Modern African Poetry and the Legacy of Dennis Brutus

Abstract

The story of Modern African poetry cannot be complete without the late South African Poet, Dennis Brutus. Until his death in 2009, Dennis Brutus was a fierce voice against oppression of any kind, and one of his tools was his poetry (especially of the latter years). Many Modern African Poets have followed the example of Brutus in using poetry as a weapon in decrying all forms of injustice. This paper examines the impact, the influences of Brutus' poetry on African poets after him. It concludes that what Brutus inspires in these poets is vision, is resilience, is the fact that poetry can be put to use against the forces of evil.