GLOBALLY RENOWNED POET INGRID JONKER FINALLY 'RETURNS' HOME

SIXTY years after the tragic passing of one of South Africas most celebrated poets, Ingrid Jonker, her physical archive has at last returned to her homeland.

- OWN CORRESPONDENT

UYS Krige speaks during a gathering of writers and other friends of Ingrid Jonker at her three-day-old grave.

The collection of manuscripts, correspondence and photographs was taken to Europe a quarter of a century ago, where it eventually found a home in the Museum of Literature in The Hague, The Netherlands.

According to Jonker’s cousin, Cathy de Villiers, the family regards this restitution “as a form of healing across generations”.

Years ago, the Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations (FAK), together with Jonker’s only daughter, Simone, who passed away in 2023, initiated discussions with the museum about repatriating the archive.

The South African Centre for the Netherlands and Flanders (SASNEV) and its executive director, Eureka Barnard, later joined the process as facilitators. SASNEV ultimately took the lead, finalised the negotiations and, thanks to a generous donor, funded the safe transport of the collection back home.