MIKRO
The famous South African poet, Mikro (Christoffel Hermanus Kühn) was born the house below and grew up on the farm Van Reenensplaas, Williston.
The writer
Christoffel Hermanus Kühn was born on Van Reenens Farm, in the
district of Williston, on 8th October 1903. His longing and love for
his birthplace and surroundings runs like a silver thread through many
of his books i,e. "Waar die Bokmakierie fluit". He was
married twice and his eldest daughter is the well-known author Corlia
Fourie. He held a BSc degree in agriculture and a Teacher Diploma. He
was head teacher at Kuilsrivier school and lecturer at the Oudtshoorn
Training College. He also was national leader of the Land Service
Organisation until 1964.
Mikro was
the pseudonyme of C H Kühn. He received this nickname at the campus of
the University of Stellenbosch after his excuse for coming late was that
he mislaid his mikroflea. He was summarily asked to leave the lecture
hall. The nickname stuck and later he used it as a pseudonyme for the
hundred books written by him. He received the Hertzog prize for the
books Toiings and Pelgrims. His novels Gonnakolk
and Soetwater was translated for the theatre by PG du Plessis, as
was the TV series Matewis and Meraai. His adventure stories from
the Anglo Boer war were extremely popular, especially "Ruiter in
die nag" which was made into a film. On 29th October 1957 he
received the Scheepers prize for youth work.
With
the exception of Langenhoven, Mikro did more than any other author to
encourage the nation to read.
The artist is gone, but his work lives on.
