Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Siphiwo Mahala

latest news & developments
Siphiwo Mahala’s biography of legendary journalist and author Can Themba paints a harrowing image of a gifted genius who was driven to self-destruction by the evil system of racial segregation and prejudice. (Oupa Nkosi)
CAN THEMBA

Mahala’s biography restores dignity denied Can Themba for decades

Can Themba: The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi’ depicts the brutality and racism faced by the legendary editor of ‘Drum’ magazine

  • Lucas Ledwaba
7 min read
Anele Nene (front) and Josias Dos Moleele play Bloke Modisane and Langston Hughes in the Siphiwo Mahala play Bloke & His American Bantu. (Oupa Nkosi)
ANELE NENE

Men of letters: Mahala and Maake-ka Ncube team up again to stage ‘Bloke & His American Bantu’

Langston Hughes and Bloke Modisane took the art of letter writing seriously, but what else did their relationship entail?

  • Oupa Nkosi
4 min read
Telling tales: Siphiwo Mahala’s world collided with that of Can Themba after Mahala presented a short story that people thought had been inspired by Themba’s play The Suit. Photo: Oupa Nkosi
CAN THEMBA

​Discovering the world of Can Themba

Siphiwo Mahala talks about his fascination with the 1950s writer and journalist

  • Kwanele Sosibo
4 min read
Imraan Coovadia: ‘You always have to go back to race’.
BOOK REVIEWS

2012: By the book

We speak to some of the country’s hottest literary talents about the books and authors which inspired them in 2012.

  • Staff Reporter
6 min read
Siphiwo Mahala: Not lost in translation.
LITERATURE

Novel perspective

Percy Zvomuya spoke to author Siphiwo Mahala about personally translating his book into his native tongue and scribbling notes on toilet paper.

  • Percy Zvomuya
2 min read