Professor Es'kia Mphahlele was, until his death in 2008, one of Africa's most prolific authors on education, literature and culture. He was the recipient of numerous national and international awards. In 1969 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature and in 1984 he was awarded the Les Palmes Academiques by the French Government for his contribution to French Language and Culture. In 1998 former President Nelson Mandela awarded him the Order of the Southern Cross, the highest recognition granted by the South African Government. In the year 2000 he was acknowledged as: Writer of the Century by Tribute Magazine.

For many years Es'kia Mphahlele's work has been out of print or unavailable due to circumstances surrounding his estate. The republishing of Afrika, My Music marks a watershed moment in this situation and will allow the reappraisal of the importance of the work of one of South Africa's most important authors of the twentieth century.