UDokotela Benedict Wallet Vilakazi (6 ngoMasingana 1906 – 26 ngoMfumfu 1947 ) wabe engumbhali ovelele wenzincwadi, izinkondlo, izichazimazwi kanye namanoveli olimi lwesiZulu. Ngonyaka we-1946 waba nguwokuqala webala elinzundu eNingizimu Afrika ukwethweswa iziqu zobuDokotela (Ph.D.). Kepha nakuba iningi limazi ngemisebenzi yakhe elotshiweyo, bambalwa abazi ngempilo yalo leli qhawe. Mhla ziyi-6 uMasingangana 1906 uMshini wakwaVilakazi nowakwakhe uLeah uMaHlongwange bathola indododana eyabe ungumntwana wabo wesithupha kwabayisikhombisa. Bayetha ngelikaBhambatha ngenxa yesigigaba sempi kaBhambatha kaZondi eyaliwa ngawo lonyaka. UBhambatha kaMshini wazalelwa endaweni yase Groutville Mission Station eduzane naKwaDukuza, kwelaseNatali. UVilakazi waqala isikole ngonyaka we-1912 khona endaweni yaseGroutville, wafunda lapha waze waqeda ibanga lesi-4. Kwathi lapho eseneminyaka eyi-10 waphikelela e St Francis College, okuyisikole sameRoma Akhatholika esisendaweni yase Mariannhill, lapha waqhubeka nezifundo zakhe waze waqeda ibanga lesi-6. Kuso lesi sikole samaKhatholika wangena enkonzweni yamaKhatholika, maqede wabhabhathiswa ngengama likaBenedict nelika Wallet, umama wakhe wagcizelela ukuba isibongo sakhe "Vilakazi" singashintshwa. Emva kokuphothula ibanga lesi-6 wafundela izifundo zobuthithishela kulo lele Kolishi lase Mariannhill, waziphothula ngonyaka we-1923.