One of the African continent’s pre-eminent poets, Donato Francisco Mattera, was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg on December 29 1936. His writings are considered to be a valuable contribution to the anti-apartheid discourse and the wider context of 20th and 21st century South African literature. Don Mattera has spent his life making a case for social justice and the transformation of society.
He was banned by the apartheid government from 1973 to 1982. During this period, he was under house arrest for three years. He found an outlet in writing poetry, essays, plays, short stories and novels. Mattera’s poetry ranges from political tributes and eulogies to innocent praise songs and highly emotional love songs. Es’kia Mphahlele described him as ‘‘… this ageless literary activist who makes music with his poetry’’.
“Yes, your child, my child, our child is God’s child, yearning for life and learning. That must be the mantra of the new, liberated, changed and ready nation; service, sacrificing and struggling to create new people for a new caring and learned Africa, and for the creation of a new South Africa and for all its people. For a world characterised by caring, giving and a deeply compassionate people, defying military options that sow death, destruction, and human bondage. And of a reborn, renewed, restored, revitalised, ready to lead and pave the path to peace, prosperity, purpose and a passion to serve our beautiful, beloved country, with patriotic zeal!”