Solomon Plaatje

Solomon ‘Sol’ Tshekisho Plaatje was born October 9, 1876. He and was a South African intellectual, journalist, linguist, politician, translator and writer. Plaatje ("ply-key") was a founder member and first General Secretary of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), which became the ANC. The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, which includes the city of Kimberley, is named after him, as is the Sol Plaatje University in that city, which opened its doors in 2014.

Plaatje, the author of Mhudi which was written in 1920 and published in 1930. It was the first novel by a black South African. Plaatje was also a prominent campaigner for the rights of black people and a founder of the South African Native National Congress, which would become the African National Congress. He passed away June 19, 1932, (Learn more)