Wednesday, April 18, 2012
GEORGE RAMPAI'S FROM WHERE I STAND
ZONG READING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Book-length readings of the monumental poetic work, Zong!, took place in South Africa earlier this week. Zong was written by the acclaimed Canadian author, NouberSe Philip, and readings from the work were done simultaneously in Canada and South Africa
(Above) - photos from the event!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
EXHILARATING READING FROM 'ZONG' IN SOUTH AFRICA
Excitement is mounting in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as a book-length
reading of celebrated Canadian academic and creative writer, NourbeSe
Philip's work takes place at the City library.
Of especial interest is the fact that this African reading will
take place simultaneously in Africa whilst a similar reading is taking
place in Toronto, Canada with the protagonist and author present.
NourbeSe Philip was born in the Carribean Woodlands, Moriah, Trinidad
and Tobago. She was educated at the University of West Indies. She is a world-acclaimed poet, novelist, playwright, essayist and short story writer.
It is her recent work Zong!(2008) which will be at the epicentre of
global interest on Monday 16 April as a cross-section of the literary
fraternity in South Africa converges at the Bloemfontein City Library
to bask in the reading from her exceedingly powerful extended poem (Zong).
The author, NourbeSe Philip is palpably excited over the reading in
South Africa. She said: "This reading is intended to remember all
those who lost their lives on board the Zong...I will be happy if
people are clad in white to honour Olokun, the Yoruba deity of deep
waters."
The celebrated writer also expressed her wish that the section titled
"Ebora" should also be read at the reading.
Charmaine Mrwebi of the Bloemfontein City Library, a young African
female author and essayist too, said: "We are very excited about this
poetic reading of Mme NourbeSe Phllip's work. She deserves plaudits for remembering
her roots despite being based in an Eurocentric environment. I have read
some passages from the internet on Zong and the work is not only
extra-ordinarily powerful and moving; but one cannot but cry over the
plight of slaves at that time, especially the disgusting and insanitary
conditions of our black female slaves in the horrific ship."
The book-length reading session will commence at 2pm South African time
and will roughly take place at the same time as the event in Toronto
Friday, March 30, 2012
INTERVIEWS WITH EFFERVESCENT WRITERS (Book Review)
The Bookshelf (Column)
With Kgang Abel Motheane
Book: Interviews with effervescent writers
Edited by Christine Mautjana
The Free State has done it again. The literary fraternity has been mightily impressed this week as the Province has a strong presence in a new national, international publication.
The new work is titled Interviews with effervescent writers. The editor is Christine Mautjana, the Mpumalanga based female literary activist and essayist. The book features interviews with writers, black and white, South Africans, and non-South Africans.
Remarkably, quite a number of FS based writers are featured in this new work, including Nmm Duman, Pule Lechesa, Jah Rose, and Hector Kunene.
This is a book that contributes greatly to South African and international literature. The interviews clearly reveal a general powerful love for the written word, with illuminating contributions from the likes of Aryan Kaganof, and award winning Teboho Letshaba.
Literary experts are already comparing this new work to two earlier African classics - African writers talking, and Talking with African writers. Yet this new book is much more up to date, and has literary allusions from all over the world. This columnist congratulates the FS writers who feature in this new, world-class work!
* Reproduced by kind permission of Free State News; March 30 2012 edition
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
MY PEN IS A 'SOCIALITE' (2012) By Sheila Khala
By Dineo Mokgosi
Born in the beautiful mountainous kingdom of Lesotho, 22-year-old Sheila Khala is an adept poet and motivational speaker. She is a buoyant young woman already fulfilling her awesome potential. She has now launched her second book titled: My pen is a ‘socialite’
Khala launched her second book at a glittering function held at the swanky Cappelo in Bloemfontein. In attendance were local poets such as the likes of Hector Kunene, Dr Cool among others. The revelers were serenaded by the sweet melodies of Audrey Mifi, a 23-year-old songstress from Bloemfontein.
Her first book, Formula: “Leading Life to Perfection” was published at the tender age of 19, written as a sort of therapy for her after the death of her father. Her second book means so much more to her as she dedicates it to her late father.
Her proficient abilities have made her one of the youngest poets to perform at the Southern African Development Countries (SADC) Poetry Festival that takes places annually across the SADC region.
She has performed with the likes of Napo Masheane, Kgafela wa Legogodi, Lesego Rampolokeng and Tania Tome from Mozambique. She is a dynamic and prolific poet in every sense of the word.
As regards her second book, Sheila says: “Daddy I dedicate this to you, I promise to make you proud. Your death has made me a very strong woman. I miss you but God took you for a reason,” This sentiment is also discernible in her new book.
“This second book, I call it a ‘seed of faith, a vocation of manifestation’ because I went through a lot of trials and tribulations to have this book published. I went through some personal things and at some point I thought this would never happen. I had to leave certain people and let go of certain things to fulfill my dream. My dream had to happen”
Her favourite poems in the new anthology include: “Hope, destiny and love”, which she explains as the different stages that a person goes through in life; and “My Muti” which she explains as the authority, the voice of a woman, standing firm in your decisions as a woman.
She rates Napo Masheane as her favourite female poet. “She voices what she feels. She loves herself. She has self-confidence. She stands in her own character. I believe in women who stand for what they like”
Khala said her book is “motivation building, creating, a renewal of a new you... A new you that is encouraged to dream big, to generate all those dreams that were once lost.”
Thursday, March 15, 2012
TEBOHO MASAKALA's "The Fall of Marcus Desmond"
Fecund...Teboho Masakala (above)
By Nthabiseng Lisele
Teboho Masakala has released his latest book, now ready and available on the book shelves! This prolific young man, who has now published three books, was born in Thaba Nchu.
The new book is titled “The fall of Marcus Desmond” and consists of 12 chapters. Teboho Masakala told Free State News: “The book teaches the society about the choices our parents make for us. As children we have our own dreams and need our parents to support them. But it seems many times they (parents) want to take our dreams and make them theirs.”
Hence his latest work is a kind of creative message to the parents to have an open relationship with their children and listen carefully to desires, ambitions and dreams from the perspective of the young ones.
‘The parents shouldn’t use their failed dreams as the future dreams for their children, because most of such situations end with a sad story”, the author, known for his penchant for tragic denouements in his work, warns.
“Parents shouldn’t take this book as an offence to them. I acknowledge their support and passion to help their children get the best they want in life, but at the same time they shouldn’t suppress their feelings regarding their dreams”, Masakala said.
Over the last few years Teboho has churned out works like Mind, Pen, Paper and Ideas (short stories) and Through it all (a novella).
Going down memory lane, Teboho recalls joining the Goronyane High School in Thaba Nchu, Free State, in South Africa in 2003. He read a number of books which fired his imagination. “I enjoyed the world of books; books for young people, and our African writers. I was also influenced by the writings of Bessie Head (Maru) and of Chinua Achebe; namely books like No longer at ease and The Voter. I also enjoyed reading some of the creative works of O Bolaji, who later published my first few short stories,”
He attended Selosesha Primary School in Thaba Nchu. “I was introduced to reading English books by my teacher and Principal, Kelopile Moletsane, who really did a lot in setting my feet on the literary path. Over the years I have enjoyed basking in books at the Selosesha Library in Thaba Nchu,”
On his latest book, The fall of Marcus Desmond, Teboho adds: “The children should also be respectful for the way their parents guide them regarding their career path and dreams. And they should be open to these people, no matter how old they can, they can teach you one or two things about life.”
The book is already available. If you are interested in the book you can contact Teboho Masakala on 078 124 5396.
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