Southern Africa
South Africa
Post-colonial
English
Poetry
Mtshali's debut collection, Sounds of a Cowhide Drum, sold over 12,000 copies in South Africa — unprecedented for poetry. This later collection continues his stark portraits of township life.
Literary Significance
Mtshali was the first major Black South African poet to reach a mass audience; his images of township life shocked white readers
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Catalog summary
editorial-summarynot primary textMtshali's debut collection, Sounds of a Cowhide Drum, sold over 12,000 copies in South Africa — unprecedented for poetry. This later collection continues his stark portraits of township life. Mtshali was the first major Black South African poet to reach a mass audience; his images of township life shocked white readers
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