Zakes Mda

Zakes Mda, born Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda, is a South African novelist, playwright, and academic whose works have garnered international acclaim. His literary career spans multiple genres, including novels, plays, and poetry, often exploring themes of identity, displacement, and social justice. Among his notable works are the award-winning play "We Shall Sing for the Fatherland" and novels such as "Sometimes There Is a Void: Memoirs of an Outsider," published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. His fiction, primarily set in South Africa, has earned prestigious accolades, including the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Legacy Award and recognition as an American Library Association Notable Book.

Mda's early life in Soweto and subsequent exile in Lesotho profoundly influenced his writing, shifting his linguistic focus from isiXhosa to Sesotho and later English. After winning the Amstel Playwright of the Year Award twice, he pursued advanced degrees in theatre and mass communication in the United States. His academic career includes founding the Marotholi Travelling Theatre, which engaged rural communities in participatory theatre, a focus of his doctoral research. Currently a professor of creative writing at Ohio University, Mda has held residencies at institutions like Yale University and the University of Durham.

His forthcoming novel, "The Sculptors of Mapungubwe," continues his exploration of African history and culture. Mda's multidisciplinary background—encompassing painting, music composition, and academia—enriches his literary voice, cementing his reputation as a versatile and influential figure in contemporary African literature.