Writing about an internationally renowned poet, writer and activist is slightly intimidating. How can I give justice to such a prominent figure with my humble words? But the pride and honor that comes with Dr Diana Ferrus as interviewee does outweigh these feelings.
Diana Ferrus started writing at the mere age of 14-years and has written several notable pieces over the years. Even as a teenager her work has always themed around social justice and human rights.
“My parents recited poetry to us and that was a big influence on my decision to write.” -Dr Diana Ferrus-
Ferrus is known and respected for her work portraying personal, political, social, and historical themes.
“The core of my writing is healing, for myself and my people and the country. “-Dr Ferrus-
She describes her work as: “… confessional writing.”
Diana Ferrus is well-known for her poem – ‘I have come to take you home’, a tribute to Sarah Baartman, a Khoi woman taken from South Africa under false pretenses to be displayed as a freak show attraction in the 19th century Europe. The Sarah Baartman story is often regarded as the epitome of the racist colonial exploitation, and of the commodification of the dehumanization of black people.
Her poem made such an impression on the French that they agreed to have Sarah Baartman’s remains returned to South Africa.
The inspiration of Sarah Baartman
Whilst studying in the Netherlands at the University of Utrecht on a fellowship, Dr Ferrus was homesick and missed her mother terribly. She once again became aware of the tragic story of Sarah Baartman and realized how much more Sarah must have missed her mother.
“I missed my mother who died the previous year. I thought if I miss my mother this much how much more did she miss her mother. She was so lonely, wanted to be home in the valley where she was born in, the Gamtoos Valley (actually said in an interview she had with a journalist). It seemed as if I heard her saying “I want to go home” just like I also wanted to go home. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I went to my desk and started the poem with ‘I’ve come to take you home.’” -Dr Ferrus –
Sending Sarah’s remains back to South Africa
According to Dr Ferrus, the petition of having Sarah’s remains sent back to South Africa already started in the 1950’s and that Nelson Mandela also spoke to Francois Mitterand. Her poem went onto the internet where a French Senator saw the poem. The French Senator was moved by the poem and asked her permission to have it translated. The translation was used in his bill. He read it in the Senate and it was passed unanimously.
“He contacted me saying that the poem shows exactly how we felt about Sarah Baartman’s remains still being in the museum in Paris. He was drawing up a bill to argue for her return.” -Dr. Ferrus –
Dr Ferrus continues to say that: “The poem is published in the French Law a first in French history.”
Slave roots
The theme of slavery and the empowerment of women lies close to her heart and Dr Ferrus says that her own family also has slave roots.
“The Masbiekers, from Mozambique. The February clan from Worcester. My mother was a strong woman who struggled through a lot to see me through! So were many in my family.” –Dr Ferrus–
Sharing more about the history of slaves, Dr Ferrus shares the fact that slaves were given the name of the month they were sold into.
Dr Ferrus has a beautiful heritage of Irish and Khoisan descendance and her Khoisan as well as her slave heritage is very important to her, but she does not know a lot about her Irish great grandmother, Sarah Tait.
“Sarah Tait is a name that I do not have information about. Only that she was Irish, very proud of it and spoke Afrikaans. She died in 1939.” -Dr Ferrus-
Her great grandmother’s arrival date in South Africa is a mystery to Dr Ferrus.
Awards and medals
Dr Ferrus has received several awards over the years. When asked the question if she was asked to honor another woman with one of her awards, her answer was simple, her own mother and that her mother did much in her own way to make her mark.
“Only after her death I realized that she needed a medal.” -Dr Ferrus-
Dr Diana Ferrus is an amazing example of a woman who managed to flourish in spite of an apartheid government financial restraints and protests. She has always wanted heal people and make an impact. She stayed motivated by keeping her eyes on her dream.
“I told myself that I am and will be someone special because I came from special people. I have always wanted to heal people, help them to regain their dignity, find their voice.” Dr Ferrus-
Dr Diana Ferrus is fondly spoken off as the people’s poet and it is easy to see why she herself, and her work, has marked her as a well-respected writer.
5 quick questions
What is your favorite dish? You can give me soup barley soup anytime, busy changing my eating habits, moving away from meat.
Are you a cat or dog person? I had a dog.
Do you prefer coffee or tea? I prefer coffee but also scaling down.
Do you have a sweet tooth? I never had a sweet tooth but recently I saw that I love chocolates – but I can easily control it. I am a salty tooth and salt is so dangerous for me!
Where will I find you when you need to ‘recharge’ your batteries’? “I love being in the mountains!”
Dr Diana Ferrus has read at various public occasions, rallies, and community celebrations all over the world. In 2007, she received the Minister’s Award for Women from the Western Cape Provincial Department of Arts and Culture in honor of her contribution to the empowerment of women. In April 2012, the Diana Ferrus Writing Project was launched by the Metro East unit of the Western Cape Education Department.
Annette Havenga – Happening News ©
Sources: Wikepedia, Dr Diana Ferrus and South African History Online