‘Breyten Breytenbach was a phenomenon within Afrikaans literature’ - Antjie Krog

Lester Kiewit speaks with poet and writer Professor Antjie Krog.

Listen below.

Breyten Breytenbach passed away in Paris, France on Sunday at the age of 85.

He was born in Bonnievale in 1939 and is considered one of the greatest-ever Afrikaans poets.

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His works touched on themes of exile, identity and justice.

Krog says that his writing was unlike anything else in Afrikaans.

“He was a phenomenon within Afrikaans literature.”

- Prof Antjie Krog

He spent time behind bars for his opposition to the apartheid regime and was forced to flee South Africa in the 1960s and made his second home in France.

Krog says his activism was not limited just to his work, and he called out every writer for how they lived during apartheid.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.