BOLAJI'S 30th BOOK!

By Khahliso Khama


Omoseye Bolaji, the Free State based author of international repute,
has published his latest book, titled Miscellaneous Writings.

Miscellaneous Writings (2011) is his latest book, the 30th of the
author. Already the book is making a hit nationally and beyond. Bolaji
told Mangaung Issue: “Actually I did not know it was my 30th book,
until the literary pundits pointed this out. It does not really matter
anyway. I have always maintained that quality is more important than
quantity. There’s no point churning out loads of drivel,”

Bolaji, who started writing creatively as a youngster, explained
further: “The classical example is of course Emily Bronte who
published only one novel, one book – Wuthering Heights which is an all
time classic. I suppose Africa’s Tsitsi Dangarembga has made her mark
too with her Nervous Conditions. It is more important for one’s books
to be recognized and respected among experts, and generally,”

Bolaji certainly has no problem in this wise. Most of his books,
particular the fiction, are celebrated worldwide, with countless
essays, critiques in different languages dissecting his literary work.
His literary creation, detective Tebogo Mokoena is globally famous.
Additionally, many books have been published appreciating Omoseye
Bolaji the writer himself.

His latest book, Miscellaneous Writings, as the name implies, contains
a selection of many of his diverse writings for international
magazines and journals. The topics dealt with in the new work range
from African and international literature, to sports and music.

Pule Lechesa, the well known literary critic, who wrote the
introduction to Bolaji’s latest book, told Mangaung Issue: “Omoseye
remains a key figure in the quintessential world of letters, and
inspirational creativity. He not only continues to galvanize
literature in general, but maintains his impressive fecundity,”
* Reproduced by kind permission of Mangaung Issue. First published on July 13 2011

MATHENE MAHANKE'S MAJOR WORK

"SESOTHO NOVEL DEDICATED TO TEACHERS"

By Flaxman Qoopane


Mathene Mahanke, former lecturer at the university has published his first Sesotho novel, Tutudu Ha E Patwe (You can’t bring a good man down) that pays tribute to the real teacher.

Mahanke explained: “NKAHEMA Publishing & Consulting cc in Bloemfontein: recently published my novel in Sesotho. I am excited about giving birth to my first novel, I am motivated to work hard and publish another book in future. The novel is about a teacher who does everything right, to transform a dysfunctional school. He is trying to bring change at the school, there is a resistance mainly from other teachers, and they influence the community against him.

“He is even trapped by the use of a young woman (girl) as to make him guilty of statutory rape. He sees through the trap and beat them. He ultimately succeeds to have everybody behind him”.

According to Mathene, he published a novel that portrays a teacher in a dignified light, in the hope of restoring dignity to the profession.

In 1994, Mathene published a book of short stories in Sesotho titled MOTSOTUWA (something exceptionally beautiful), that won the Thomas Mofolo Literary Prize.

Asked why Mahanke writes in Sesotho, he said: “My mother tongue is my comfort zone, because I don’t struggle to find expressions, as result what I want to write does not become a struggle, it comes naturally."

According to the novelist: “Language and culture are inseparable, you have a ready-made pool from which draw. Our life experiences they relate with our languages, so it is very easy to explain or define a situation in your own language than using another language. On daily basis, you update and accumulate your vocabulary that is dictated in which language you are expressing yourself”.

Mahanke was a lecturer in Sesotho language and literature at the University of the North, (now Limpopo), Qwa-Qwa Campus in 1982-1997. He was a proofreader for various publishing houses between 1982-1999. In 2005, he was appointed member of collaboration team (Sesotho) for Science Terminology by the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) (national). In 2006, he served as the curator of Sesotho Literary Museum. In 2008 Mahanke was appointed Deputy Director & Head of the Language Service in the Free State province. He is a member and advisor’s of Moaba Sesotho Writer’s Association in the country

STUDY (BOOK) ON FLAXMAN QOOPANE

Excitement is mounting among the literary fraternity in the Free State, as award winning author, Hector Kunene puts finishing touches to his next (third) book.

The new book is a study of Flaxman Qoopane, the flamboyant Free State based writer,
poet, journalist, actor, painter, essayist and journalist. It will be recalled that last year (2010), Mr. Kunene published an acclaimed study on the writer Omosey Bolaji.

Kunene said: “I am very excited about the new book. Mr. Jacob Moalusi ‘Flaxman’ Qoopane is an icon in many ways; we look up to him. Apart from his colourful character and career, he is also the founder of the celebrated QOOPANE LITERARY GALLERY. A wonderful gallery indeed!”

