Bhekiziziwe Peterson


Bhekizizwe Peterson was a prominent African intellectual born in Alexandra Township in Johannesburg, South Africa. Until his passing, he was a Professor of African Literature at University of the Witwatersrand. Peterson was also an internationally renowned film writer and producer. He co-founded Natives at Large, a black owned and controlled South African full service Film & Television production company. He co - founded Natives at Large with film-maker Ramadan Suleman.

Career

Peterson started his academic career as a Junior Lecturer at University of the Witwatersrand in 1988, and progressed through the ranks to Full Professor. Peterson formerly served as Head of the African Literature Department twice. He held degrees from University of the Witwatersrand, University of York.

Politics and education

Peterson was a leading practitioner of working class theatre. He was known for being a generous mentor to young black South Africans. His prolific academic research was informed by an unyielding interest in the value of marginalised forms of cultural knowledge in South Africa and the larger African world. It spanned areas such as youth culture, popular music forms, the visual arts, Black intellectual history, and autobiography. More recently he served as co-leader of an international research group called Narrative Enquiry for Social Transformation. Besides his contributions to literary scholarship, Peterson, also used film as a medium for critical engagement with the social and political life of his homeland, South Africa.

Personal life

Peterson died on 16 June 2021 at the age of 60 from COVID-19. He was survived by his wife Pat, and two children, Neo and Khanyi.

Selected publications

Single authored

''Monarchs, Missionaries and African Intellectuals: African Theatre and the Unmaking of Colonial Marginality''

Co-authored

Fragments in the Sun: Poems and Performance Text, with Benjy Francis and Essop Patel
The Creative Act: A Notebook on Community Playmaking, with Benjy Francis
Zulu Love Letter, with Ramadan Suleman
Sol Plaatje's Native Life in South Africa: Past and Present, with Janet Remmington and Brian Willan

Journal Special Issues

Es'kia Mphahlele: Teacher and Mentor, special issue of English in Africa, 32 August 2011
Texts, Modes and Repertoires of Living in and beyond Shadows of Apartheid, special issue of Journal of African Literature Association, 10, 2016
Narrative Articulations in Africa, special issue of Social Dynamics, 45, 2019

Creative works

Films

  • Fools
  • Zulu Love Letter
  • Rights of Passage
  • ''The Innovation of Loneliness''

Documentaries

  • Born into Struggle
  • Zwelidumile
  • The Battle for Johannesburg
  • Miners Shot Down
  • ''By any means necessary''