College of Human Sciences

Unisans compile pioneering collection of previously unpublished Afrikaans poems

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On 8 May 1925, Afrikaans was officially recognised as a national language. This year marks the centenary of that milestone, which is being celebrated in various ways.

Merang, a collection of previously unpublished Afrikaans poems

It is thus fitting that 2025 also serves as a milestone year for celebrating Afrikaans poetry, highlighting the rich, nuanced possibilities of poetic expression in the language. This is the essence of Merang, a bold and expansive anthology featuring 182 previously unpublished Afrikaans poems. The volume has been compiled by Neil Cochrane and Prof Alwyn Roux, both affiliated with the Department of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature at Unisa, and published by Naledi.

In total, Merang features the work of 88 Afrikaans poets. Poems by established voices such as Charl-Pierre Naudé, Danie Marais, Bibi Slippers, Ronelda Kamfer and Nathan Trantraal appear alongside those of emerging poets including Mariëtte van Graan, Yolanda van der Mescht, Kobus Kotzé and Klara du Plessis. The collection also includes recent debut authors such as Alwyn Roux, Jaco Barnard-Naudé, Lynthia Julius, Veronique Jephtas and Jolyn Phillips.

The title Merang emphasises both the diversity of Afrikaans and the idea of celebration. The word originates from Malay (rame’an) and has become part of the Cape Muslim Afrikaans lexicon, meaning "celebration".

Merang is a celebration of contemporary Afrikaans poetry. It offers readers a vivid reflection of the themes and forms that occupy today’s poets. The compilers believe it captures important trends and subtle nuances within the current poetic landscape.

This is a pioneering publication. Never before in the history of Afrikaans poetry has such a diverse and extensive collection of previously unpublished poems been compiled into a single volume. The poems address a wide range of themes – language, love, landscape, motherhood, nostalgia, technology, spirituality and sociopolitical issues. A broad spectrum of poetic styles and tones is present: narrative, lyrical, experimental, satirical and even alternative forms, such as the Afrikaans spoken-word verses of Churchil Naudé.

Merang also represents different varieties of Afrikaans, including Standard Afrikaans, Cape Afrikaans and Orange River Afrikaans. A striking example is found in the composition "’n Namagowab-lied van die lier". Composer Franco Prinsloo combined three individual poems – "Hou sout" (Veronique Jephtas), "Vir Aria" (Lynthia Julius) and "Taal" (Alwyn Roux) – into one song text. The intention was to weave three varieties of Afrikaans into a single lyrical composition. In Merang, we witness how these three poems – and their integration as "’n Namagowab-lied van die lier" – take shape.

The poems in Merang are accessible and explore themes that many readers will relate to. The anthology affirms that poetry is for everyone to enjoy.

Merang is a landmark in Afrikaans poetry. It offers over 300 pages of generous, inclusive poetic delight.

* Submitted by the Department of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature

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Publish date: 2025-06-24 00:00:00.0

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