Don Mattera

Don Mattera, is a South African poet and author. He was awarded the PEN Award for his poetry collection Azanian Love Song in 1983, and the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa for his children's book The Five Magic Pebbles in 1993. His much acclaimed autobiography Memory is the Weapon was awarded the Steve Biko Prize when it was first published in 1987. He has worked as a journalist on The Sunday Times, The Sowetan, and The Weekly Mail (now known as the Mail and Guardian) and trained over 260 journalists. Don decided to convert to the Muslim faith and is now deeply involved in the Eldorado Park community where he resides. He has a special interest in young people and the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners.