OPERATION HLASELA AUGMENTS WRITER'S WORK!

By Flaxman Qoopane

Operation Hlasela donated R35 000 to Setshaba Marumo who published his motivational book- Be the best that you can.

Speaking at the launch of his book at the windmill casino and entertainment centre in Bloemfontein, said: “I would like to thank Ace Magashule the Premier of the Free State and the Operation Hlasela for donating R35 000 to me to publish my print book. Each person should be the best that you can be,”

Rosaline Raseboya Sebolao, a motivational speaker and author of Living a life that is pleasing to God, said; “When Marumo asked me to mentor him, I agreed. I saw so much potential in him. Be blessed as you enjoy his first book that he launched today,”

Fezile Wetes, HR consultant of SEDA said, “I have known Marumo for many years. I have seen him becoming what he is, and this is the most wonderful time for him to be alive. It takes a nation a lot of time to produce a hero. His passion for reading and writing enabled him to launch his first book,”

Captain Mosela Tshangela from Parkroad Police Station in Bloemfontein said; “On 20 August 2010, D.J Shaxe Khumalo from Motheo FM talked about Setsha’s book. I was inspired and I bought a copy and I wish everybody can have his or her copy,”

Aubrey Nappie [41] Human Resources Manager at the Windmill Casino and Entertainment Centre said; “The Corporate Social Investment arm of the windmill casino did a media release about the launch of the book. During the book launch we provided the venue catering to the event, and we bought several copies of the book.”

TEBOHO MASAKALA'S NOVEL

TEBOHO MASAKALA’s NOVEL

Book: Through it all
Author: Teboho Masakala
Publisher: Tam Books (Selosesha, Thaba Nchu)
ISBN: 978-0-620-49987-3

He is only 23 but Teboho Masakala is already the author of two books. Last year he published a book of short stories, and this week his first novel (actually technically a novella) came out, titled THROUGH IT ALL.

Masakala is now fulfilling the promise and potential the literary pundits saw in him a few years ago. The young man is very proud of his roots from Thaba ‘Nchu and in his own way he is putting the town on the map.

“I am what I am because of Thaba Nchu,” he told Free State News this week. “I am so pleased and proud that my first novel is out! I have always loved writing fiction. I now know that it is not something that anyone, not even all writers, can just do. It requires talent, discipline, imagination. A writer must have moral compass”

Teboho’s debut novel, Through it all focuses on a certain young woman and her vicissitudes. The protagonist is Monica Classen who is dragged through the mill! After the death of her parents, she is unfortunately raped by her own uncle, an exceedingly harrowing experience for her.

She decides to flee Thaba Nchu and start a new life in Bloemfontein, but her ordeal is not over; not by a long shot. More painful episodes await her till in the end, like a deus ex machina all is well with her, and her sorrows are behind her. Read this moving work and bask!

Excerpt from the book (exemplifying the sad metamorphosis of Monica): “Monica (who had been) fragile, kind-hearted, was now this weak, controlled drugs loving, money hungry Monica…the city of Bloemfontein had swallowed her and was not prepared to throw her up anytime soon as there was no way out…”

Get a copy!

- O Bolaji

APPRECIATING "HOLD BACK YOUR TEARS"

Book: Hold back your tears
Author: Raselebeli Khotseng
Publisher: Eselby Jnr Publications
Reviewer: Rebaone Motsalane

Hailed as one of the best poetry books released in 2010, “Magic” Khotseng has received rave reviews so far.

With that under his belt, I was determined to take a different approach and be as “objective” as possible as I felt that maybe the reviews were too good to be true. A few pages later, my “objective opinion” crumbled, and I joined the praise-singing band!

This book is long overdue and indeed one of the best of the best released in 2010. However his raw emotions and telling poetry like it is really made me question his experiences in life. He writes very well about the sufferings of this world and there is no way one can remain the same after reading these poems.

He points out so many injustices in this world; apartheid, poverty and general sufferings. Every poem that I read made me question my contribution in this world. Am I making a positive change in the lives of others? When he writes about the sufferings of the street kids, one can hope and pray that there is immediate change.

I was glad when I could finally get a very positive poem about one of the apartheid stalwarts and celebrated political icons in the (Free State) province, Mme Winkie Direko. I only wish she could get a copy of this book and realise the positive change she has made in the lives of many. I truly love this poem.

