Man of Letters

Man of Letters

This exhibition was curated to present Mphahlele in his own voice, drawn from the many letters in his own hand in the collection of the museum.

Ezekiel “Es’kia” Mphahlele (1919-2008) grew up in a segregated society and worked long hours to fund his education. His desire to teach was complicated by his protest against apartheid education, and his departure from South Africa in 1957. Despite an uncertain future, Mphahlele became one of South Africa’s finest writers.