Kunene also disclosed that the new study on Flaxman Qoopane will not be a repetition of any of the author’s many biographical works. “This is more of a literary work, focusing on studies, critiques, quality reviews of the man’s life and work. Some of his most powerful articles, and literary speeches, will now be in book form,”

The main Introduction to the book is written by Mr. Bolaji, and Kunene says: “Nobody knows Mr Qoopane more than malume Bolaji. They have been in the literary and journalistic trenches together for a long time. Both their lives revolve around the written word. I can tell you that the Introduction is awesome!”

The new book will also have other inputs, like a revealing interview with Flaxman Qoopane. Smiling, Hector says: “Of course I have been doing a lot of research for this book. Talking to Mr Qoopane is being regaled by an icon, with his great experience and knowledge, a man very much immersed in the world of books”

Watch this space…

RAISING LITERARY STANDARDS

By Kgosietsile Dintlhoane

Black Literature in Free State Province

…Don’t hurry to get published, Kgosietsile Dintlhoane, warns

First of all I would like to mention that I have no particular author
in mind, I am writing these notes to share with my fellow writers some
of the things I think they should know before they can even think of
publishing their work. I have read a lot on African and international
literature, be it novels, poetry, plays, essays, literary criticism,
biographies, auto-biographies and any other genre which I may not have
mentioned here.

I have enjoyed especially poetry, essays, biographies and
auto-biographies of various authors both home and abroad. Early in my
writings I was lucky enough to have met with Ntate Flaxman Qoopane who
read my work, probably my earliest work at the time and advised me not
to hurry in publishing my work. I value the advice a lot even today as
I can see today that it could have been a great regret had I published
what I wrote then.

Dear friends, maybe I should talk a bit more on why I value the advice
I got from Ntate Qoopane. Well the story begins in my high school
years where we were fed Euro-American literature from when we first
entered high school and in my case until I completed standard nine. In
Standard 10 we read Bessie Head’s “Maru” and before this I believed
that writers in the English language were white as we never read a
colored author before let alone black. To stretch the story even
further, I would like to mention that at home my father being a
teacher never really bothered with the type of books we were reading. The only thing he was interested in was a report to check the results.

Another thing that I would like to pose as a question, a question I
began asking myself after reading Ngugi wa Thion’go was who decides
what is to be read in the English curriculum by black kids in township
schools? Is it the HOD or the principal or the inspector or a body
elected to deal with such matters? Again, whoever decides
basis his/her decision on what, on what grounds is he/she allowed to
prescribe books written by whites (it does not matter whether is
Foreign or South African whites) in township schools; whereas there was
never a situation where you would find even in white public schools
books written by blacks or coloreds for that matter.

I have always had conversations with both Ntate Qoopane and Ntate
Bolaji about the material produced by our black authors in our
province. To summarize here, ideally a good book must be physically attractive, the content must show sterling reading and writing patterns; real writers are readers and
are supposed to write regularly; and also – perhaps the most important - is to write about what you know. I have read most of the books written in our province since 1996 and cannot say I
was moved by more than ten percent of them.

One grievous mistake that people make when deciding to become authors
is the illusion that they will make money out of writing. Let me be
the first to tell you, that is just being naïve. Great authors died
paupers simply because no matter how good authors they were, people
don’t buy books in numbers let alone poorly written books. The only
time when you can make some money out of writing would be when your
book gets prescribed for schools and universities. I can say in confidence that only about less
than ten black authors in Free State currently stand a chance of that
happening to them.

I would like to nip my note down to the art of writing poetry, I am
not an expert and do not claim to be one, it is just that I have read
a lot in this genre and learned a thing or two. First let me express
my dissatisfaction with what slam poetry has caused. We have today
probably 80% of plastic poets in Free State Province calling
themselves poets because they sat down and wrote something about
themselves and called it poetry.

I ask myself all the time why do people in my province hurry to
publish, and came to a conclusion that it could have everything to do
with wanting fame or thinking that they will make money out of their
writings. It saddens me a great deal to hear people talk in the street
that Free State poets are “playing” as compared to KZN, Jozi or Western
Cape poets. I think we should focus as a province on creating a group
of professional editors or maybe just two professional editors to edit
our work before we consider putting it out there on the shelves. I can
understand what these spoken word sessions try to achieve and do not
disagree with the intention; just the content of what is blurted out to
the public.

I am a concerned aspiring Free State Poet and I challenge all aspiring
writers and poets of my province to rise above what some think of us
by other writers in other provinces and begin to realize how important
it is to take time to sharpen the skill as well as share with
professionals one’s draft manuscript for perusal and advice so that
by the time one considers to publish, the material is worth
publishing.

I hope my note will be read in a positive light, those with BIG egos
will probably want to criticize me, or label me arrogant, bastard or
whatever fancy name they will think of; well you are more than welcome
to and those with open minds I am available to help.

With all the love in my heart

* Mr. Kgosietsile Dintlhoane, a poet and literary essayist, formerly wrote a column titled “The Bibliophile” for Free State News.

