ABSTRACT
My interview with Ntongela Masilela touched on several topics, including how Mazisi Kunene's poetry extends beyond the borders of Africa and attempts to locate Africans in the diaspora as part of a celebration of the ancestors. In his response to my questions, Masilela argued for the recognition of the continuum in Kunene's work that makes life bearable and functional for people of African descent, irrespective of the impact of slavery and colonialism. In this interview, Kunene is celebrated for his autobiographical and traditional poems that draw their inspiration from Zulu cosmology and South African history. Masilela further argues that Kunene's work is significant because it occupies an autonomous space that enables readers to understand the Pan African commitment in modern African poetry that promotes political awareness, identity retention, and appreciation of futuristic art.
