It was a sad sad day when Sipho Mnyakeni, South African writer, poet, motivator, inspirational icon and educationist suddenly breathed his last in 2020. Mnyakeni was a veritable man of letters.
He
published a number of striking, thought-provoking books, including his debut
work, THE WINNING COMBINATION which was a stirring, quality compendium that
garnered praise across the board.
Lupna
Avery e.g wrote about the book:
"Strange
how these things happen. I never expected to have the chance to read this book
right here in west Africa, but I did. This is a very intelligent author and a
thinker; he can be critical in his analysis but all this is linked to what he
knows about life, and his motherland (South Africa). It is also clear that he
likes football a lot (unlike me), but that is neither here nor there. As for
the wonderful poems later on in the book, what can one say? There can be no
doubt that these poems can stand on their own as a mini-book. A remarkable
author..."
Raphael
Mokoena, an impressive man of letters himself, also commented:
"An
original, awe-inspiring work. The author covers a wide range of ideas geared to
forge ahead - and ends this book with remarkable poems that seem to go on and
on..."
Mnyakeni
did not disappoint with his next book,
titled, BLACK TENDENCIES. His
intellectual, analytical objective mien was again to the fore again. The book
illustrates how much he cares and ponders about the proliferating people of
Africa.
Ishmael
M. Soqaga, well known bibliophile and widely published critic, says: "It
was a horrific experience learning that a stratospheric bard like Mr. Mnyakeni
was gone... alas, we (Black) Africans tend to undermine ourselves as the late
Mnyakeni knew only too well. As a writer, he was polished, refined, innovative
and a visionary. His talent as a poet was such that he was easily one of the
best in Africa..."
Books by Sipho Mnyakeni
The Winning Combination
Black Tendencies
NTOMBAZANA: My Girl, Be
LOCKDOWN POETRY: Poets Ponder