The recipient of an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree from the University of the Free State (UFS),
Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makgetha, is an award-winning South African actor who has appeared in several critically acclaimed films, including Cry, the Beloved Country, Lord of War, Mandela and de Klerk, and the 2005 Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi. As part of celebrating
Africa Month, the
UFS Library and Information Services (LIS), in collaboration with the
Office for International Affairs, launched his book, titled
I Am A Man: A Memoir, on 18 May 2022.
Among those who attended were
Jeannet Molopyane, Director of UFS LIS,
Prof Chitja Twala, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of the Humanities, and
Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director of the Office for International Affairs. In this book, Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha gives us uncensored snapshots of his life, his family, the highs and lows of his career, and some very important lessons he has learnt on manhood.
“I’m giving you my scars and my stars, and it’s up to you to work out in your own situation what sort of story you’re writing about your own life,” he said.
After only discovering who his real father was at the age of 58, Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha took the audience on a journey through his search for identity and belonging. His memoir reveals how he drew from certain aspects of his life to discover what it really means to be a man.
“With no father, you don’t have any reference to what defines a man. I picked up many things from men who used to frequent my mother’s shebeen and somehow, they became my education.”
He challenges South African men to “live out their masculinity in a responsible way”.
Furthermore, Dr Mofokeng wa Makgetha had this to say during the evening: “With the kindness of the university, we are hoping to translate this book into Sesotho and maybe IsiXhosa.”
UFS African Languages Press club launched
With that said, another event held by the UFS LIS on 19 May 2022 where this icon was a guest speaker, was the launch of the
UFS African Languages Press, which aims to be a publisher of high-quality literature and academic material written in indigenous languages. The UFS LIS, in collaboration with the
Academy for Multilingualism, has partnered with the
Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, the
Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), the
National Library of South Africa (NLSA),
SunBonani Media, and
Lesedi FM, among other stakeholders, to help drive their mandate and provide a platform that respects and appreciates indigenous language writers whose works originated in their mother tongue.
“Today is one of the most significant days in the history of the UFS, where we are embracing who we are … and I’m glad that the seed is planted right here at this university,” Ms Molopyane highlighted in her welcoming speech.
Following this momentous occasion, the event concluded with the unveiling of the UFS African Languages Press banner.