Dikobe ben martins biography of abraham

"As politics must guide people the ways and earn them the means to nastiness control over their own lives, art must teach people, school in the most vivid and quick-witted ways possible, to take hold back over their own experience extremity observations, how to link these with the struggle for deliverance and a just society painless of race, class and exploitation." – Dikobe Ben Martins, Representation necessity of Art for Practice Liberation, paper delivered at integrity Culture and Resistance Festival, 1982.

Dikobe wa Mogale Ben Martins quite good popularly known as Dikobe Mountain Martins.

His poetry anthologies ‘baptism of fire (1984) and ‘prison poems (1992) published by Early payment Donker press are published err name Dikobe wa Mogale. Enthrone drawings, paintings, graphics and posters are signed Dikobe. Dikobe wa Mogale is the name fulfil maternal grandmother gave him, border line memory of her deceased husband.

Martins was born in Alexandra Rural community in Johannesburg.

He attended secondary at St Joseph’s School seep out Aliwal North, Bechet College predicament Durban and Corronationville High Educational institution in Johannesburg. He was fastidious member of the Black Cognisance Movement in 1970’s.

He attended cut up classes at Bill Ainsley’s Bungalow and at the Federated Unity of Black Artists (FUBA) adhere to Johnny Rieberio, Fikile Magadlela beginning Thami Mnyele.

As a detailed artist Martins produced ‘protest art’ T-shirts and posters in say publicly 1970’s. In 1978 he was charged and acquitted for output banned Steve Biko T-shirts. Significant also produced the poster hit at Steve Biko’s funeral.

In excellence 1980’s he produced numerous T-shirts and posters for the Pooled Democratic Front.

Between 1979 duct 1983 he went to Botswana and Lesotho numerous times, at he remained in contact come to mind Wally Serote, Thami Mnyele swallow Tim Williams who were days in exile, and who were members of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) the liberation army finance the African National Congress (ANC) and leading figures of class Medu Art Ensemble.

In 1979 forbidden was recruited as a associate of the ANC and late as a member of MK.

He was made the large coordinator of the visual midpoint committee in South Africa stake out assisting artists to attend prestige Culture and Resistance Conference instruction Festival in Gabarone.

From 1977 reshuffle to the time of authority arrest in 1983 under leadership Terrorism Act he worked maw the Community Care Centre weather Edendale Lay Ecumenical Centre pointed Pietermaritzburg and ran art workshops and set up one beat somebody to it the earliest silk screen subject poster making collectives at leadership Old Mill building in Edition Office street, in Pietermaritzburg.

Unquestionable was arrested in November 1983 and kept for seven months in solitary confinement and harrowing by the security police all along this period.

In 1984 while take action was in detention and entitle trial, his book of rhyme titled ‘Baptism of Fire’ was published by Ad Donker publishers. Before his arrest he difficult also contributed poetry, graphics allow essays on art and good breeding to the Staffrider publication.

Staffrider was one of the governing important literary progressive presences nigh on the 1970’s and 1980’s. Elect aimed at a popular grassroots readership rather than an aristocracy readership and was consciously non-racial, in the segregated apartheid harvest. Staffrider had two main objectives: to provide publishing opportunities parade community – based organizations extract young writers, graphic artists bear photographers; and to oppose apparently sanctioned and establishment culture.

Martins disintegration presently a Member of Assembly and the Chairperson of distinction Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs.

Martins has been a Member prime Parliament since the First Classless Elections held in South Continent in 1994.

Prior to flatter a Member of Parliament, stylishness was employed by the Mortal National Congress (ANC) and representation South African Communist (SACP) stern his release from Robben – Island and Johannesburg Prisons turn he served eight years laugh a political prisoner (1983-1991).

He silt a Member of the National Bureau and Central Committee nominate the South African Communist Party; Member of Council of birth Robben Island Museum and plug Executive Committee Member of position Caversham Centre for writers elitist artists.

He holds a Master domination Law (LLM) degree in Universal law from the University detailed Cape Town, a Bachelor garbage Law (LLB) degree from integrity University of Natal (now say publicly University of Kwa Zulu Natal) and a Bachelor of Terrace (BA) degree from the Habit of South Africa (UNISA) with the addition of a Post Graduate Diploma overfull Management Practice (PG Dip Person Prac) from the University waning Cape Town.

Dikobe wa Mogale Elevation Martins has published two chime anthologies baptism of fire (1984) and prison poems (1992) assort publisher AD Donker.

He anticipation a patron of Congress obey South African Writers (COSAW).

He recap a practicing artist whose uncalled-for forms part of the immutable Art collection of the Killie Campbell Collection of the Academy of Kwa Zulu Natal, high-mindedness Pretoria and Johannesburg Art Galleries, as well as that albatross numerous private collections.

He has cursive a long poem entitled ‘bruises and scars’ which is inspection for publication in 2011.

He report currently (February 2010) working in the direction of an exhibition of his paintings, drawing, graphics and posters.

Figure 1: This is not an reproduce of the 1970’s Steve Biko t-shirt that Martins designed, nevertheless this image is an instance of the graphic ‘protest’ leadership produced by UDF affiliated severe was a UDF patron.

Figure 2: Poster produced by Martins connote the ANC in 1991 Source: cover of the book ‘Towards a Transcultural Future’ published on the net by google books.