Keletso Mopai
Keletso Mopai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 August 1992 |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | |
| Notable works | If You Keep Digging |
Keletso Mopai is a South African writer.[1] She is the author of the short-story collection If You Keep Digging (2019), published by BlackBird Books, an imprint of Jacana Media.[2] Her work has appeared in international literary journals, including The Kenyon Review and Internazionale.[3] In 2024, she served as a judge for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Africa region).[4]
Early life and education
Mopai was raised in Lenyenye, a township in Limpopo, South Africa. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in geology and chemistry, followed by a Bachelor of Science Honours in geology, both from the University of Limpopo.[5][6] She later completed a Master of Arts degree in creative writing at the University of Cape Town.[7]
Career
Mopai's writing has appeared in South African and international literary publications, including The Johannesburg Review of Books, DRUM, Brittle Paper, The Kalahari Review, and Catapult.[7]
In 2019, she published her debut short-story collection, If You Keep Digging, through Blackbird Books, an imprint of Jacana Media.[8]
Mopai has participated in South African literary festivals and writing programmes and has been interviewed by academic and literary organisations about her work.[9]
She was a writing fellow at the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study in 2024.[10] In 2025, she was selected as a writing resident for the Brussels to Karoo residency programme.[11]
Awards and recognition
- Mopai was shortlisted for the Writivism Short Story Prize in 2017 and later took part in the Writivism writing programme.[7]
- Her short story "Monkeys" was shortlisted for the 2019 Brittle Paper Award for Fiction.[12]
- She was also a finalist in the Africa Book Club short story competition.[7]
- In 2020, Mopai was named among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans.[13]
- She was shortlisted for the Portside Review Human Rights Essay Prize in 2024.[14]
Bibliography
- If You Keep Digging (Blackbird Books, 2019)[15]
References
- ^ "Keletso Mopai". Time of the Writer. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Your 2019 holiday reading list". News24. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Keletso Mopai – Kenyon Review Author". The Kenyon Review. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Judges announced for 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize". Commonwealth Foundation. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Keletso Mopai, 27". Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Keletso Mopai Owns Her Story and Her Voice". Open Country Mag. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Keletso Mopai". Time of the Writer. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "If You Keep Digging: A Q&A with Keletso Mopai". News24. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Authors – Keletso Mopai". Open Book Festival. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "JIAS Fellows". Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Participants of the 2025 Brussels to Karoo residency announced". Jakes Gerwel Foundation. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "The 2019 Brittle Paper Award for Fiction: Meet the Finalists". Brittle Paper. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Keletso Mopai". 200 Young South Africans. Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Keletso Mopai Amongst Shortlistees for 2024 Human Rights Essay Prize". JAY Lit. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Mopai, Keletso (2019). If You Keep Digging. Blackbird Books. ISBN 9781776190712.
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