmbH.
  7. "'This is a great loss for our family': Poet Sandile Dikeni dies". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  8. "A tribute to Sandile Dikeni: A child of the Karoo. Beacon of the oppressed. Poet of the people". Africa Leadership Initiative. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  9. "Sandile Dikeni, the poet who turned his pain into weapons against apartheid". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  10. Marks, Ruby. "Tribute: Sandile Dikeni, poet and storyteller who burned with anger and love and hope". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  11. "Sandile Dikeni, 1966–2019, RIP". The Johannesburg Review of Books. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  12. "Poet, activist Sandile Dikeni dies". News24. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
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