The book is for anyone who enjoys poetry and for those who will be able to hold back their tears as they read about the true suffering that others have endured in their lives. Count your blessings and give thanks to the Lord!
- Originally published in Mangaung Issue

THE POETRY OF PULE LECHESA

Book: The Legacy we leave behind (poetry)
Author: Pule Lechesa
Publisher: Phoenix Press, Ladybrand, and Lesotho (2004)
(Republished, 2006 and 2010)



Pule Lechesa (left) and O Bolaji


Pule Lechesa, born and bred in Ladybrand, has been described as “the mighty bard from the dorp”. He started reciting his poems publicly at rallies, social gatherings and functions from the tender age of 17. He worked as a volunteer court interpreter at the Ladybrand District Magistrates’ Court. He is also a motivational speaker who holds sway at schools, prisons, Colleges et al.

Interestingly the book, The legacy we leave behind, is dedicated to a very young five year old boy “who was knocked down by a speeding lorry and died on the spot. However on the same day his mother gave birth to a wonderful baby named Relebohile; i e ‘we are so grateful to God’!”

The poet’s elevated language is at his best whilst delineating the life of the lost young one:

“Descending like a tantalising dark-cloud...
Hovering and floating on high o’er vales and mountains
Carrying heralds of hope to revive our dessicated fountains...”

(Page 7)

The empathy of the poet is convincing enough; especially in a poem like “Divorcee’s Elegy” which also contains rhythmical rhymes to boot:

“Her memory gone dead; utterly dead
The scar consequent upon the truncheon on her forehead
The taste-buds of an erstwhile love life tickled
The appetite of the other matrimony tarnished
‘Men are cut from the same odious cloth’ soliloquised her...”

(Page 13)

It is clear enough that in this his maiden collection of poetry, Pule Lechesa has been very much influenced by the western tradition of writing, with echoes of old-fashioned English heritage surrounding his poetry. Lechesa hence reminds us of great Black African poets like Christopher Okigbo and Lenrie Peters who were heavily influenced by western literature.

The poems in this work are:

Artisan of joy is no more
The milk skins
Mine God giveth life
I am free to be me
Divorcee’s elegy
Mending the broken pot
Everything is against my will
The lady in purple
African renaissance
Thoughts on life
Losing a friend
The legacy we leave behind
Peace
What is in a name?
Alone all alone
Who am I?
Fare thee well
No more is our milk kine
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pule Lechesa’s debut collection of poems is very promising.

*Courtesy of the Eclectic Writers’ Club. Originally published in 2004

OMOSEYE BOLAJI

A new book by Hector Kunene (2010)
The latest and most comprehensive study on writer Omoseye Bolaji!
Pages: 117
Published by New Voices (Cape Town)

This book description is taken from Open Library:

“This is the latest, and most comprehensive study, of Omoseye Bolaji, the black African writer. The author (or editor) Hector Kunene, furnishes us with an excellent Introduction, and ends this work with a superb, cosmopolitan interview with Bolaji himself. This work contains almost 30 articles, essays, write-ups, critiques etc on various aspects of Omoseye Bolaji's literary works. A must read for anybody interested in African writing.”

Poem by Hector Kunene dedicated to Omoseye Bolaji

I shall not praise you!
For effortlessly taking your own time
Why should you be thanked for your own free will working for your own black skin?
For your own toils that led to your own achievements and your own blood that you sweated for your own glory
The very mystery still persists for explanation as to why you wrote your well known pieces yet nothing much is known about you
I shall not praise you!
Who cares about your ability to transfer thoughts into paper?
When anybody can speak their minds even if they are improper?
This world is but a stage for expressions
Where individuals walk as they please to satisfy their feet for journeys
I shall not praise you!
I shall not take off my hat for you
I shall neither salute thee nor permit thee to be saluted for honour!
For honour is meant for giants who step into the ring and be felt of their being!
Those who march and sweat blood whilst we sting them with their bees
They flee and get rewarded with fruitful crowns that end up rusting of their fingerprints!
I shall not praise thee! ...
(from page 23 of the book, OMOSEYE BOLAJI, by Hector Kunene)

TEBOHO MASAKALA'S FIRST BOOK

By F Qoopane

Free State writer and dramatist Teboho Andries Masakala’s short-story collection Mind, Pen, Paper and Ideas has been published.

