Mzi Mahola

Mzi Mahola is a South African writer, author and poet. He was born on 12 February 1949, in Claremont near Durban. He grew up between Lushington near Seymour and Port Elizabeth, living the Eastern Cape as Mzikayise Winston Mahola. Mzi Mahola is his nom de plume.

Biography

Mzi Mahola started writing poetry by 1969 at Healdtown Training College. In the 1970s he became a member of Black Consciousness Movement BCM and joined Isihlobo, a non-racial youth group. He was detained and interrogated for his political activities and writings. The Special Branch confiscated his first poetry manuscript in August 1975 and he lost interest in writing for three years until he joined COSAW Congress of South African Writers. From that period since writing again, he submitting work successfully to national and international journals, magazines and publications. His work has been published in poems featuring other poets, twenty-eight anthologies. Selections of his work translated to Danish, German, Turkish and Malayan languages.

Childhood Sports Youth Politics and Activities

Mzi Mahola attended school in Lushington until the age of 12. In 1961 he moved to join his parents in New Brighton, Boast Village at Ferguson Rd in Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape. From the age of 13 he started boxing and lost one fight in more than 80 amateur fights, training with the Fighting Terrors under Mr Nyami Phemba at T.C. White Hall. 1979 he was crowned national Flyweight Champion at the SAABU Championships (South African Amateur Boxing Union) held at Milner Park. Late he became provincial Bantamweight Champion in 1982–1983, unrests made boxing impossible. Unbeaten in 12 professional fights. He also served as Treasurer of Boast Pirates Football Club.In 1983 he was recruited to operate underground for the ANC. In 1984 he was sent to Lesotho for political training. On returning he a formed worker union at the Port Elizabeth Museum where he worked, also recruiting a white woman for underground operations in his cell. He was in the executive of Uncwadi Writers Association and a committee member of the Bhala Writers. Chairperson of the Friends of the Zwide Library, church council and Act Toastmaster Club.

Books

His first book with poems is titled 'Strange Things' and was published in 1994 by Snail Press. This volume received positive reviewing and was amongst those selected to represent South Africa in Geneva in a World Book Fair in 1995. There was interest in translating the book into German and Danish, but this has not materialized to date.

His second anthology 'When Rain Comes' was published in 2000 by Carapace and won the Olive Schreiner Prize. Wits English Academy for South Africa voted the volume, Best English Poetry Book in South Africa for the period 2000 and 2001.

In 2006 his third volume Dancing in the Rain an issue published by University of KwaZulu Natal UKZN Press.

Novel

His first novel is titled Dancing with Hyenas, an autobiography published in 2017 by Ilitha Publishers.

He has produced four plays At the moment he is editing and finalizing publishing his sold out of stock collections revamped as well as his second semi-biographical novel from 'Dancing with Hyenas' on digital streams.

He has presented papers and given speeches at the National Arts Festival and at other venues for school children. He gives poetry readings for University groups and community projects. Now and then he runs poetry workshops around the Province for interested groups of writers.

He has initiated poetry workshops that cater for learners in his and neighborhood libraries, Zwide Library. With the support of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, workshop participants have published example an anthology entitled Umthombo (Xhosa word for 'The Fountain').

Further reading
  • Pillars of Korsten And New Brighton, compiled by Yvonne Skinner from information received from the New Brighton and Korsten Wall of Honour committees and their respective communities. 2014 ISBN 978-0-620-66164-5
  • SOUNDINGS A Selection of Poetry Edited by Douglas Reid Skinner Publisher: Cape Town South Africa: TheCarrefour Press cc, 1989. ISBN 0620137037
  • The Open Door Omnibus 1993: Selections from new writers Individual Contributors Publisher: Cape Town South Africa: Buchu Books open door series, 1993. ISBN 1874863067
  • The Heart in Exile: South African Poetry in English, 1990-1995 Edited by Leon De Kock & Ian Tromp Published 1996 by Penguin Books ISBN 9780140587609
  • The Pick of Snailpress Poems compiled by Robin Malan Published Claremont South Africa by DDavid Phillips (Pty) Ltd 2000.ISBN 0864863624
  • South African Poets on Poetry, Interviews From New Coin 1992-2001 Edited by Robert Berold Published Scottsville South Africa by Gecko Poetry an imprint of 2003 University of Natal Press 2003.ISBN 1869140311
  • A Literary Guide to the Eastern Cape: Places and the Voices of Writers by Jeanette Eve Published Cape Town South Africa by Double Storey Books a Juta company 2003.ISBN 1919930159
  • Strange things: Author: Mzi Mahola Publisher: Plumstead [South Africa]: Snailpress, 1994. ISBN 978-1874923169
  • When rains come: Author: Mzi Mahola Publisher: Plumstead, South Africa: Carapace Poets, 2000. ISBN 9781874923503
  • Dancing in the rain: Author: Mzi Mahola Publisher: Scottsville, South Africa: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2006. ISBN 9781874923503
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