As a student in South Africa, my daily commute to Rondebosch, the white suburb where the University of Cape Town is located, included a train ride on the “suburban line.” That’s where I once spotted poet and novelist James Matthews sitting by himself across the aisle of a crowded third class compartment (“third class” was a relic of Apartheid’s racial class system for trains; the carriage reserved for Africans and coloureds, now its just the cheap seats, still for Africans and coloureds mainly of course). Matthews, whose bio you can read here, was a key literary voice in the 1970s when black consciousness reached its zenith in South Africa. At the time I encountered him in on the train, he had morphed into a “struggle poet” (i.e. closely identified with the mass movement closely allied to the African National Congress’ aims inside the country). I wanted to introduce myself, but could not muster up the courage. Instead I admired Matthews, like I did his poetry for years, from afar. But I finally hung out with Matthews, if only briefly, as my job as a political researcher at a think-tank in Cape Town was winding down around 2000. I am still trying to figure out how we were introduced, but he joined me for lunch a number of times in the small cafe on the first floor of the building the institute rented (last I heard the cafe was closing because of rising rents). There I got to know him. He’s probably forgotten me. But Matthews made such an impression on me that I later used a few lines from one of his poems in Flames and Flowers, published in 2000, as an epigraph to my doctoral dissertation on postapartheid media politics (yes, I studied political science):
this time
you cannot conceal
the knowing of
rampaging of rights
dignity denied
vile scenes revealed
on television screens
Matthews turned 79 at the end of May. His launched a new book of poetry, Age is a beautiful phase, “… paying homage to senior citizens.”
* The image above is by George Hallett, a photographer born in Cape Town, but exiled for a while to France and Britain, but now back in the country, whose taken a number of great portraits of Matthews, especially in the book More than Brothers. Peter Clarke and James Matthews at 70.
Nice pic
That piece of poetry is awesome. It’s amazing how so few words can say so much.
my traitors heart
at this hour, lingering the expanse
of eons, revolution in the mind
nothing noted but the distant
rumor of truth begotten
deep within these recesses
i find myself, naked and
beholden with the key to freedom
each key, each assigned to open
those areas forgotten by memory
of past lives
manifesting confusion and trickery
in the present day
i face these wordless demons
these shackles of ignorance and lethargy
of broken promises made
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thanks for the few criticisms
they have lasted a lifetime
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Dear James Mathews,
Congratulations!
Wilfy
I am currently developing a tribute performance to celebrate James Matthews 80th Birthday. The performance will take place at the Artscape Arena on the 1st & 2nd of September 2009. This is an independent initiative and will be produced by Six-Nine, Artapart, Artscape, Tagores and Swett Shoppe Studios. To support this event with either financial backing or resources, please contact me on 0827536052 or waw@wam.co.za
I had the priveledge to listen to him as a guest speaker at the Ditsela college (workers college) at UWC in May 2009. A truelly remarkable man.
I remember sometime in ICC, meeting with this honourable and humble old man, Mr. James Matthews -the giant of poetry. He read us a poem which was more like the music in the wind. It touched many people and left a good aftertaste in our hurts. But still, I have not been answered either by him or people whom I have been writing to -about how do I get my book published.
At this point in time, I have written close to 3 000 poems and I would like to get them published.
Please guys, help me make my dream a success!
Any information pertaining to my request, please e-mail me at: theo02@smartcape.org.za
Is there a way to purchase some of his books?