Daniel Johannes Hugo was born on 26 February 1955 in Stellenbosch.
He attended school in Windhoek and studied Afrikaans and Nederlands at Stellenbosch University (BA Hons), where he took part in D. J. Opperman's Letterkundige Laboratorium.After a year teaching school in Windhoek (1979), he obtained a MA at the University of Pretoria with a thesis on the poetry of D. J. Opperman. The following eight years he lectured Afrikaans and Dutch Literature at the University of the Orange Free State, interrupted, in 1983, by studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. In 1988, he accepted a position at SAUK Radio in Cape Town - Radiosondergrense - as editor of literature programs, among them Vers en klank and Leeskring. He also makes features on Afrikaans writers.
1989: D Litt with a thesis on vernufpoësie in Afrikaans

Daniel also works as a translator of English and Dutch texts. He is the convenor of the Ingrid Jonker Prize fund.
He is married to Carina Diedericks-Hugo and has a son from his first marriage.

Tranlations:
(Herman de Coninck), Liefde, miskien, Tafelberg, 1996
(Harry Mulisch), Die Aanslag, Tafelberg, 1999
(Herman van Veen), Verhale, Tafelberg, 2000
(Karel Glastra van Loon), Passievrug, Tafelberg, 2002
(Pat Posner) Griekse gode en godinne uit die Mitologie, 2004

Compilations of poetry collections:
Miskien sal ek die wingerd prys (with Etienne van Heerden), Tafelberg, 1989
Lyflied (Songs by Hennie Aucamp), Tafelberg, 1999
P J Philander - 'n keur uit sy gedigte, Tafelberg

Lees nuwe verse van Daniel op LitNet