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08 April 2021
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Story Thabo Kessah
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Photo UFS Photo Archive
Dr KPD Maphalla with former UFS Chancellor, Dr Franklin Sonn, during the graduations in April 2007.
The University of the Free State is sad to learn of the passing of alumnus and award-winning Sesotho literary giant, Dr KPD Maphalla.
The literary works of Dr Khotso Pieter David Maphalla, like many other African writers and artists, were influenced and characterised by his own era of powerful forms of oppression and exclusion from dominant literary discourses. In his own right and through his writings of poetry, novels, short stories, and kodiamalla (dirge), he articulated a deliberate political and social protest and pushed for a place for African languages in literature at the height of apartheid.
“He entered the professional scene with his ground-breaking novel, Kabelwamanong, in 1982 at the age of 27. His career actually started in 1971 while he was still at school. Since his first novel, he has produced at least two books annually, covering the genres of poetry, novels, dramas, and short stories. As a dramatist, Dr Maphalla has written a number of excellent and educative radio dramas for the then Radio Sesotho (now Lesedi FM),” said his long-time friend and Head: African Languages at the University of the Free State, Dr Nyefolo Malete.
“It was for this writing prowess that he received recognition from the UFS when he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by the Department of African Languages during a momentous ceremony on the Qwaqwa Campus in 2007,” added Dr Malete.
Dr Malete also revealed that, despite losing the use of his right hand after suffering a stroke following a car accident in the late 1990s, Dr Maphalla continued writing using his left hand. “He was adamant that, what he referred to as his ‘supposed disability’, would not deter his passion for writing.”
Dr Maphalla’s work has also produced numerous scholarly studies by the likes of Profs Moleleki Moleleki (protest poetry), Thapelo Selepe (lament and protest poetry), and Dr Seema Seema (process of cross-cultural communication). He was a committed Qwaqwa community member, who was also instrumental in the founding of Qwaqwa Community Radio (2000) and Metjodi Writers (2006), among others. He has written more than 70 books, many of which have been prescribed texts in schools.
Some of the awards he has won include:
South African Centre for Digital Language Resource (SADiLar) Sesotho Lexicographic Unit (Sesiu sa Sesotho) Lifetime Award for outstanding literary works and for promoting Sesotho literature (2019).
The Literature Festival and the University of the Free State Award for enormous contribution to Sesotho literature by a South African writer (2019).
Lifetime Achiever Award in Literature awarded by the Department of Arts and Culture (2005).
M-Net Book Prize for Sesotho poetry (2005). The first and thus far the only Sesotho author to have received this honour.
M-Net Book Prize for best novel (1996).
De Jager-HAUM Literary Award for his volume of short stories, Mohlomong Hosane (1993).
Thomas Mofolo Trophy for Best Novel, Best Poetry, and the Overall Award (1992).
Thomas Mofolo Trophy for Best Poetry (1991).
Dr JJ Moiloa Floating Trophy for Best Sesotho Poetry Book of the Year, Kgapa tsa ka (1985).
Life style for resilience
2009-02-02
| Wellness presentation: Life style for resilience |
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 The Wellness Committee invites you to attend the Life style for resilience programme from 2 to 5 February 2009.
Yesterday is history, embrace today! Choose life!
Presented on Monday, 2 February 2009 from 13:00 to 13:45 in the UVpersu Tearoom. The presenter is Dr Pieré Nel, a psychologist from Bloemfontein. The presentation will take place in English. The outcomes of the programme are: Encouragement to let go of the disappointments and hurts of 2008, to look at yourself in a fresh way, to believe in yourself and to act.
The importance of a healthy lifestyle for physical energy
Presented on Tuesday, 3 February 2009 from 13:00 to 13:45 in the UVpersu Tearoom. The presenter is Dr Sorita Viljoen, a medical doctor. The presentation will be in Afrikaans. The outcomes of the programme are: Health issues that are important for a healthy lifestyle, elements that influence energy balance and factors that influence fullness.
Eat healthier; put a spring back into your step!
Presented on Wednesday 4 February 2009 from 13:00 to 13:45 in the UVpersu Tearoom. The presenter is Ms Elmine du Toit, a dietician. The presentation will be in English. The outcomes of the programme are: Putting dietary guidelines for healthy eating into practice when shopping for groceries and making healthier food choices for every meal.
The resilience in bodily activity
Presented on Thursday, 5 February 2009 from 13:00 to 13:45 in the UVpersu Tearoom. The presenter is Ms Berna de Kock, biokineticist. The presentation will be in Afrikaans. The outcomes of the programme are: How physical activity enhances resilience and practical tips to be more active.
- Please confirm your attendance with Ms Arina Otto before or on 29 January 2009 at x3325 or gesal@ufs.ac.za .
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