His Story
In Conversation
Creating a Portrait
A Poet:
James
Matthews
 
"For me, when you work you must take advantage of what you could use for the benefit of all of us...I understood that my words could be used as a weapon."
The Dissident Poet
Profile of an Icon
James Matthews
 
They called him
read more
Profile of an Icon
James Matthews

They called him

Play video
In Conversation
James Matthews
 
James Matthews, known as the Dissident Poet, talks to photographer and filmmaker Adrian Steirn about his District Six childhood, establishing his own publishing and art galleries during the Apartheid era, and using words as a weapon.
 
 
 
 
Creating
A Portrait
 
A series of behind the scenes images reflecting the 21 icons team at work.
The portrait features Matthews as he holds a typewriter - a tool that befits the man who used poetry and the written word as a form of protest.