Chris Mann

Christopher Michael "Zithulele" Mann (6 April 1948 – 10 March 2021) was a South African poet, playwright, and academic who served as a professor of poetry at Rhodes University. He was known for his multilingual work and for founding Wordfest, a national festival celebrating South African languages and literature.

Biography

Chris Mann was born in Port Elizabeth in 1948 and went to Diocesan College (Bishops) in Rondebosch, Cape Town. He studied English and Philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand, and went to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar where he was awarded an MA in English Language and Literature. He also studied African Oral Literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. From 1977 to 1980 he held a lecturer post in the English Department at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. From 1980 to 1995 he worked with an NGO, The Valley Trust at KwaNyuswa outside Durban, where he received his isiZulu nickname, Zithulele, meaning "the quiet one." A native English speaker, Mann was also conversant in Afrikaans, isiZulu and isiXhosa. He performed his work at festivals, schools, churches, universities and conferences in South Africa.

Commentary on Mann's Work

Mann's work has received critical consideration in journals such as The English Academy Review; English in Africa; Shakespeare in Southern Africa; Scrutiny2; and Literator.

Awards

Newdigate Prize for Poetry while a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Olive Schreiner Prize for South African Poetry in English. South African Performing Arts Councils’ Playwright Award. Hon.D.Litt. University of Durban-Westville, now University of KwaZulu-Natal. Eastern Cape Premier’s Award for Literature. First Professor of Poetry, Rhodes University. English Academy of South Africa Thomas Pringle Award for Poetry. Mann's 2014 play The Ballad of Dirk de Bruin which premiered at the National Arts Festival was awarded a Silver Standard Bank Ovation Award for "artistic innovation, excellence and the exploration of new performance styles". Honorary Artist in Residence, Grahamstown Cathedral (2017–2021) Guest poet, Incroci di civiltà international poetry festival, Venice 2019 English Academy of South Africa Gold Medal 2019