MEET SHEILA KHALA

By Seleke Botsime

Her name is Sheila Nomalanga Khala, and she is from our neighbouring country Lesotho. Just twenty years old; her journey as a budding wordsmith started in 2006 in Maseru when she had the opportunity to be part of the “poetry farm”.

That was in 2007 - 2009. She told Free State News: “The atmosphere is more conducive now that I have moved to Bloemfontein. I used to study Statistics at the University of Lesotho and now I am currently studying Sociology preparing to pursue my Drama and Theatre Studies.” Now, this is a woman with a vision, and she makes a point that nothing should stand in her way!

Her first book is titled “Formula: leading life to perfection”. She said: “I wrote the book in memory of my father who passed on last year. For me, it is more like a therapy to be able to take out my frustration,” She is already looking forward to her second book that will be released sometime in 2011.

Meanwhile she’s already been heralded as a young promising African poet of note, with key literary figures like O Bolaji praising her work and potential. (Check the internet further to see other articles on Sheila)

She also said that the tentative name of her second book will be “My pen is a socialite”. When Free State news asked her what it is that keeps her going, she simply said: “It’s having focus and believing in God.” Sheila is young and vibrant with an attractive disposition. Her vibrancy is at its best when she shares her artistic world, speaking about her fears, dreams, hopes and future plans.

Free State news wishes this highly talented young poet a success in her career, especially after realising that she is indeed a mover and shaker of our times. She is also a musician, motivational speaker and a journo!

Those who have seen her in dramatic action at the Pacofs poetry sessions attest to her vibrancy!

* This article was originally published in Free State News in 2010

PROUD OF HIS COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES

Proud of his collection of short stories

By Flaxman Qoopane

Vic Walker, a Master’s Degree in Drama and Theatre student at the University of the Free State (U.F.S), has published his first book of short stories – Little Wheels of Happiness.

Walker, a white writer, told Free State News: “Little Wheels of Happiness has the following short stories – The Wheel, Horse Power, Samson in the Free State, The Great Trek, Aardvark Jackals, Why can’t Calves As Well, Dear Mother-In-Law, The Cape is Too far”

Vic did his first year in B.A degree in drama and theatre arts at U.F.S in 1992. And he resumed his studies in 2006 and finished his degree at the age of 50, in 2007.

“In 1992, there was no lotto, which meant that there were no loans or bursaries to study in the arts at the University. I could only resume my studies in 2006, after I sold my stand (piece of land for R100 000) in Rosendal in the Free State and I went back to U.F.S to study,”

At the age of 13, Walker was invited to read a theatrical work at the Bethlehem Amateur Theatre in the Free State. “That thing lingered. I went to Durban. I became a beach-bum (a beggar). And I was a swimmer, my love was swimming,”

According to Vic, in 1992 his mother gave him R3000 to go and study at the University. “I was jobless, living with my mother, and I came to UFS to study. I could not buy books at the University. So I worked at the Fonteina Hotel in Bloemfontein. I had a place to stay and I got food. I was a bouncer for six months at the hotel,”

Alas, the hotel was to change hands. “The hotel was sold. I was on the street. I went to the Head of Drama at the University to study on debt. After I told him that I was living in the veld, he accommodated me in the theatre and I was comfortable,”

“Art is my only umbrella,” he emphasised to Free State News. “I have been living with art all my life. I was doing paintings, selling them from door to door. I’m in the said league as a preacher. I am a professional beggar with my paintings,”

THE LOVE OF WRITING

The love of writing

By Mpumelelo Mtjekelo (Mangaung)

Dear Diary

Writing is my second best friend. It is neither a he nor she, it’s not human yet it feels like it is a living thing (organism) that listens whenever I need to talk. Without any fear I share all my stories knowing it will only be known by me and my living organism. This organism is different compared to humans because it doesn’t judge me!

In writing unlike talking there is freedom, it gives me the chance to let it all out. Sometimes I share a story with a human but after telling the story to humans there are times when I’d regret saying what I said and other times I fear that he/she might expose my story. With my organism after sharing my story I am able to heal and trust it, and also the funny part in writing is that sometimes within writing I can find a solution to a problem that I had. If not, it gives me the ability to cry and let it all out.

Dear Diary, there was of course a time I thought “why not share this with the world?” It is not that I trust the world with my information but it also feels great having to hear people reading my stories saying hey, this has twisted my life in a good manner or this (article) is actually talking about me. Writing is a different world; it is relaxing and fun; other times it is an adventure. It is to just let your imagination run wild without anyone stopping you.

It can be done anywhere at any time because sometimes I am inspired by something around me to start writing. On the other side, it is often stated that humans (i.e we black people) don’t like reading and if you are to hide a lot of money or a treasure you should consider a book! It is very rare that one will be able to realize that there is something worthy in the book.

And so I write to you…
Dear Diary

* From her Dear Diary Column