Teboho Masakala said: “The book consists of six short stories. It is about friendship, love, betrayal, tragedy and a lesson in life. It teaches people to be aware of some aspects in life including betrayal by some friends and life in general.”

According to Masakala, a short story to him is a way to express his mind and his feelings. “When I put my ideas on a paper, I connect my characters with my readers through the short stories I have written. My readers experience the way I feel through my writing”

When Teboho joined the Goronyane High School in Thaba Nchu, Free State, in South Africa in 2003, he read a number of books including Harry Potter and the chamber of the Secret, Prisoner of Azban and all other series of the Harry Potter books. He was also influenced by the writings of Bessie Head (Maru) and of Chinua Achebe; namely books like No longer at ease and The Voter.

Masakala recalls: “When I was 14 years old, I wrote my first short story titled: Aaliyah Through Her Eyes and Tears. It is about Aaliyah’s sufferings after the death of her parents. My English teacher, and also a debate teacher Ratshui Kgotso from Goronyane High School liked my work especially the way I unfolded my characters through tears and tragedy in the short-story”

He attended Selosesha Primary School in Thaba Nchu. “I was introduced to reading English books by my teacher and Principal, Kelopile Moletsane. We read illustrated short story books including Maggie the Magic Snake. And when I was 12 years old I enjoyed reading Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare” he adds.

In 2007, while visiting the Selosesha Public library in Thaba Nchu he read some books written by Omoseyi Bolaji. “In 2008, when I was at the Bloemfontein Public Library I noticed Mr
e Bolaji and I introduced myself to him as an up-and-coming writer. He took me to his Office at the Free State News where he introduced me to Free State Black Literature and he also encouraged me to send some of my short stories to his newspaper – which he published”

THABA NCHU LITERATURE FORGES AHEAD

By Teboho Masakala

Over the years Thaba Nchu has not been regarded as a place of pulsating literature because there are few, or maybe limited writers to emerge out of it. Places like Bloemfontein have always been given preference over Thaba Nchu as it has many writers.

However, Thaba Nchu has writers that are still yet to be discovered, as there are a lot of poets in Thaba Nchu that can help change the face of literature in our place, with fine authors, and also a poet known as Richard “Skietreker” Seape having published a book called “AFRIKAANS EK GAAN JOU BOKS”. The gentleman who is also a literary activist has given Thaba Nchu writers some foundation to exhibit their work.

On a personal note, with my up-coming collection of short stories to be entitled “MIND, PEN, PAPER AND IDEAS” I also hope to revive the talent of literature that is still hidden in THABA NCHU- interested people can read my short story on wwww.google.com and search for Teboho Masakala.

One of the problems we have in Thaba Nchu is the lack of publishers. If there can at least be one or two publishers to publish our work that would have given us as the writers of Thaba Nchu some platform to start somewhere; and another problem is that publishers are very expensive and it costs a lot of money to publish a single book and that scares and de-motivates our aspiring authors

In the meantime we as writers in Thaba Nchu are very very scarce, only few grassroots people like books and read them, you will find few people reading novels while others are reading academic books just only to pass and after that they throw them away. I have taken it up on myself as a young author to make sure that Thaba Nchu is one of the places to be considered when coming to literature and to see to it that we have more writers and poets to be proud of.

Well known and internationally acclaimed writer Ntate Bolaji is one of the established and well known authors who have always encouraged writers to excel and to love writing. Thaba Nchu needs to be a reading place; we need to start our own book clubs to showcase our talent to the rest of Mangaung and Free State as a whole. We have very good poets; one of them is Doraldo poet who is well known as Abel.

I think that it is time Thaba Nchu authors got out of hiding and joined me to make sure that we make our place a well known place when coming to literature with its Authors known - another problem is our authors might not have pride in their place, many are even shy to say that they come from Thaba Nchu!

Thus far I have only released two short stories with a Bloemfontein local newspaper called Free State news and the literary world was happy about me and that made me feel proud about Thaba Nchu, my place where I garnered my writing foundation, I am not even shy to say that I come from this place, I love literature and hope to be a great author like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, O Bolaji, Zakes Mda etc

It is time we got together to make sure that there is a rise in Thaba Nchu literature, aluta continua, the struggle to make Thaba Nchu literature a success continues…
Email me for your comment on www.tebohomasakala@yahoo.com

Teboho Masakala is a very young man who loves literature and avows that he wants to change the face of literature in Thaba Nchu His short stories can be read on the internet