“Dictionary of African Composers” Is No Longer Accessible

Alexander Johnson and Chris Walton of the University of Pretoria in South Africa compiled the authoritative Dictionary of African Composers from which AfriClassical.com retrieved such information as a list of the works of South African composer Michael Mosoeu Moerane (1909-1981), including the famous symphonic poem Fatse la heso (My Country), composed in 1941. Links to the Dictionary of African Composers are found at a number of websites, including that of the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London, which gives this description: “An alphabetical list of African composers. Provides biographical information about the composers in question and includes details of works and musical styles and influences. Edited members of staff of the Music Department of the University of Pretoria.” The URL for the Dictionary is http://sacomposers.up.ac.za/ AfriClassical.com was pleased to exchange links with the Dictionary of African Composers in the past, but has removed the link because the website has been inaccessible for several months. The Internet address now leads to to a page with only the words "Index of/". An inquiry to the responsible party has not resulted in a reply, so we can only hope the content of this valuable online publication will be made available again in the near future.

Dictionary of African Composers
Music Department
University of Pretoria
Michael Mosoeu Moerane
Fatse la heso
South African Composers