Introduction to Literary Genres 1: Sol T. Plaatje and Mhudi

Practice flashcards covering the biographical details, political activity, journalism, and literary works of Sol T. Plaatje based on the lecture transcript.

Who was the lecturer for the course HENG 61416: English: Introduction to Literary Genres 1?

Felix Awung.

What are the birth and death years of Sol T. Plaatje?

1876 - 1932.

Which community were Sol T. Plaatje's parents members of, and what was his position among their sons?

They were members of the Barolong community, and he was their sixth son.

Where did Sol Plaatje study and teach in mission schools until the age of 17?

In Doornfontein and later on in Pniel.

What job did Sol Plaatje take up in Kimberley in 1894?

A post office job.

What role did Sol Plaatje hold in Mafikeng from 1898 to 1902?

Court interpreter.

What three Setswana-English newspapers were edited by Sol Plaatje?

Koranta ea Becoana (Koranta ea bechuana), Tsala ea Be-coana (Tsala ea bechuana), and Tsala ea Batho.

What organization was Sol Plaatje a founding member of in 1912?

The SANNC, which later became the ANC.

What legislation in 1913 dispossessed Africans of their land?

The Native Land Act of 1913.

Between which years did Sol Plaatje travel to Europe and the USA to campaign against the oppression of the South African native population?

Between 1914 – 1923.

What was the cause of Sol Plaatje's death in 1932?

Pneumonia.

How many hours a day did Sol Plaatje work according to the lecture notes?

16-18 hours a day.

Who tried to keep Sol Plaatje's newspaper running while he was overseas?

His wife and brother-in-law.

How did British Prime Minister Lloyd George describe the SANNC delegates' speaking manner during their visit to England?

He said they spoke “with moderation, with evident sincerity and with power”.

Which South African Prime Minister did British Prime Minister Lloyd George write to twice regarding the SANNC delegates?

Jan Smuts.

What cause regarding women's rights did Sol Plaatje advocate for as early as 1902?

The franchise, or the vote for women.

What newspaper motto was repeated as praise for Queen Umnandi in Mhudi?

“I am black but comely, o ye daughters of Jerusalem”.

According to Kadar Asmal (2007), what two lessons do Sol Plaatje's works teach?

First, to be a humanitarian, it is not necessary to efface and extinguish one’s own cultural identity and heritage. Second, in honouring one’s own language and history, it is entirely unnecessary to dishonor the language and history of anyone else.

What is 'moraka' in Setswana tradition, and where was it located?

The cattle post, located far from home in dense forests where livestock could find sufficient grazing and water.

How does Sol Plaatje characterize the roles of the African farm laborer, the miner, and the domestic worker under colonization?

The African farm laborer as the backbone of the farming sector, the miner as the pillar of South African industry, and the domestic worker as the 'helpmate' of Whites.

What is the historical significance of Sol T. Plaatje's novel Mhudi published in 1930?

It was the first novel in English by a Black South African.

Which press first published Sol T. Plaatje's novel Mhudi in 1930?

Lovedale Press.