FLAXMAN QOOPANE AND AFRICAN LITERATURE

By Pule Lechesa (below)

It is a special year for Flaxman Qoopane, journalist and author. This year, 2015 he turns 60. It would be churlish not to make an attempt to examine his contributions, if any, to literature in particular in Africa.

When I was a young -very young - writer, Flaxman Qoopane had a larger-than-life essence and image for me, although at the time I was not based in the heart of Bloemfontein. I grew up in my beloved Ladybrand, very much enamoured with the world of writing from a very young age. Yes, even many years before I would meet Mr Qoopane in the flesh, I and other writers in the Free State heard about the flamboyant and exciting literary exploits of him - and of Gilbert Modise too. In retrospect it was not something really tangible; but nevertheless it was exciting, the idea that there were some established black writers out there in our Free State! I was determined even then to make it as a writer too, and even made trips, not only to Bloemfontein, but also to Gauteng, hoping to meet established writers who would provide a fillip for my own literary advancement. That is however another story, though I did manage to meet the late Gilbert Modise in Mangaung; but alas, nothing came of it.

In those days we scoured the libraries dotted in the eastern Free State in particular, looking for books penned by Qoopane or Modise. It was only around the year 2000 that one began to see books written by black writers based in the FS in the libraries; and oh boy, was it exhilarating!! As a lover of poetry I was very impressed with Lebohang Thaisi - then very young - who had published the book of poems, A voice from Mangaung. I saw and read early books written by Qoopane, and also the exciting fiction and other general books of Omoseye Bolaji. It was actually Mr Bolaji who would go out of his way to encourage, and help publish literature from the eastern Free State. But I continued to be fascinated with the persona of Mr Qoopane, his extensive journalistic ouvre, his articles on writers, his fabled collection of material on general literature. At this juncture I must admit that the Qoopane literary Gallery is magnificent in its own way; in its own right. I have been there a number of times to do research and I can easily vouch for the centre as a formidable fount.

Qoopane has the advantage of being a long-standing writer himself, and has published a great deal of articles -mostly journalistic ones - on many writers over the years. Additionally his general love for African and world literature has come in handy, as he always appropriates for himself any article or feature in this wise that he comes across in newspapers, magazines, journals. Hence his gallery is stocked with hundreds of literary material. I remember Mr Malcolm Hacksley, (pix above)former Director of the National English Literary Museum – in Grahamstown - discussing the Qoopane Literary Gallery with me. Hacksley was very impressed with Qoopane's initiative and vouchsafed that he was able to lay his hands at last on certain literary/critical material he had wanted badly, thanks to Qoopane. The international scholar and critic, Achal Prabhala was also impressed with the Gallery. By the time I came into my own as a writer too, Qoopane had already published quite a number of books. I was to review his book, View from my Window, in one of my early books, titled Four Free State Authors. I was well chuffed when the powers-that-be ordered a large number of copies of my book for the libraries. Generally speaking Flaxman Qoopane has done well over the decades as a very dedicated journalist, an author of many books, and his Literary Gallery in particular. But as a critic I would be remiss if I do not honestly point out that for me, Qoopane's myth will always supersede his actual literary stature.

This situation is exemplified as regards his 'international poetry'. For decades the literary world has been very much aware of Qoopane being referred to as a great, prolific poet. It comes as a shattering shock for pundits when they realise there is very little evidence or proof of such outstanding poetry. How many times have researchers complained to me that they have heard so much about Qoopane's status as a poet, but after painstaking research and efforts they cannot see anything to buttress this via books, anthologies, or the infinite Internet. It is a situation which baffled I myself for many years. If Qoopane is an outstanding, prolific poetry, where are his poems? There was a time I even used to run around the libraries looking for his poetry. But, niks. When we think of well known poets like Mongane Wally Serote, Aryan Kaganof, Don Mattera, we can easily identify their many books of poetry and much more; or to take a Free State example, Jah Rose Jafta is a very young female poet, her books of poetry, and general literary work are available to all. With Qoopane there is nothing like this. I am well aware of his one poem read at Macufe many years ago; but on the whole, I am afraid there is nothing to substantiate the claim that Qoopane is a prolific and distinguished poet. This is a great weakness in his literary armour.

And considering Qoopane's many available books, we are again confronted with another unflattering conclusion. Can any of his works be regarded as 'major'? No. We know immediately that writers like Ngugi, Ayi Armah, Achebe, Lewis Nkosi are great writers who have each published at least two to five major works. If Achebe never published anything again after Things fall apart, he would still be accorded the universal respect due to him for his wonderful maiden work; ditto Tsistsi Dangarembga for her Nervous Conditions. To expand this a bit in South African context, literary observers think of Es'kia Mphahlele, and their mind goes to his classic, Down Second Avenue, among many others. With Sindiwe Magona her major works are many, including Mother to Mother, and Forced to grow. Even Phaswane Mpe who died very young is well known for penning his one work, Welcome to our Hillbrow. With Qoopane no such claims can be made - another indictment of his work. (But this is not to say that Qoopane has failed in toto as a writer).

Substantially, Flaxman Qoopane's literary work – is essentially trash, self-absorbed, pathetically mediocre, and narcissistic. Perhaps that is one reason why Qoopane hardly has any short essays or studies on his literary work, never mind books. I hope more and more people, not only those of literary persuasion, will focus on Qoopane's writing, such as it is.Here is a man who has dedicated his whole life to literacy and literature. This is exceedingly laudable, and we all salute him for this as he turns 60. However from a critical point of view, the impression that Flaxman Qoopane is a minor African writer, although an important one in his own way seems inescapable.