Lesego Rampolokeng
Encyclopedia
Lesego Rampolokeng is a South African writer
, playwright
and performance poet
.
, Johannesburg
. He studied law at the University of the North in South Africa. .
and Gunther Sommer. He collaborated with the Kalahari Surfers
on the appropriately wooden and aggravatingly memorable track, "The Desk," found on the album End Beginnings. His stage performance is powerful and engaging. He may recite off by heart (memorised material), or he may choose to read (recital).
He is directly influenced by the writings of Frantz Fanon
and he comes from the Black Consciousness era of the 1970s and 1980s. Horns for Hondo (1991, COSAW) launched Rampolokeng's writing career. He is a voracious reader and he has been "sucking the tit of Fanon" who he appreciates deeply. He idolises Ingoapele Madingoane, Matsemela Manaka and Maishe Maponya. Ingoapele Madingoane in particular had an immense influence on Rampolokeng becoming a writer.
Rampolokeng does not consider himself a poet, or what he does a poet. He is just a writer. He became popular for one of his poems where he claimed to shoot the English with bullets that are British. In another important piece of work Riding the Victim's Train (title of the CD / album is "The H.a.l.f Ranthology"), Rampolokeng calls himself a leper cast out in the desert, and cold, without a snout or paw in the pot of gold.
Rampolokeng has denied any relation or being a lap dog or mouth-piece of any political party. He is not only critical of the ANC or government, he is critical of politics / politicians in general.
Lesego Rampolokeng is one of the most respected poets of his generation in South Africa and he is a strong figure in the poetry fraternity of South Africa. His work is canonical and he is revered by many. He commands respect in the writing scene in South Africa - for his critical writing and his politically unforgiving statements. He has shared a stage with local and international poets including Kgafela oa Magogodi, Lefifi Tladi, Lebo Mashile and Natalia Molebatsi. Some academics and critics have compared Rampolokeng to the late Dambudzo Marechera
because of his non-complacent and often confrontational writing. He appears in the documentary Giant Steps (2005) directed by Geoff Mphakati and Aryan Kaganof
. He participated in the Poetry International Festival Rotterdam in 2001.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and performance poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Early life and education
Lesego Rampolokeng was born in 1965 in Orlando West, SowetoSoweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. He studied law at the University of the North in South Africa. .
Works
Lesego Rampolokeng prominence happened in the 1980s, a very turbulent time in South Africa. He blew into the poetry scene and his interesting mix of poetry, rap and later music, set him apart from his peers. He refused to pay lip service to public figures in the past or currently - instead speaking bluntly and using his poetry to sharply criticise the establishment. His first instalment of poetry was Horns for Hondo (1991) and followed by a very provocative and uncompromising End Beginnings (1993). Lesego collaborates with musicians, bands and musicians. He has performed in many countries and with musicians such as Julian Bahula, Soulemane Toure, Louis MhlangaLouis Mhlanga
Louis Mhlanga is a South African based Zimbabwean award-winning guitarist and producer. Mhlanga taught himself playing the guitar at a tender age and is considered one of the best Southern African guitarists....
and Gunther Sommer. He collaborated with the Kalahari Surfers
Kalahari Surfers
The Kalahari Surfers is the moniker of South African composer and musician Warrick Sony. It began as a solo recording project in the early 1980s to subvert the total media and propaganda onslaught of P. W. Botha’s Apartheid South Africa...
on the appropriately wooden and aggravatingly memorable track, "The Desk," found on the album End Beginnings. His stage performance is powerful and engaging. He may recite off by heart (memorised material), or he may choose to read (recital).
He is directly influenced by the writings of Frantz Fanon
Frantz Fanon
Frantz Fanon was a Martiniquo-Algerian psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary and writer whose work is influential in the fields of post-colonial studies, critical theory and Marxism...
and he comes from the Black Consciousness era of the 1970s and 1980s. Horns for Hondo (1991, COSAW) launched Rampolokeng's writing career. He is a voracious reader and he has been "sucking the tit of Fanon" who he appreciates deeply. He idolises Ingoapele Madingoane, Matsemela Manaka and Maishe Maponya. Ingoapele Madingoane in particular had an immense influence on Rampolokeng becoming a writer.
Rampolokeng does not consider himself a poet, or what he does a poet. He is just a writer. He became popular for one of his poems where he claimed to shoot the English with bullets that are British. In another important piece of work Riding the Victim's Train (title of the CD / album is "The H.a.l.f Ranthology"), Rampolokeng calls himself a leper cast out in the desert, and cold, without a snout or paw in the pot of gold.
Rampolokeng has denied any relation or being a lap dog or mouth-piece of any political party. He is not only critical of the ANC or government, he is critical of politics / politicians in general.
Lesego Rampolokeng is one of the most respected poets of his generation in South Africa and he is a strong figure in the poetry fraternity of South Africa. His work is canonical and he is revered by many. He commands respect in the writing scene in South Africa - for his critical writing and his politically unforgiving statements. He has shared a stage with local and international poets including Kgafela oa Magogodi, Lefifi Tladi, Lebo Mashile and Natalia Molebatsi. Some academics and critics have compared Rampolokeng to the late Dambudzo Marechera
Dambudzo Marechera
Dambudzo Marechera was a Zimbabwean novelist and poet.-Early life:...
because of his non-complacent and often confrontational writing. He appears in the documentary Giant Steps (2005) directed by Geoff Mphakati and Aryan Kaganof
Aryan Kaganof
Aryan Kaganof is a South African film maker, novelist, poet and fine artist. In 1999 he changed his name to Aryan Kaganof.-Filmography:...
. He participated in the Poetry International Festival Rotterdam in 2001.
Poetry
- Horns for Hondo (COSAW, 1990)
- End Beginnings (Shifty CD with the Kalahari SurfersKalahari SurfersThe Kalahari Surfers is the moniker of South African composer and musician Warrick Sony. It began as a solo recording project in the early 1980s to subvert the total media and propaganda onslaught of P. W. Botha’s Apartheid South Africa...
, 1993) - Talking Rain (COSAW, 1993)
- Rap Master Supreme - Word Bomber in the Extreme (1997)
- End Beginnings (German Translations) (Marino, 1998)
- Blue V's (German Translations with CD) (Edition Solitude, 1998)
- The Bavino Sermons (Gecko Poetry, 1999)
- The h.a.l.f. ranthology (CD with various musicians, 2002)
- The second chapter (Pantolea, 2005)
Novels
- Blackheart (Pine Slopes Publications, 2004)
- Whiteheart (deep south publishing, 2005)