Discuss “John Kani: Activist, humanitarian, actor, and playwright”

Before he’d even said a word, visiting dramatist John Kani received a standing ovation from the nearly packed Philip Chosky Theater in Purnell. Lecturing on the afternoon of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Kani was perhaps the physical embodiment of the phrase “his reputation precedes him.” And there it was: As Kani emerged onto the stage and took his first few steps towards the podium, there was almost too much to clap for.

A Tony Award-winning actor and playwright, a prominent figure in the struggle against apartheid, a survivor of an attempted assassination, a spokesperson in his country for AIDS awareness and prevention, a captivating orator, a father, and a model of ubuntu — the South African philosophy of togetherness and peace...