Keorapetse Kgositsile

Keorapetse Kgositsile (1939–2018) was an eminent South Africa figure whose career in literature left an enduring mark on national and global culture. Over decades of dedicated public service and professional excellence, Keorapetse exemplified integrity, innovation, and leadership.

Keorapetse William Kgositsile, also known by his pen name Bra Willie, was a South African Tswana poet, journalist and political activist. An influential member of the African National Congress in the 1960s and 1970s, he was inaugurated as South Africa's National Poet Laureate in 2006. Kgositsile lived in exile in the United States from 1962 until 1975, the peak of his literary career. He made an extensive study of African-American literature and culture, becoming particularly interested in jazz. During the 1970s, he was a central figure among African-American poets, encouraging interest in Afr...

The passing of Keorapetse Kgositsile on 2018-01-03 marked the close of a transformative chapter, inspiring future generations across South Africa and around the world to uphold the values of excellence, empathy, and enduring accomplishment.