Daniel Pule Kunene will be laid to rest this weekend after 93 remarkable years.
He lived enough life for two, complete with two great loves. His first wife, Selina, departed in 1993 having shared with him four children, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Ten years later, he was graced with the affection and care of Marci, who he devoted himself to for 13 years until he came to rest. Over a glass of wine last week, Daniel’s daughter, Liziwe(Liz) Kunene Pointer and her husband Fritz Pointer; his sons Sipho Kunene, Luyanda(Lu) Kunene and his wife Linda Fowells, Wandile (Wandi) Kunene and Marci painted a vivid picture of a man who built bridges across continents and between people with his keen intellect, endless creativity and deep compassion for all.
He was my neighbor and introduced himself with a kind of grace and good humor that was uniquely his. My wife and I came by to gaze at what would be our new home in the early summer of 2012. As we held hands on the sidewalk and imagined the life ahead of us we heard a soft tapping from a nearby window. We looked up to see Daniel and his lovely wife, Marci, beaming their glorious smiles and raising a glass of wine to an odd pair of strangers who were dangerously close to trespassing. Like so many others in Madison and beyond, we fell in love with him and his family.
An emeritus professor of African Languages and Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Daniel used his skill with language to transcribe South African oral works, translate South African writers, create poetry and short stories and dazzle friends with poignant and often hilarious oratory.
He lived in exile from his home country for 30 years and found the injustices of racism followed him from South Africa to the United States when the Kunenes arrived in early 1964. A year earlier, Vivian Malone took the first steps past George Wallace to register alongside white students at the University of Alabama. A young President Kennedy committed the nation to de-segregation that very evening. Just one day later in Mississippi, Medgar Evers was murdered in front of his wife and children for the crime of working toward a country free from discrimination. Dr. King brought his dream of a just America before hundreds of thousands at the March on Washington two months later — only weeks before four girls were killed during the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham. Two months later, President Kennedy was dead.
“This is a violent country,” Daniel remarked to a young Liz Kunene about America; uncertain of the decision to move to a nation boiling over with emotion amid great social change. However, the opportunities a move offered could not be denied.
During a period teaching in Los Angeles, the very emotions that gave Daniel pause led him to consider a position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The community’s activism was exciting to Daniel and contributed to the family choosing to make a life in Wisconsin; but not without sacrifice.
“They made the decision to stay in America and to leave everyone behind,” recalled Sipho of his parents. “That must have been incredibly difficult.” Perhaps their choice was made easier because they believed a stay in the United States was temporary. Liz noted that much like so many immigrants, “They left South Africa believing they would return.”
To their surprise, the Kunenes would not return to South Africa for three decades. They adjusted to life at an urban university far removed from the South African countryside and Daniel shielded his children from harsh realities that existed even in “liberal” Madison.
“He sheltered us; he protected us,” from the racial tension of the day. In fact, his children only recently learned of a petition to segregate their near west side neighborhood during their youth. It was directed squarely at the only black family on the block at the time.
Daniel’s passions to combat injustice in the world — even on his own street — fueled his constant activism. He was a prominent figure in the Madison Area Committee on Southern Africa which led the fight to ensure the city, county, state, university and corporations would divest from the interests propping up the apartheid regime.
His activism was as personal as it was political. Lu remembers an image of his parents reading poetry to children in a local elementary school. “Part of their activism was to educate the community about Africa and South Africa and apartheid. Some of my dad’s poetry — he came in to a parent show-and-tell and read some of his poetry and asked the kids about it. And the kids got it. They understood. That’s how he used art to undermine an unjust system.”
Daniel truly believed in education as a force of liberation. And his commitment as an educator never faded. Last year Daniel made the long trip to California to teach during Fritz’s course at Contra Costa College. His family witnessed as Daniel cast a spell on the enraptured students. “When he got up before the class the years melted away,” recalled Lu.
He found the same solace and inspiration in the poetry he composed to enlighten others. Said Wandi of Daniel’s motivation, “He got so much out of the creative process and what he did. He would acknowledge and appreciate how it affected others. But like a lot of artists who are doing what they love, he was so focused in that moment of creation — that was important.”
The world will surely miss Daniel’s unmatched talents. Our city will miss his unmistakable voice. I will miss his laughter. My daughters will miss his eager hugs. What he left behind will remain precious to all who knew him.
Sipho described what so many experienced in Daniel’s poetry. “My dad always had a way of seeing things through a different set of eyes.” And that rare gift extended to his relationships.
Linda remains amazed that “a lot of our friends felt like they could call him for advice. He was generous of spirit and interested in their lives and interests. Everybody who met him walked away feeling they were special.”
He was a scholar, an artist, a dissident and an activist to his last days but his greatest joys came during time spent with family and friends. During recent months he reconnected with former students and old neighbors. He was given one final precious gift from his daughter and granddaughter. “We have a third grandchild coming — his great grandchild — who will be named for Daniel,” Liz said while describing the videoconference during which she shared this news with her father. They captured the moment and look forward to showing Daniel’s namesake in the years to come.
The world will surely miss Daniel’s unmatched talents. Our city will miss his unmistakable voice. I will miss his laughter. My daughters will miss his eager hugs. What he left behind will remain precious to all who knew him.
A card recently arrived at the family home with the famous Mahatma Gandhi quote, “My life is my message.” Daniel’s message was to truly participate in life with joy and curiosity. It will echo in the minds and hearts of his family and the many friends that gather Sunday to honor him.
Daniel Pule Kunene died just as he lived, in peace and surrounded by love.
May we all be so lucky.
A celebration of Daniel’s life will be held at Sunday, June 5, 2 p.m. at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison.
