Can Themba (1924 – 4 June 1967) was a South African writer, journalist, and political activist best known for his short stories that depicted the lives of black urban residents during the apartheid era. He was a prominent member of the “Sophiatown writers,” a literary collective that also included figures such as Bloke Modisane, Es'kia Mphahlele, and Lewis Nkosi.
Early life and education
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Themba attended St. Peter’s College, a Catholic secondary school, before pursuing further studies at the University of Fort Hare, an institution that educated many future African leaders and intellectuals.
Literary career
After completing his education, Themba returned to Johannesburg and began working as a journalist for The World, a black newspaper. In 1955, he published his most celebrated collection, The Will to Live (originally titled The Will to Live: A Collection of Stories), which comprises fourteen short stories that portray the everyday struggles, aspirations, and resilience of black South Africans living under segregation and forced removals. Notable stories from the collection include “The Suit,” “The Black Man’s Burden,” and “A Man’s a Man.”
Political involvement and exile
Themba’s writing was closely linked to his anti‑apartheid activism. In the early 1960s, he became involved with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Following the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and the subsequent banning of anti‑apartheid organizations, Themba went into exile in Zambia and later in Tanzania, where he continued to write and support liberation movements.
Later life and death
Returning to South Africa in the mid‑1960s, Themma faced increasing police surveillance. He died on 4 June 1967 in Johannesburg, reportedly from a heart attack, although some accounts suggest his death was related to the stress of political persecution.
Legacy
Can Themba’s work remains an essential component of South African literary canon. His stories are frequently included in school curricula and anthologies that explore apartheid-era literature. Scholars credit him with pioneering a realist narrative style that foregrounded the psychological and social dimensions of black urban life. In 2014, the South African Department of Arts and Culture posthumously honored him with the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his contributions to literature and the fight against apartheid.
Selected bibliography
- The Will to Live (1955) – short story collection
- “The Suit” (short story, 1954) – frequently re‑published and studied
- Various journalistic articles in The World and African Opinion
References
- Themba, Can. The Will to Live. Penguin Books, 1955.
- Louw, Eric. African Writers: A Critical Introduction. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, 1994.
- Goolam, Riaz. “Can Themba and the Sophiatown Writers.” Journal of African Literature, vol. 12, no. 2, 2002, pp. 45‑62.