The New Century of South African Poetry, edited by Michael Chapman

A revised and updated edition of this much-loved poetry anthology which was first published in 2002. This new edition of The New Century of South African Poetry now includes 125 new poems, with the addition of a fifth section covering works produced by poets who have made their mark since the early 2000s.
A revised and updated edition of this much-loved poetry anthology which was first published in 2002. This new edition of The New Century of South African Poetry now includes 125 new poems, with the addition of a fifth section covering works produced by poets who have made their mark since the early 2000s. New Century includes pieces in divergent styles by a wide range of authors – from traditional songs by Khoisan poets to poems by established figures such as Roy Campbell, N.P. van Wyk Louw, Mazisi Kunene, Douglas Livingstone, Mongane Wally Serote and Antjie Krog. Popular poetic forms like maskanda, kiba, praises and rap share the pages with current poets such as Gabeba Baderoon, Rustum Kozain, Danie Marais, Nick Mulgrew and Koleka Putuma who bring with them fresh considerations on issues such as black consciousness, green politics, female subjectivity and middle-class sensibilities. Poems in translation are now also included here. In his revised introduction and notes on the poems compiler and editor Michael Chapman identifies a key feature of the poetry: its accessibility to a wide readership. New Century offers the most comprehensive selection of poetry that is currently available and unlocks for its readers the variegated and multifaceted society that we as South Africans inhabit.

Michael Chapman is professor of English at the University of Natal, Durban.