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One of four offsprings of Elaine Britton (nee Masekela) and Ramon Britton, Lyle Paul Britton was born in Johannesburg 50 years ago and raised in Mid-Ennerdale. He received his education in Zimbabwe and South Africa in various artistic disciplines.
His quest for knowledge would span outside the bounds of formal learning. The Market Theatre was where he sprouted as a dramaturge and cultural aficionado, which gave him access to talented writers, actors and playwrights who gave rise to his deep love for storytelling.
He would be heard mourning his beloved country when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. He had the depth of insight, as well as foresight for the needs of a then newly freed South Africa.
He would quote Zakes Mda, Ben Okri, Frantz Fanon, K Sello Duiker and others to fiercely illustrate his vocal critique, which would at times leave him ostracised.
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His wondrous mind endeared him to some, but his generous, loving spirit is what most will remember. With an undeniable love for the community, he found ease in connecting with people from all walks of life.
He would often return from his adventures to detail the lives of the indigenous people he met, their music, the land and, most of all, their way of life.
From arts and culture to horticulture, Lyle’s gifts knew no bounds. Brought up with the depth of indigenous knowledge from his great-grandmother, Johanna Bowers (nee Mabena Mahlangu), he was taught to listen to whispers from a world beyond the physical.
He loved his siblings but adored his nieces and nephews more, drawing any of them to his elaborate storytelling – often identifying those he would tutor by name. He missed no opportunity to showcase his talents as a 'street professor'.
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Many will remember how he encouraged them to read more. Some will speak about how he pushed them to excel in school, so much so that they have qualifications they didn’t initially believe they could attain. He would even hone the craft of writers, who today are editors, scriptwriters or authors.
Though his guides may have already welcomed him to his ancestral home when he passed away on June 9, Lyle is survived by his mother, three siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and all those he adopted as family.
