The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) named poet and author Don Mattera as the 2015 winner of the ACT Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. This category was sponsored by Media 24 Books. Recognised as one of Africa’s most preeminent writers, Donato Francisco Mattera was born in Sophiatown on 29th of December 1936. His work is considered to be an incredibly valuable contribution towards anti-apartheid discourse and South African literature as a whole. Mattera has spent most of his life making a case for social justice and the transformation of society.
Don Mattera (Photographer – Debbie Yazbek)
In the years 1973 to 1982 Mattera was banned by the apartheid government and during this period he was placed on house arrest for three years, where he turned to writing as an outlet. He penned poetry, plays, short stories and novels and his works range from political tributes and eulogies, to praise songs and deeply emotional love songs.
Following the nine years in which Mattera was banned, he became a founding member of the Black Consciousness movement and also joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). He helped form the Union of Black Journalists as well as the Congress of South African Writers.
He has also worked as a journalist for The Sunday Times, The Sowetan, and Mail & Guardian formerly known as the Weekly Mail.
Mattera was awarded an Honorary PhD in Literature from the University of Natal, Durban and was described by fellow writer and iconic activist Es’kia Mphahlele as an “ageless literary activist who makes music with his poetry”.
The Literature Award was presented by Kgomotso Christopher and Natasha Sutherland.
Presented by the Arts & Culture Trust and hosted by Sun International, the ACT Awards was supported by long-time partners SAMRO, DALRO, Media24 Books, Nedbank Arts Affinity, Distell Foundation, Creative Feel Magazine and Business and Arts South Africa. JTI came on board this year as sponsor of the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for Dance.
Other Lifetime Achievement Award Winners include: Johnny Mekoa for Arts Advocacy, Alfred Hinkel for Dance, Caiphus Semenya for Music, Thembi Mtshali-Jones for Theatre and Omar Badsha for Visual Art.
Each Lifetime Achievement Award winner receives R30 000 as a cash prize.
Click here for more information about the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT).