Lewis Nkosi

Writer, Critic

Lewis Nkosi was a South African writer and critic known for his exploration of identity and struggle, particularly in his notable work 'Mating Birds'.

Born
December 5, 1933
Died
July 13, 2010
Quotes
4
Rank
#5354

About Lewis Nkosi

Lewis Nkosi — Life and Legacy

Lewis Nkosi was a prominent South African writer and critic whose work delves deeply into themes of identity, exile, and the complexities of human experience under apartheid. His notable work, 'Mating Birds', not only reflects on the personal struggles of its characters but also serves as a broader commentary on the societal issues of race and belonging in South Africa. Nkosi's core thinking revolves around the idea that identity is not static but is shaped by external forces and personal experiences. He famously stated that 'the writer is a witness to the world', highlighting his belief in the writer's role as a critical observer and commentator on societal injustices. This perspective reveals his commitment to using literature as a means of challenging oppressive narratives and advocating for personal and collective freedom. Nkosi's insights remain relevant today, as they resonate with ongoing discussions about identity, race, and the human condition, encouraging readers to reflect on their own experiences and the world around them.

Quote collection

Lewis Nkosi quotes

4 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Lewis Nkosi Writer, Critic
Popular

"All black people who are even minimally conscious, black people who have ever experienced Europe's technological power crusading in the vanguard of a civilizing mission, have profound feelings of inferiority and bitterly regret the fact that the Industrial Revolution did not agreeably commence in Dahomey or Dakar. Nothing is achieved by concealing this fact."

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Lewis Nkosi Writer, Critic
Popular

"Liberals want to set up social welfare committees to help whites and West Indians love each other in Birmingham. But all such efforts are doomed to failure. For the strong the weak are just too much of a temptation; and in all fairness it seems to me quite wicked for black people to have tempted the powerful with so much powerless-ness for so long. The obvious answer is to redress this imbalance in power."

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Lewis Nkosi Writer, Critic
Popular

"I have seen white settlers in Africa who had sworn that they would never sit down to table with those "smelly blacks" sit down quite happily with half-nude tribesmen once a country achieves independence. It is the context of power which changes behavior and transmutes antipathy into sympathy."

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Lewis Nkosi Writer, Critic
Popular

"After all, if it comes to that, there is really neither Ogun nor Jesus! There are only mystified forms of our consciousness."

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