
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) academics, Creative Writing Lecturer, Mr Sabata-Mpho Mokae and Extraordinary Professor, Prof Brian Willan, clinched the Nonfiction Best Edited Volume Award at the prestigious ninth annual Humanities and Social Sciences Awards. Their book, Revisiting Sol Plaatje’s Mafeking Diary, launched in October 2023, was honoured for its scholarly excellence and contribution to humanities at the ceremony held at the Javett Art Centre, University of Pretoria.
This accolade, awarded by the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, marks a significant achievement for Mr Mokae and Prof Willan, highlighting their dedication to exploring and illuminating the legacy of Sol Plaatje. The duo’s collaborative work, a deep dive into Plaatje’s The Mafeking Diary, underscores the historical and academic importance of Plaatje’s contributions, often overlooked in contemporary scholarship.
This award celebrates their academic rigor and reaffirms SPU’s commitment to fostering innovative and socially responsive scholarship within the Creative Writing niche. With this recognition, SPU continues to spotlight the enduring relevance of Sol Plaatje’s work and the University’s role in promoting critical literary studies.
Mr Mokae and Prof Willan have already embarked on their next venture, a comprehensive study of Plaatje’s journalism, slated for release in 2026, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Plaatje’s birth. This project promises to further enrich the academic and literary landscapes with insights into Plaatje’s diverse contributions to literature and journalism.