Master's thesis honours local poet

Selwyn Milborrow together with poet Clinton V. du Plessis

Selwyn, 57, who lectures academic learning management studies and is an administrative coordinator in Teaching and Learning at Mandela University graduated at the recent Mandela University graduation with his thesis entitled "Themes and trends in the poetry Clinton V. du Plessis.

Du Plessis, who was born at Cookhouse and lives in Cradock has created poetry over four decades but has until now remained relatively unexplored academically.

The acclaimed poet whose work has historically occupied a position on the periphery of the Afrikaans literary canon, was present at the graduation ceremony and Milborrow presented the poet with a bound copy of the completed thesis.

Milborrow's research contributes to the field of contemporary Afrikaans literary studies through its identification and analysis of dominant thematic concerns and stylistic characteristics in Du Plessis's poetry.

The study particularly focused on the representation of marginalised figures, racial discourse, working-class experiences, concepts of transience, and intertextual relationships - elements that have defined Du Plessis's unique literary voice.

The research critical examines marginalised poets in Afrikaans literature that prefer to remain on the fringes of the literary canon and enhances our understanding of the sociocultural dimensions of contemporary Afrikaans poetry.

Milborrow thanked his supervisor, Professor Marius Crous, for his intellectual mentorship throughout the research process and also extended his appreciation to his co-supervisor, Dr Stefan van Zyl.

Selwyn is already busy with his doctoral degree proposal, which will focus on an Afrikaans author.

He is also the author of three poetry books The Write Side, Diglossos, Poetryopia, and the co-author of two books: Madiba's Quotes & Anecdotes together with Bevan Boggenpoel and Operation Gratitude: Kill Colonel Tom Parker with Janet Bostic-Williams.