10 June 1971

Dear Makhudu,

Re lla le uena mois'a gešo. The death of a parent far away from you tears you up inside in a way it doesn't in more ‘favorable’ circumstances. Was Muriel at home then? That's the agony, or part of the agony of exile.

Things are fine with us here. Ribs is working. Social research, with the hope of going into more stable and less strenuous work in the state govt. or private agency.

I believe Leballo must be panicking in Dar at the news Sobukwe's likely to come out! He's been in the news with the Tanzanian treason trial and it is evident dithuri tja ga Leballo di mo shireleditje.

The Wanderers is on the way by surface mail, the publishers report.

London's Macmillan will bring it out later in the year. They'll also bring out my essays Voices in the Whirlwind.

It's good to hear about your poetry and publishing prospects. Haven't seen The New African for months. I wondered if it's still appearing.

I need Nigerian shirts. Since I got me some Ghanaian made ones and East African, I don't wear a tie anymore – that's now since 1966. My suits are Nyerere style. I wonder if you know a woman who makes them – you know the style with embroidery in front instead of buttons, round the neck, at the sleeves. Good cloth – not the ordinary cotton. Can you enquire how much 4 shirts would be – different colours – cloth and labour? I can then send you money and measurements. For colours, any shade between olive green, deep brown, bright khaki colour, variations of these. Broad sleeves.

Let's hope the wound heals soon. But then I realize all too well statements like this at the time of grief are empty, dry as cork.

Love

Ever

Zeke

My dear Mike [Josselson],

I know you were always unhappy to be confronted with a letter in longhand. But I will write in script to placate you. Fact is that I'm too darn lazy to think on a typewriter. When I compose a book too, I do it in long hand first because I can think better – far better – without the woodpecker's rattle.