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Tributes pour in for Kgositsile

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Tributes continue to pour in for  National Poet Laureate, Professor Keorapetse Kgositsile.

Kgositsile died at the Milpark hospital in Johannesburg on Wednesday at the age of 79 after a long illness.

He is the former husband of Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete with whom he had three children.

As an influential African National Congress (ANC) cadre in the 1960’s, he went into exile in the United States where he made an extensive study of African-American literature and culture.

South African poet Lebo Mashile has described Kgositsile as a master of poetry.

“I met Kgosietsile as a poet and I had read his work, I admired him deeply. By the time I shared a platform with him I was like this man is a rock-star, he is a poetry god in my eyes. He was a father to me, a mentor, a friend, genuine template for what you can do with a creative life,”says Mashile.

Publisher, Raks Seakgwa, who has worked with Kgosietsile for many years, says he will be missed for his wisdom.

“Bra Willie was a rounded individual, a poet, a political activist, a soldier, a teacher. Conversations with bra Willie will be about anything and everything around particularly arts, culture and heritage with specific emphasis on the literary arts but also politically. We will miss him dearly, particularly his wisdom, ”says Seakgwa.

[Watch] Prof. Kgositsile was a founding member of the ANC’s Department of Education

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