Daniel Hugo

Poet, author and editor of several poetry collections

Daniel Johannes Hugo was born on 26 February 1955 in Stellenbosch.
He attended school in Windhoek and studied Afrikaans and Nederlands at Stellenbosch University (BA Hons), where he took part in D. J. Opperman's Letterkundige Laboratorium. After a year teaching school in Windhoek (1979), he obtained a MA at the University of Pretoria with a thesis on the poetry of D. J. Opperman. The following eight years he lectured Afrikaans and Dutch Literature at the University of the Orange Free State, interrupted, in 1983, by studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. In 1988, he accepted a position at SAUK Radio in Cape Town - Radiosondergrense - as editor of literature programs, among them Vers en klank and Leeskring. He also makes features on Afrikaans writers.
1989: D Litt with a thesis on vernufpoësie in Afrikaans

Daniel also works as a translator of English and Dutch texts. He is the convenor of the Ingrid Jonker Prize fund. In 2008 he accepted the position of director of Huis der Nederlanden in Pinelands, Cape Town. After nearly 20 years as a presenter at the Afrikaans radio service (SAUK) he is now an editor at Protea Bookhuis.
He is married to Carina Diedericks-Hugo and has a son from his first marriage.

Awards:
ATKV award (four times), Artes award (twice), and the Academy award for boadcast features.
SA Akademieprys 2014 for translation:
Sprakeloos by Tom Lanoye

Some of his works:
Poetry:
Dooiemansdeur, Tafelberg, 1991
Monnikewerk, Tafelberg, 1995
Skeurkalender, Tafelberg, 1998
Breekware vir die rewolusie
Verse van die ongeloof
Die boek Daniel
Die twaalfde letter, Protea Boekhuis, 2002
Die panorama in my truspieël, Protea Boekhuis, 2009
Takelwerk, Human & Rousseau, 2015

Prose:

Nuwe Verset (essays by close to 40 poets on the millenium), Protea Boekhuis, 2000
Liefde, natuurlik - Afrikaanse kortverhale(with Carina Diedericks-Hugo), Lapa 2004
Halala Afrikaans: Die biografie van Afrikaans, (Editors: Daniel Hugo et al ), Protea, 2009

Tranlations:
Liefde, miskien by Herman de Coninck, Tafelberg, 1996
Die Aanslag by Harry Mulisch, Tafelberg, 1999
Verhale by Herman van Veen, Tafelberg, 2000
(Karel Glastra van Loon), Passievrug, Tafelberg, 2002
(Pat Posner) Griekse gode en godinne uit die Mitologie, 2004
Koning van Katoren by Jan Terlouw
My eerste HAT (dictionary for children: 1000 words)
Die lenige liefde by Herman de Coninck
Slagterseun met 'n brilletjie by Tom Lanoye
Sprakeloos by Tom Lanoye

Compilations of poetry collections:
Miskien sal ek die wingerd prys (with Etienne van Heerden), Tafelberg, 1989
Lyflied (Songs by Hennie Aucamp), Tafelberg, 1999
P J Philander - 'n keur uit sy gedigte, Tafelberg

Lees nuwe verse van Daniel op LitNet

Books