QOOPANE - and Thorny Issues in African Writing

By Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

I must say as a young South African, I’m dramatically impressed by the awesome confidence that Mr Flaxman Qoopane has shown in literature over the years.  In essence he is one of the few literary catalysts who have contributed enormous in the world of letters in Free State. 

For decades, he breathtakingly displayed a phenomenal commitment in literature.  Moreover, he is essentially known as a poet, author, journalist etc.  To be more specific Qoopane as an animated activist he denied apartheid regime to discourage him to play a delectable role in the black literary voice.   

This gallant and prudent decision made him to decide to leave South Africa and live in exile; especially in African countries where elementary freedom was a real thing.  Patently, till to date Africa and the world must be proud to see people of the colourful character of Flaxman survived.  Apparently literary pundits will obviously consent that writers of the caliber of Flaxman are not easily found. 

The literary life of Flaxman poses a number of salient questions – for starters, how do people in the grassroots level respond to writer’s creativity?  Apparently as an assiduous journalist he may be famous in his own right; however do people have a complete recognition of his contribution in literature? 

In the meantime, while his books are found in countless numbers in different libraries, the whimsical and inquisitive question yet invariably remains.  Unfortunately currently no extraordinary mechanism is willing to provide answers to such question.  Libraries also are silent in revealing the statistics of the number of people who are familiar with Flaxman’s literary work.

Nevertheless, Flaxman Qoopane’s literary work is fairly prepossessing.  During the 70s as young man like any other prominent creative writer at that time, he was not in abeyance about his literary ambition.  Suddenly he joined activists in exile and he perpetually played a wonderful role in literature.  Like the likes of Es’kia Mphahlele, Wally Serote, Bessie Head and many others – he never gave in to express his talent.

While in exile he continued to impress in journalism as well as in the democratic South Africa.  The flagrant recognisable salient thing about him is his ability to share his romanticism with journalism.  “I’m a journalist by profession.  I love newspapers.  I love magazines.  I love books…”  To the scholars and whoever is interested in Flaxman Qoopane’s literary life need to reckon gingerly and distinguish between journalism and quintessential literature. 

Journalism - it depends which specific genre you feature at, but it encompasses reporting stories in the newspaper and magazine, while quintessential literature deals with imaginative literary perspective such as fiction. It is a known fact that Flaxman Qoopane has produced countless number of books and he had provided winsome literary studies on O Bolaji in particular.  Among other things, he is a veritable literary wordsmith and a visionary who has done pukka in literature!

Also, by being affixed with African National Congress while in exile, definitely he was in good care as he was afforded an opportunity to further his studies in the famous Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) in Tanzania.  It is vitally important to emphasise that in order for writers to be productive and recognised, they need to show their exquisite character and eschew facile ideology. 

Today it is not surprising to see Flaxman Qoopane or Ntate Bolaji garner prestigious and prodigious awards in literature.  Their brilliant sacrifices earn them astronomical kudos in society.  For instance, the sensational Sol Plaatje in his brilliance, he was deliberately denied this type of privileges by the white colonial power in South Africa.  Sol Plaatje passed away many decades ago, but albeit his name is chiefly famous in South Africa and the world.  In fact it took many years for him to be honoured and today libraries and government buildings etc are named after him.  

Essentially today things have changed dramatically as now technology is playing a very significant role in our society.  Frequently, technology makes life lively and its influence is proliferating.  Inevitably technology is potent nowadays and people are familiar with it because it is easy to access and it has predominant influence among the youth. 

Consequently it may be argued that its effects can pose serious challenges in our society especially among the young people.  Young people are fondly attached on it because it makes life animated.  However it is further tempting to argue as whether young people use technology for the benefit of procuring knowledge which can be helpful for them to blossom in literature and comprehend the prominent role of writers – or they use it for fun?   How do young people hobnob and appreciate adroit writers like Flaxman Qoopane in social network?

As a matter of fact, with the successful work he produced in literature many tentative questions will always be asked about Mr Qoopane’s resounding contribution in literature.   He really fulfills what is essential in literature, like Black African writers who over the years produced stunning and stupendous imaginative work?  Luminaries like Lewis Nkosi, Es’kia Mphahlele, Peter Abrahams, Denis Brutus, Miriam Tlali, Mongane Wally Serote, Gomolemo Mokae etc.

Furthermore, Flaxman Qoopane has been impressive with his unique Qoopane Gallery.  This is a splendid literary gallery that contains magnificent literary materials which are worthy for recognition.  As we know. libraries are there for making researches, also this luminous gallery can provide literary ancillary like researches.  However, as I indicated beforehand that the puissance of technology presents an obvious challenge in today’s life. 

By simply making invaluable assessment to determine the appetite of people who read books can assist a lot.  It will be a regrettable chagrin to literature if people are no longer habitually attuned to genuine literature and physical books.  Do people continue to read books and learn about African great literary Icons?  Or technology is the replacement of quintessential literature?  Indeed is there any future for African writers these days in terms of wide readership?

Actually it is remarkable to find out that in the Western world literature is still dynamic and proliferating as compared to Africa.  For example, as I write this, Nobel laureate in literature Gunther Grass has just been announced as dead and the western world via its extensive media is celebrating this worldwide. Europeans in their millions continue to appreciate literature, read every time, but in Africa only relatively few know even about our own wordsmiths.

At this moment after so many years Africa is free from foreign rule it is ludicrous to find such grotesque ignorance as regards literature and literacy.  In fact the situation is disappointingly skullduggery and betrayal of freedom because early African literary pioneers were profoundly excellent and eagerly resolute in producing monumental work of literature.  Those were really difficult times as their works were wittingly precluded to thrive but through their unflagging zeal they managed to cultivate successful world class literature.

In conclusion, as Flaxman Qoopane clocks 60 this year we have to ponder on such posers in our modern world. For example in his native Mangaung, so to speak, how many people are aware of the achievements of Qoopane? How many educated people can off-hand (off the top of their head) mention just two or three of his books?...

Photo, top: Mr Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga, who has published countless essays and articles on books and writers; (above) Mr Soqaga's latest work, Glimpses into African Literature (2015)