Book Description

The artist Johannes Petrus Meintjes (19 May 1923 to 7 July 1980) was also a historian and author. Spanning a period of almost 40 years, his body of autobiographical work includes thirteen diaries. Considered Africana, Meintjes self-published the first four volumes (three Diaries and Jeugjare) through his Bamboesberg Publishers. His first diary entry was on 13 February 1941, while the last entry was recorded in 5 July 1980, two days prior to his death. The various diaries, published and unpublished, represent a collected work that tells the story of Johannes Meintjes’ life as an artist and author. This includes inscriptions on people he met, comments about political events as well as matters of faith. In this English synopsis (424 pages, illustrated with examples of his artistic output) the compilers steered clear of deeply personal, nonsensical or malicious comments, while toning down accounts of his extensive social activities. There are references to health or financial issues that affected Meintjes’ creativity and the experience of pain and sadness is also touched upon briefly where appropriate. In the end, it was Meintjes’ entry on 30 January 1964, ‘When I started on the Diary, I never realised that it would become my monument. If it were ever to appear as a single volume, who knows, it can be cut drastically’, that served as catalyst and inspiration culminating in the Afrikaans publication of the Johannes Meintjes Dagboeke launched at the Stellenbosch University Museum in 2023, a century after his birth. Publishing a synopsis of all thirteen diaries into one single volume was a project that took more than ten years. It was spearheaded by Lydia de Waal (a previous Director of the Stellenbosch University Museum) and assisted by Kobus Opperman (the Johannes Meintjes Archivist). Associate Professor Emeritus at Stellenbosch University, Dr Edwin Hees, translated the document into English. Mr Bongani Mgijia, the Director of the Stellenbosch University Museum, graciously arranged for sponsoring this translation. Amanda Botha, seasoned arts journalist, ends the book with her valued conclusion ‘The Meintjes Diaries: Mirror and Reflection’. The English translation contains additional archival material kindly made available by the Meintjes family from their personal collection.