READING SOL PLAATJE IN KIMBERLEY: A SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHOR MUSEUM

The historic home of Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje at 32 Angel Street, Kimberley currently houses an author museum - one of only two dedicated to English language authors in South Africa. This article reads the author museum's presentation of Plaatje to explore the connections made between a historical author's former home and contemporary interpretations of the author's works. Author museums are unique in their position as textual conduits; they both promote textual matter written by an author of significance, as well as create their own texts concerning said author. As this article demonstrates, Plaatje's literary legacy is largely absent from the exhibition in his former home. In discussing the narrative choices made by this particular South African author museum, this article aims to establish a better understanding of the potential for narrative development and contemporary discussion at literary heritage sites in South Africa.