Defying all odds, this book accounts for the rise of Dr. Daniel Kunene from abject poverty in the tiny town of Edenville, South Africa, to full professor at the prestigious University of Wisconsin-Madison, and to becoming an internationally sought-after poet and lecturer.

Through his vivid recollections, and love of story, in the opening chapters of this book, we gain insights into his parents’ tenacious and passionate insistence that he and his three siblings get an education. Even if there were no school buildings. Even if it meant repeating a grade, he had passed with excellent scores, due to lack of money to pay the school fees for four children at the next level.Fees only blacks had to pay. Or riding a bike 15 miles through a rainstorm, then a flat tire to make it to his Matriculation exam. Or taking correspondence courses with University of Cape Town to complete his BA. Kunene’s timely and genuine sense of humor prevents any of this from becoming morose and gloomy. There is so much hope and sincerity in these efforts we gladly travel with him. He survives it all.

“My father, Professor Kunene, was more about the work and progress of any endeavor he pursued, not so much the recognition. To be clear, he always had a great deal of gratitude for the recognition he'd gotten in his life for his work, he just didn't tend to seek it. He was one of countless extraordinary individuals in the world who participated in the movement to make positive change in South Africa. The movement continues, often building on the progress of those who've done so much for it in the past; this book is a celebration of one of those from the past.

--Wandi Kunene

Daniel Kunene was a dear friend and most valued colleague. This loving, evocative biography by Fritz Pointer and Liziwe Kunene Pointer captures the deep and abiding generosity, humility, humor, resilience, kindness, wisdom and steely determination of this extraordinary man of many parts. This heart-felt narrative recalls what Daniel called “faction” – the inevitable blend of “fact” and “fiction” to create feelings – most appropriate for a man whose poetic gifts knew no bounds. This wonderful biography lifts our spirits and inspires.

Henry John Drewal,                                                                                                                        Evjue-Bascom Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This powerful book, a quilt of a biography, inspires. It is the story of a child and then young man’s commitment to learn, observe, and rise through the indignities and slights of apartheid South Africa. The deep voice of Daniel Pule Kunene emerges—poet, novelist, translator, linguist, scholar, activist. Until his dying day, he held us mesmerized by his courage, his eloquence, his earned moral stature. This book provides a slice of the history of racial oppression through the lens of an inspired man who rose above it to become a poet and scholar of vision.

Dr. Gregory Shaffer                                                                                                          Professor of International Law                                                                            Georgetown University

Fritz Pointer is an author and an activist.  He has published three books: A Passion to Liberate: LaGuma’s South Africa –Images of District (2001) African Oral Epic Poetry: Praising the Deeds of a Mythic Hero (2013) and Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters’ Family Story.  He currently serves as Vice President of Democratic World Federalists (DWF) of San Francisco. He also serves as Blac Foundation Praetorian for encouraging debate as well as uplifting our spirit.

 Liziwe (Lizzie) Buitomelo Kunene Pointer, the daughter of Prof. Kunene and the late spouse of Fritz Poiner was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Lizzie, as she was popularly known, attended the University of Wisconsin, receiving her Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees in African Languages and Literature and African American Art History.   Lizzie worked as Dean of Students at California College of the Arts in Oakland, CA for 20 years. She passed away on October 2021.

World Rights Biography, Memoir/AFRICA