W. J. du P. Erlank (Eitemal)
Home Poem: Die begrafenis
Pseudonym of W. J. du P. Erlank
Poet, playwright and writer of prose, including children's books
Professor of Dutch Stellenbosch University, 1950 - 1966
Cultural Attaché at the South African Embassy in Holland, 1967 - 1971
Willem Jacobus du Plooy (Duke) Erlank was born on 22 June 1901 in Wolmaransstad, Transvaal.
He matriculated from Potchefstroom Boys High School and studied Dutch, English, Classical languages and Mathematics at the Transvaal University College, Pretoria (BA) . For a time his nickname at university was Lammetjie, and he used its transposition, Eitemal, as his pseudonym.
From 1921 until 1928 he taught Latin in Wolmaransstad, and Afrikaans from 1929 until 1935 in Johannesburg at the Boys High School Helpmekaar. While in Johannesburg he continued his studies at the University of the Witwatersrand (BA hons). He left for Holland to study literature and drama at the Gemeentelike Universiteit, Amsterdam (1936-1938) but had to return to South Africa when war was imminent. He obtained a DLit at the University of Pretoria. Title of thesis: Slauerhoff en het zoeken naar nieuwe vormbeginselen in de naoorlogse poëzie van Nederland (1939)
1939 - 1949: Lecturer at the Normaalkollege in Pretoria
Eitemal was Professor of Dutch at Stellenbosch University from 1950 to 1966 and served as Cultural Attaché at the South African Embassy at the Hague, Holland, from 1967 to 1971.
Cultural activities and memberships:
He was a founder-member of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge(FAK) 1929, the Handhawersbond (1930-'35), founded to unite Afrikaners involved in the language movement ), the Voortrekker youth movement 1931, the Mynwerkersbond, Spoorbond, die Afrikaanse Taal- en Kultuurvereniging 1931, and the Afrikaanse Skrywerskring
Member of the S.A. Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns 1935 and of the Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde 1952
He was president of the Transvaal Kunsvereniging and member of the National Drama Society. Editor of the Christelike Skoolblad, journal of the Transvaal Teachers' Society.
Eitemal was a brilliant and sought after public speaker, and known for Die verhouding tussen Suid-Afrika en Nederland. Persoonlike indrukke. Pretoria 1975 ( J.B.M.Hertzog-gedenklesing). He was the author of the anonymous pamphlet Die Koning! Is hy welkom? (The king - is he welcome?) on occasion of the English king's visit in 1946.
He married Hester Cornelia Visser in 1931 and they had a son. Eitemal died on 24 June 1984, in Stellenbosch.
Academy Award for Drama translations 1966 and 1969
Stafie en Santie by die Kabouterberg 1927 (collaboration by Imker)
Phaeton en andere gedigte 1931
En hadde de liefde niet 1935
So praat die ou rivier 1956 (adaptation of Hebbel: Maria Magdalena ).
Skaduwees teen die muur 1958 Translations:
Shakespeare, Macbeth 1965
Goethe, Faust I 1966
Jozef van Hoeck, Voorlopige vonnis 1969
Friedrich von Schiller, Don Carlos 1969
Shakespeare, Hamlet 1973
Shakespeare, Midsomernagdroom 1975
Shakespeare, Die Wintersprokie 1975
Reinaard die Jakkals 1981 (and adaptation)
Die F.A.K.- Volksangbundel (co-author)
M.E.J.Bauermeister, Eitemal (W.g.du P.Erlank), 'n Bibliografie, Universiteit van Stellenbosch 1969***
'Is iemand dood? En wie was sy?' -
'n Vreemd'ling vra en stap verby.
Die bure sug: 'So 'n goeie vrou!
Haar skoonfamilie gaan ook rou.'
Die dokter frons: 'Dit was nogal
'n Allermoeilikste geval.'
Die predikant, manel en das,
Gebaar: 'Ja, alle vlees is gras.'
Twee kleintjies, met dik snye brood,
Roep: 'Omie, onse ma is dood.'
'n Man staar eenkant op die grond
Met twee diep lyne om sy mond.
Read also the Afrikaans CV by F J Snijman in Jaarboek van de Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde te Leiden 1984-1985, pag. 81-89