Name Alice Werner Role Writer | Education University of London | |
Books Myths and Legends of the Bantu, Introductory sketch of the Bantu languages, The natives of British Central Africa, Africa | ||
Alice Werner (26 June 1859 - 9 June 1935) was one of seven children in the family of Reinhardt Joseph Werner of Mainz, teacher of languages, and his wife, Harriett. Werner was a writer, poet and teacher of the Bantu language.
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Werner's father travelled extensively during the first fifteen years of her life, and she lived in New Zealand, Mexico, United States and throughout Europe, until the family settled in Tonbridge, England, in 1874.
After visiting Nyasaland in 1893 and Natal in 1894, her writings were focused on African themes.
In 1917 she joined the School of Oriental Studies, moving up from lecturer to reader to professor of Swahili and Bantu languages, and retiring in 1929-1930. She was awarded a D.Litt in 1928 from London University as a result of her specialised teaching and research. Following her retirement, she received the title of Emeritus Professor from the same University. In 1931 she was awarded the Silver Medal of the African Society, of which she was Vice-President.
Although not known as a major poet her poem "Bannerman of Dandenong" has appeared in a number of important Australian poetry anthologies.