Moses Mphahlele was the Secretary of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Transvaal during the 1920s, he was born in Pietersburg and received his education at Kilnerton, where he graduated with a teacher's certificate. He taught for some time, then became an interpreter. Skota describes him as a political protégé of S. M. Makgatho. In the late 1920s he opposed the pro-left position of Congress president J. T. Gumede. He was a poet and musician and composed The Dark Musician of the North and The Mendi.
References
• Gerhart G.M and Karis T. (ed)(1977). From Protest to challenge: A documentary History of African Politics in South Africa: 1882-1964, Vol.4 Political Profiles 1882 ”“ 1964. Hoover Institution Pres: Stanford University.