Mafika Gwala born

South African poet, writer and BCM member Mafika Gwala was born today in the town of Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. Soon after joining the University of Zululand, he chose to rather devote his time to political activities firstly joining National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) that later split to form the South African Students Organisation. Sometime during 1966 and 1967 Gwala began to write his first poetry and “The Classic” – a Black literary magazine – published his first piece. A poet and writer, Gwala made people think on what it is to be Black and examine their self-identity. Later in life he examined how South Africa had changed and there was the same space for him and his writing as before. He passed away on 7 September 2014.