14 Facts About Sol Plaatje

Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje was a South African intellectual, journalist, linguist, politician, translator and writer.

Sol Plaatje was born in Doornfontein near Boshof, Orange Free State, the sixth of eight sons.

Sol Plaatje subsequently passed the clerical examination with higher marks than any other candidate in Dutch and typing.

Sol Plaatje was a founder member and first General Secretary of the South African Native National Congress, which became the African National Congress ten years later in 1922.

Sol Plaatje was editor and part-owner of Kuranta ya Becoana in Mahikeng, and in Kimberley Tsala ya Becoana and Tsala ya Batho.

Sol Plaatje wrote Native Life in South Africa, which Neil Parsons describes as "one of the most remarkable books on Africa by one of the continent's most remarkable writers", and Boer War Diary that was first published 40 years after his death.

Sol Plaatje was recruited by Lattimore to take the role of an African tribesman.

Sol Plaatje, descended from the BaRong people of the Tswana-speaking nation; but was born and raised in a Lutheran Mission within the Orange Free State.

Sol Plaatje's recording of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" with Sylvia Colenso at the piano is believed to be the earliest extant recording of what would become the national anthem of South Africa.

Sol Plaatje was a committed Christian, and organised a fellowship group called the Christian Brotherhood at Kimberley.

In July 1923, a 'Sol Plaatje, Esq' donated 4 shillings and 3 pence towards for the international suffragette cause.

Notably, 1923 was a particularly bad time financially, yet Sol Plaatje made this donation.

Sol Plaatje died of pneumonia at Pimville, Johannesburg on 19 June 1932 aged 55, and was buried in Kimberley.

Decades passed before Sol Plaatje began to receive the recognition he deserved.