Antjie Krog, born in 1952 in Kroonstad, South Africa, is a writer and academic whose literary career spans over five decades. She initially gained public notice in 1970 for an anti-apartheid poem published in her school magazine. Since then, her output has encompassed poetry, prose, and journalism, focusing heavily on the political and social transformations within her home country.
Early Career and Activism
Krog published her first volume of poetry, Dogter van Jefta, at the age of seventeen. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she lived in Kroonstad, where she participated in the Congress of South African Writers and engaged in political protests. Her involvement in anti-apartheid activities during this period informed her first prose work, Relaas van 'n moord, published in 1995. Her educational background includes degrees from the University of the Free State, the University of Pretoria, and the University of South Africa.
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Between 1995 and 2000, Krog worked as a radio journalist for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. She led the team that covered the Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 1996 to 1998. These experiences served as the primary foundation for her 1998 book, Country of My Skull, which blends memoir and documentary reportage. The work was later adapted into a 2004 film featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Juliette Binoche.
Academic and Literary Work
Since 2004, Krog has served as an Extraordinary Professor at the University of the Western Cape. Her later career includes translating Nelson Mandela's biography into Afrikaans and publishing several volumes of poetry and prose. Works such as A Change of Tongue and Begging to be Black explore themes of identity and historical experience. Additionally, she has held writer-in-residence positions at Ghent University, Leiden University, and the Dutch Foundation for Literature.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Kroonstad
- Citizenship: South Africa
- Notable work: Country of My Skull
- Religion: Christianity
- Languages: English, Dutch, Afrikaans
- Alan Paton Award: 1999
- De Gouden Ganzenveer: 2018
- Academic role: Extraordinary Professor, University of the Western Cape
Questions readers ask
What is Antjie Krog best known for?
She is recognized for her extensive poetry, her journalism regarding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and her 1998 book, Country of My Skull.
What languages does she use in her work?
She primarily writes in Afrikaans and English, and she translates works from Dutch and various indigenous African languages.
