William Bloke Modisane

William Modisane, known as Bloke, was born in Johannesburg on 28 August 1923 and grew up in Sophiatown, where his mother ran an illegal drinking den to support her family. Employed at the Vanguard bookshop, he joined Drum, published short stories there and was a jazz critic at the Golden City Post. An actor, he appeared in 1958 in the premiere of a play by Athol Fugard. He left for England in 1959, where he was a writer, actor and radio broadcaster, played a leading role in London in a play by Jean Genet, and died in Dortmund on 1 March 1986.

In the catalogue 1

• NarrativeBlame Me on HistoryWilliam Bloke Modisane · 1963Literature