Breyten Breytenbach, a prominent South African-born poet, memoirist, and former political prisoner, passed away on Sunday in Paris at the age of 85. His family announced his death but did not disclose a cause.
Often regarded as the greatest living poet writing in Afrikaans, Breytenbach spent most of his adult life in exile, expressing deep resentment towards the language's association with apartheid and racial domination. In 1985, he articulated his views, stating, “To be an Afrikaner is a political definition. It is a blight and a provocation to humanity.”
Breytenbach's opposition to apartheid was rooted in personal experiences, notably his marriage in 1962 to a Vietnamese-born woman, Hoang Lien Ngo, which was prohibited under South African law. The couple relocated to Paris, where he continued to write poetry in Afrikaans and prose in English, including a four-volume memoir detailing his experiences in South Africa. His most notable work, “The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist,” published in 1985, chronicled his seven years in prison, including two years in solitary confinement.
Convicted under the Terrorism Act after visiting South Africa on a false passport in 1975, Breytenbach sought connections with a white anti-apartheid group. Despite being promised leniency for a guilty plea, he received a nine-year sentence. During his incarceration, he experienced harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and witnessing the executions of fellow inmates.
Born on September 16, 1939, in Bonnievale, South Africa, Breytenbach was one of five siblings. He left South Africa for Europe at age 20 to pursue education in painting and published his first poetry collection in 1964. Following his wife's classification as nonwhite under apartheid laws, he became a permanent exile in Paris, later obtaining French citizenship. He spent time in Spain and Senegal, where he co-founded the Goree Institute to promote African democracy.
He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and two grandsons. In addition to his literary contributions, Breytenbach was also a painter, with exhibitions held in major cities including Paris and New York. His memoirs include “A Season in Paradise,” “Return to Paradise,” and “Dog Heart: A Memoir,” each reflecting his complex relationship with South Africa and its political landscape.
Critics have described his works as subjective collages filled with lyricism and political cynicism. Ariel Dorfman characterized “Dog Heart” as a “dreamlike memoir” of a man disillusioned with the future he once fought for.