Phumlani Pikoli

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Phumlani Pikoli
Born1988
Zimbabwe
Died11 April 2021
NationalityZimbabwean-South African
OccupationWriter, multidisciplinary artist
Notable work
The Fatuous State of Severity, Born Freeloaders

Phumlani Pikoli (1988 – 11 April 2021) was a Zimbabwean-South African writer and multidisciplinary artist. His body was discovered on 11 April 2021, by his parents after they hadn't heard from him since 9 April 2021.[1][2]

Background[]

Pikoli was born in Zimbabwe to parents who were exiled from South Africa during the Apartheid regime.[3] His family moved back to South Africa when Pikoli was a young child, and eventually settled in Pretoria.

Creative work[]

Pikoli wrote his first book, The Fatuous State of Severity, whilst recuperating from a depressive episode at a psychiatric clinic.[4] The book contains a collection of short stories and drawings. Pikoli self-published the book in 2016, and it was later republished by Pan Macmillan.[5]

His debut novel, Born Freeloaders, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2019. The title is a play on a common South African slang term, "Born Frees", used to describe the first generation born after the end of Apartheid.[6] Pikoli described the book as exploring "assimilation [and] colonial takeover" amongst the young black middle class in democratic South Africa.[7] The book was awarded the K. Sello Duiker Memorial prize for a debut novel at the South African Literary Awards in 2020.[8]

Pikoli also worked as a multimedia artist in theatre and film. He contributed to Carla Fonseca’s play The Same Pain at the Soweto Theatre. He released a multimedia exhibition based on The Fatuous State of Severity at Johannesburg’s TMRW Gallery and was developing Born Freeloaders into a film with Diprente Films.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Pheto, Belinda (12 April 2021). "Phumlani Pikoli, author and son of top SA advocate Vusi Pikoli, dies aged 33". Herald LIVE. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ Shoba, Sandisiwe (2021-04-14). "OBITUARY: 'His best work was ahead of him': Tributes stream in for author and artist Phumlani Pikoli". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  3. ^ Langa, Phumlani. "Book review: Twisted tales, fresh ideas". News24. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Phumlani Pikoli: The Fatuous State Of Severity". Cheeky Natives. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  5. ^ Stones, Lesley. "200 Young South Africans: Phumlani Pikoli". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  6. ^ Mtshali, Khanya. "Contemplating South Africa's coalition of traumas through the idea of lost language—Khanya Mtshali reviews Phumlani Pikoli's Born Freeloaders". Johannesburg Review of Books. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  7. ^ Mallinson, Theresa. "Pikoli's Fish out of water - The Mail & Guardian". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  8. ^ Shoba, Sandisiwe. "Phumlani Pikoli wins K Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award for debut novel". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  9. ^ Stones, Lesley. "200 Young South Africans: Phumlani Pikoli". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
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