Can Themba

Died in 1967

Can Themba was born on 21 June 1924 in Marabastad, near Pretoria. A graduate in English with distinction from the University of Fort Hare in 1947, he taught before joining Drum in 1953, having won its first short story competition, and became its assistant editor; he also wrote for the Golden City Post. In Sophiatown, he ran a place of debate in his room, the House of Truth. Exiled to Swaziland, he taught there at a Catholic school; declared a “communist within the meaning of the law” in 1966, he saw his writings banned in his own country. He died in Manzini on 8 September 1967.

In the catalogue 1

Short storiesThe Will to DieCan Themba · 1972Literature