FURTHER GLIMPSES INTO AFRICAN LITERATURE

NEW BOOK (2018)

This stunning photo says it all!

FLAXMAN QOOPANE IS DEAD

Celebrated Free State and South African writer, Flaxman Qoopane is dead. The late Qoopane was a poet, essayist, biographer, columnist, journalist, humorist, actor, critic, and general literary activist. He was also the founder and Curator of the acclaimed Qoopane Literary Gallery. The tributes and plaudits continue to flood in...

FATHER OF LETTERS Flaxman Qoopane

FREE STATE WRITERS IN TANDEM

How Free State Black Writing has evolved over the years, with so many prominent protagonists now! Photo here shows (from left) Pa Kgang Abel Motheane, Teboho Masakala, NthabisengJahRose Jafta, Hector Kunene, and ‘father of letters’ Flaxman Qoopane.

GRAHAMSTOWN ART FESTIVAL 2017

Once again, this year, the go-ahead FS outfit Charmza Literary Club was in its element, taking four books to Grahamstown to be launched and introduced to visitors and creative's visiting the festival. The four books taken to the festival are published by Charmza Literary Club; and titles are as follows: 1 Letters to baby Moroka by Charmaine Mrwebi 2 Setswana love letter by Kagisho Kolwane. 3 Ndizimele by Siphe Zenani 4.Grahamstown and Free State Poetry Exchange contributed by Free State and Grahamstown Poets. All the books were further highlighted, introduced, and launched at National English Literature Museum, igniting a fecund literary partnership between the world famous museum and Charmza Literary club which has been going on for the past 4 years Mme Charmaine (top) said: “We were excited to attend the festival where a medley of great writers were in their stride. We were inspired by many of them, including Lesego Rampolokeng, who inspired us…and we were happy to liaise and network with national authors,”

DEEPEST SPRINGS. By N.M.M Duman

This work has been lauded by the literary pundits and critics.

'I SAW JAHROSE!' By O Bolaji

Yes, I was so sure that I saw JahRose...in Nigeria!! During Easter. There I was at a popular park and I saw two ladies... Jahrose together with her companion, a wiry, dark lady seemingly always smiling. I shouted: "Jahrose! Dumela Mme...what are you doing in Nigeria? What a surprise..." But I was the one to be surprised, when she retorted: "Who is Jahrose? What language is that?" "Surely," I said, "you are Jahrose... I know you! South African poet! Author of books like Rooted from the heart," Jahrose? Yes, this lady was voluptuous and lovely like her...this was Jahrose... I had known her for years... Jahrose now in Nigeria? Hostility was etched on her face, though her companion was friendly, coming closer to me, smiling, playing with my arms. "I am NOT Jahrose," her pal said. Then she added: "Iru wahala wo leyi! Se baba yi ya were ni?" (i.e, "What trouble is this? Is this man crazy?" I said to her: "Why, you can speak Yoruba now Jahrose!!!"...her friend, laughing, said in friendly fashion: "Sir, you have such lovely hands for an old man..." I flinched, as my mind went back to years ago in SA when one of my young female journalists (Gloria - now deceased) used to say something like this. But my focus was on Jahrose now. Why was she claiming not to know me.

"Jahrose..." I started..."I told you I am not Jahrose sir!" She shouted. "I am a Nigerian, I have never been to South Africa, I have never written even one poem in my life..." Her friend giggled "it means you must look very much like this Jahrose... Daddy here (nna) must be a bit confused. Anyway sir," she looked coy, "do you mind giving me some money to buy some credit (ie airtime)?" I gave her some money and she darted away. I was confused...perhaps this was not Jahrose? Was I so crazy? Meanwhile I saw "Jahrose" checking something on her phone on Google, and I quickly told her to check Jahrose Jafta there which thankfully she did..."Look at her photos on images..." I added. She did so, and I was relieved when she laughed, saying: "I see now that this Jahrose does look like me...but it's 'cos you are a man sir...a woman will see differences easily between me and JahRose...men are blind, sir..." "What differences?" I said. "Well, this Jahrose is lighter in complexion, and more beautiful than me..." She said...then her wiry friend came back, laughing; thanking me. "Apparently your friend just looks a lot like Jahrose," I said, embarrassed. I must admit that I felt more free and at ease with "Jahrose's" friend who now lightly hugged me and said, almost whispering: "Well, it's been nice meeting you sir... I am not insulting you, but maybe you should consider moving into an Old Age home..." Suke!!!

