15/05/2026
Today, we pause to honour and remember Maria McCloy, a remarkable woman whose life and work left a lasting imprint on South Africa’s literary and creative landscape.
As a fellow Rhodes University alumnus alongside my late brother, K. Sello Duiker, Maria belonged to a generation of brilliant minds who not only pursued academic excellence, but also reshaped the cultural and literary landscape of our country. They were part of a rare community of thinkers, writers, and visionaries who understood the importance of African storytelling long before it received the global recognition it deserves today.
To many young creatives navigating identity, expression, and purpose, Maria became more than simply a peer or mentor. She was an older sister figure to so many of us, someone who listened deeply, encouraged honestly, and believed fiercely in the power of authentic African voices. She understood that storytelling was never merely about entertainment; it was about memory, healing, resistance, and preserving the soul of a people.
Maria championed writers, musicians, artists, and cultural thinkers with sincerity and grace. She created spaces where important conversations could happen and where creatives felt seen, valued, and empowered. Her support was never performative, it came from a genuine love for people and for the transformative power of art itself.
For those fortunate enough to know her personally, we remember her warmth, sharp intellect, humour, and fearless generosity of spirit. She carried herself with quiet strength and dignity, while constantly uplifting others around her. Her contribution to South African arts and literature cannot be measured only by titles or achievements, but by the countless lives she inspired and the confidence she instilled in emerging creatives.
May her soul rest peacefully, and may her work and legacy continue to inspire generations of storytellers, scholars, and cultural builders across South Africa.
Rest well, Maria McCloy.
Your light, your voice, and your legacy remain.
Kamo Duiker & The K.Sello Duiker Literary Foundation.
