Methuen Mancoba was born on 30 August 1910, Boksburg. From 1920 to 1924 Mancoba trained as a teacher at the Diocesan Training College, Grace Dieu near Pietersburg and received early guidance in wood carving there from Sister Pauline CR. On completion of his course he remained at the College teaching Zulu until 1929. In 1933 Mancoba enrolled as a student at the UFH. During this time he served as the chairperson of the Literary and Debating Societies there. In 1936 he was the caretaker of a block of flats in Cape Town. In the following year Mancoba was awarded a BA through UNISA and began teaching English at Khaiso Secondary School in Pietersburg. His colleagues included Louis Makenna, Nimrod Ndebele and Gerard Sekoto.

References

• Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery.
back to top