GEORGE RAMPAI (Novelist, Short-story writer, Critic)

TLHABANE YA MAKGOWA. By Tiisetso M Thiba

A riveting Setswana novel

CHARMAINE KOLWANE OVERVIEW

Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi, Author, Publisher, Critic, Poet, Puppeteer, Storyteller, Festival Director, and Literary Activist has been going from strength to strength. Her own published books include Channelling thoughts onto Paper, Poetry Commando, Batswana go bewa setsetsi, Father of Letters, and Omoseye Bolaji's Tebogo Mokoena. We salute her as the year peters to an end.

PULE LECHESA DELIVERS STUNNING ADDRESS AT MRS SCHIMPER'S FAREWELL

A very short excerpt from the speech: '...And there are other physically tantalising books published by Mbali Press and available in most of our libraries; for example, books by Teboho Letshaba, and chief Bolaji, and the general one, Interviews with effervescent writers… Truly the literary evolution continues on our shores, and we have to thank Mme Schimper's deep-seated vision for this. Actually this occasion should prod us to ponder: what type of person am I? What good have I done to society, or the world at large? Am I leaving any legacy in this world? By any disparate criteria, Mrs. Schimper scores high resoundingly. And her vision and achievements will continue to be appreciated in the over-arching literary fraternity...'

REVIEW: 2016

Further progress continued to be made this year (2016) as Free State Black Writing refused to take a step backwards. Aside from the usual frenetic performances of poetry all over the country (and internationally) a significant number of new books came out. Charmaine Kolwane Mrwebi has pushed literature, and authors to the frontline, and her publishing firm continues to discover and publish new names and titles.

Charmaine herself published some important personal books this year, including the cardinal, Father of Letters, where many key writers pay tribute to the veteran wordsmith, Flaxman Qoopane. Also in the offing was a study book on Tebogo Mokoena, (the detective created by Chief O Bolaji) - edited by Charmaine. Talk of two very vibrant FS poets, and many would mention Hector Kunene and JahRose Jafta. This year the two of them teamed up to produce an excellent book of poems, titled My Muse.

Theatrical productions of the theme of this work also took place, with both authors featuring as thespians. Meanwhile, the highly talented poet and novelist, Matshidiso Taleng produced a novel titled, Unfolding the documentary. Reception of the work has generally been positive, but more important is the fact that Taleng now takes her place among the relatively very few younger African black female novelists.

The "patron-saint" of FS literary criticism, Pule Lechesa, released another superb work titled A Penny for Lechesa's Thoughts, a work which consolidates his already solid reputation in the world of letters. And another prominent critic, I. M Soqaga (below) this year weighed in with his usual string of quality essays on literature, whilst also putting together the first full-length literary study (book) on writer Kgang Abel Motheane.

MACUFE WORDFEST

Macufe Wordfest 2016 brought together a medley of aficionados and stakeholders in the literary and publishing world. Participants discussed how to add vibrancy and buoyancy to the world of books and reads. One of the key speakers was controversial and competent publisher and critic, Pule Lechesa, who wowed the audience with a thoughtful, eclectic delivery on how dedicated commercial publishers could oil the wheels of literacy and literature in Africa. Pix above shows Lechesa with legendary female Sesotho writer, Suzan Sefatsa

FELA HONOURED IN SOUTH AFRICA

A newly published book, Fela: this bitch of a life - focusing on the late iconic musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti – is currently making waves in South Africa. The book (a re-print of an old classic on Fela) has just been launched in Mangaung, Free State with many speakers and literary activists lauding the life and times of Fela, latterly internationally celebrated afro-beat megastar. The new publication is the brainchild of the go-ahead publisher, Rose Francis who is of Pan-Africanist persuasion. The beautifully printed book continues to garner lots of praise from stakeholders, and the community at large.

Bolaji's IMPOSSIBLE LOVE (New edition)

Published by Mbali Press (2016)

LET'S TAKE A WALK, MAMA. By Tiisetso Thiba

NEW BOOK: Unfolding the Documentary

CRITIC LECHESA SALUTES AUTHOR SIPHIWO MAHALA

SELEKE BOTSIME MEDIA MONTAGE