WILLIAM 'BLOKE' MODISANE

That was the driving force behind Canada Lee, a man who all his life searched for the expression "towards true understanding of brotherhood, unity of man and democracy of ideas." A man who crowded into his 45 years of life a diverse combination of will. . . His uncompromising honesty won him the friendship of the producer, Orson Welles, who in 1941 chose Canada Lee for the demanding role of Bigger Thomas from the dramatisation of Richard Wright's Native Son. Although success piled on with every endeavour, Canada Lee, the man, never found peace within himself. He always felt shut out by the sharp, sniping voice of bigotry that slammed a door in his face. . . a door to the actor's world. But his fight was not one of violence and bloodshed, for he believed that a man could not free himself from prejudice by destroying others. . . In 1950 he was signed on by Zoltan Korda to play Rev. Kumalo in the screen adaptation of Alan Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country. There was something in the whole framework of the character of Rev. Kumalo that appealed to Canada Lee who said that he was a "man of such a God-like character, so Christ-like with his whole attitude. . . " a man whose suffering heart found peace in the hope of a better tomorrow. The artistry and sensitivity of Canada Lee's interpretation of Kumalo is without parallel and will be remembered as long as men speak of acting. The world press acclaimed him as the acting genius of our age. . . It is reported that back home Mr. lee got out of a sick-bed to make a public apology. A few days later he died from a fatal illness.

- Bloke Modisane, "Canada Lee: Masterpiece in Bronze", Drum, October 1955.