Poets welcome dub legend Dr LKJ
Iam very moved, deeply moved, and so happy,” poet and cultural activist Linton Kwesi Johnson told Grocott’s Mail at the end of an event to welcome him to Grahamstown, ahead of his honorary doctorate award at Rhodes University last week.
A key figure in representing the struggle for black Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, Linton Kwesi Johnson, popularly known as LKJ, connected the struggles of black people there with those of black people all over the world.
The University welcomed him at a special function at the National English Literary Museum (NELM) ahead of awarding him an honorary doctorate last Thursday night. Johnson was among five distinguished leaders so honoured by Rhodes.
The others were South Africans, artist Penny Siopis, human rights champion Barney Pityana and education activist Sheila Sisulu, as well as children’s campaigner and activist from Burundi, Marguerite Barankitse.
Profesor Robbie van Niekerk from Rhodes University’s Institute of Social Economic Research kicked off last Wednesday night’s celebratory welcome for the famous reggae dub poet, writer, journalist, cultural worker and film maker. He explained why Johnson had been significant for the struggle against apartheid oppression in South Africa in the 70s and 80s.
Performing artists such as LKJ, as he became popularly known, were important in getting the message of resistance through to a larger audience.
The media of music and poetry, fused in the form of dub poetry, made the message of resistance accessible, particu- larly within the South African context.
“It was cultural resistance against the domination of apartheid,” Van Niekerk said.
Van Niekerk also noted the significance of honouring LKJ in the context of Rhodes University, with its strong colonial history.
“We are standing up and being counted as an institution that is about to decolonise knowledge,” Van Niekerk said. Because LKJ was a global symbol, honouring him in this way was a powerful statement.
“His heart and soul lives in the community of Joza,” Van Niekerk said. “That’s where he was heard and listened to in the dark days of the 70s and 80s.
LKJ’s poetry was still very relevant, however, because of the inequality in the world today.
Miles Keylock, editor in chief of Rolling Stone SA, who is currently teaching and studying in Grahamstown, said it was through LKJ's poetry that South Africans had learnt radical black intellectual thought.
“You were the key in mobilising community organisations then. You united us all – from Britain to Athlone [in Cape Town], from Raglan Road in Joza to Holland, through your activism and craft. “That is your power,” Keylock said.
Performance poet Lesego Rampolokeng launched contributions from a range of poets and speakers who included Deborah Seddon, Prof Rod Walker, pupils from Nombulelo and Ntsika secondary schools, Zenande Makinana, Sinoxula Duda and Lebogang Ngcyisa.
Literary scholars Yolisa Kenqu and Monica Hendricks also spoke about LKJ's work. • Dr Linton Kwesi Johnson - a celebration WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: bit.ly/GrocLKJ