John Kani Quotes

John Kani

Profession : Actor

Birth : November 30, 1942

And I'm part of the generation of South Africans who feel we're lucky to be alive.

John Kani

When I first encountered Shakespeare as a boy, I read every word this man has written. To me, he is like an African storyteller.

John Kani

Shakespeare's words paint pictures in glorious colour in my language. They were written by a man whose use of words fits exactly into Xhosa.

John Kani

When I'm abroad it's almost like I'm in a transit lounge. I'm only comfortable when I know the date of departure.

John Kani

Everything you do on stage is always a response to something, not the next line.

John Kani

I come from a long line of storytellers.

John Kani

I had to look at white people as fellow South Africans and fellow partners in building a new South Africa.

John Kani

In Australia, I almost became a counsellor. At the end of each performance there would be a queue of sobbing people backstage. They all wanted to explain why they left South Africa.

John Kani

Other theaters exist here solely to entertain the white audience and keep South Africa on a par with what's going on in the West End or Broadway. The Market concerns itself with theater of this country, for this country.

John Kani

When you write as an artist, you just tell a story and people say it addresses issues.

John Kani

Yes, we have the judiciary, the Constitution, we're fighting racism on a daily basis, but these are all state efforts and are not the efforts of the individual. The individual has to commit to change, the individual has to look at the past and take accountability of the past; for the wound to heal we have to dress it together.

John Kani

When I am offered work, I am very selective.

John Kani

I want my work to contribute toward creating a better society, toward bringing people together. That is always the first consideration, not the money.

John Kani

Every time there is a movie that tells a South African story, it is done by someone who must be taught the right way of pronouncing 'Sawubona.' Enough is enough.

John Kani

My love, my passion, my everything is this continent of Africa. I have always celebrated African humanity.

John Kani

The only reference in my life is my life, and it's my life experience. It's my environment. It's my community. I've not made that for books.

John Kani

I started to get my doctorate, not to be called 'doctor.' Those are just little things you get to get recognition.

John Kani

I remember the words of my grandmother who died at 102. I remember my great mother, Grand Brika, who died at the age of 106. They talked to us all the time. And my grandmother even lied to me. She said there was royalty. She said that my great-great-great grandfather was the king of the outer Thembu.

John Kani

I used to wonder, when my grandmother would tell me what the wolf said to the jackal, how these animals can talk. And, she would say, 'in my stories, animals talk. Shut up and listen.'

John Kani