This paper explores South African modernism within the broader framework of global modernity, focusing on how it responds to and critiques the crises of consciousness and identity that have characterized the modern era. The term "fugitive modernities" is used to describe the ways in which South African modernist literature and philosophy resist and subvert the dominant narratives of modernity, particularly those imposed by colonial and apartheid regimes. By examining the works of key South African modernist writers and thinkers, this paper argues that South African modernism offers a unique and critical perspective on the global crises of modernity, one that is deeply informed by the specific historical and cultural context of South Africa. The Global Crisis of Modernity: A Philosophical Framework Modernity, as experienced globally, has often been framed as a crisis of consciousness, where rapid technological changes, political upheavals, and the erosion of traditional identities have led to widespread feelings of alienation and dislocation. In South Africa, this crisis was intensified by the brutal realities of colonialism and apartheid, which sought to impose a rigid racial hierarchy and suppress indigenous cultures. South African modernism, therefore, emerged as a response to these oppressive conditions, offering new forms of expression that could capture the complexities of life in a divided society. Philosophically, South African modernism draws from both indigenous African thought and global intellectual movements such as existentialism and phenomenology. Indigenous concepts like Ubuntu, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of all people, provide a counter-narrative to the individualism often associated with Western modernity. This communal philosophy is evident in the works of writers like Es’kia Mphahlele, who incorporated it into his critique of the alienation and fragmentation wrought by colonialism and apartheid. Simultaneously, the influence of existentialism and phenomenology is seen in the focus on subjective experience and the search for meaning in a world characterized by absurdity and moral ambiguity. These philosophical currents provided South African modernists with tools to explore the inner lives of individuals caught in the harsh realities of a racially divided society, thereby offering a critique of both the colonial state and the broader crises of modernity. Literary Responses to Crisis: South African Modernism in Practice South African modernist literature is characterized by its engagement with the themes of resistance, identity, and survival in a context of systemic oppression. This literature can be understood as "fugitive" in that it often seeks to escape or undermine the dominant narratives of modernity, creating spaces for alternative voices and perspectives.