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Antjie Krog

  • Skill Category: Writers
  • Present Address: Cape Town, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Social media:

Biography

Born 23 October 1952. A South African writer and academic, best known for her Afrikaans poetry, her reporting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and her 1998 book Country of My Skull. In 2004, she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape as Extraordinary Professor. Krog was born into an Afrikaner family of writers, and was the daughter of Afrikaans poet Dot Serfontein. She grew up on a farm in Kroonstad, Orange Free State. Her literary career began in 1970 when, at the height of John Vorster’s apartheid years, she wrote an anti-apartheid poem titled “My mooi land” (“My beautiful country”) for her school magazine. The poem opened with the line, “Kyk, ek bou vir my ‘n land / waar ‘n vel niks tel nie” (“I’m building myself a country where skin colour doesn’t matter”). It caused a stir in her conservative Afrikaans-speaking community and was reported on in the national media. Krog’s first volume of poetry, Dogter van Jefta (“Daughter of Jephta”), was published shortly afterwards, while Krog was still just seventeen. “My mooi land” was later translated by Ronnie Kasrils and published in the January 1971 issue of Secheba, the official publication of the African National Congress (ANC) in London. ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada reportedly read the poem aloud after his release from Robben Island. Krog has a BA (Hons) from the University of the Orange Free State (1976), an MA in Afrikaans from the University of Pretoria (1983), and a teaching diploma from the University of South Africa.

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

Eugene Marais Prize (1973), for Januarie-suite. Reina Prinsen Geerligs Prize (1976). Rapport Prize (1987), for Jerusalemgangers. Hertzog Prize (1990), for Lady Anne. FNB Vita Poetry Award (2000), for Down to My Last Skin. RAU-Prys vir Skeppende Skryfwerk (2001), for Kleur kom nooit alleen nie. Protea Prize for best Afrikaans poetry (2006), for Verweerskrif. Elisabeth Eybers Prize (2015), for Mede-wete. Hertzog Prize (2017), for Mede-wete.

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