“Literature is healthy in the FS” - Soqaga

Writing at grassroots level in the Free State is very much thriving, with new literary gems discovered on a regular basis. This is according to Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga, author, essayist and pan-africanist. “To be honest the high standard of literature in the province is extra-ordinary,” Soqaga told Free State News this week. “We have works of fiction, superb literary critics, drama, and of course so many poets have been produced over the years,” Mr Soqaga himself is a new author having published his book, O Bolaji: a voyage around his literary work, this year. The literary world has been taken by storm by the general approval and acclamation of the work. The author (Soqaga) says that the success of the book has surprised him. “It was good to have such a fine (literary) debut,” he said. “But the thing is not to rest on my laurels. I am already working on my second book which would be even more Afro-Centric. One of the things that pleased me most about my first book is that the Northwestern University (USA) – which boasts the largest collection of Africana works in the world – praised my book, and it is now in their collection” And how does Soqaga feel having his work shortlisted for the glamorous Mbali Literary Awards? He says: “It’s a nice bonus but I am not thinking of actually winning,” he said. He added: “Writers should not get carried away after publishing a book or two. There are outstanding African writers who have published 20, 30 books or even more, and still have their feet on the ground. I will be highlighting this in one of the chapters of my new book,” the modest polemicist rounded off. - Raselebeli Khotseng * First published in Free State News October 26 2012 edition

DR COOL !

Wordfest showcased alongside MACUFE

The comprehensive three-day event had a line-up of excellent wordsmiths, bards, poets and literary activists. They included Mongane Wally Serote, Flaxman Qoopane, Mathene Mahanke, O Bolaji, "Magic" Raselebeli Khotseng, K.P.D Maphalla, Pule Lechesa, Skietreker,Charmaine,"Dr Cool" among many others. Enjoy the pics above!

THAMSANQA JOB MZAMO

History continues to record the steady progress made in the Free state in the genre of poetry at grassroots level. In the early days the likes of Gilbert Modise, Qoopane, and Mzamo were pivotal. For many pundits Thamsanqa Job Mzamo was - is - in a class of his own as a poet. His sheer passion, his commitment to verses, his syntax, imagery, effortless rhymes - all stamp him out as a great poet.

His book, Pride of my heart was published in 2001. It was also formally launched in those days, a media occasion that attracted, and was covered by etv television. Mzamo's work has got to the highest stage, caterpaulting him to international recognition - his book of poetry has been digitised by American universities, and can be consulted anytime by researchers anywhere in the world. This is another boost for African, and Free state poetry. For the quiet, immensely talented Mzamo, it is reassuring that his poetic legacy is rock-solid. REFERENCE Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002). By Omoseye Bolaji

New Book about Bolaji

Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga, the well known Bloemfontein based essayist, Pan-Africanist, critic, esssayist and intellectual has published his first book, titled Omoseye Bolaji: A voyage around his literary work. The book is the latest in a number of book-length studies published on the fecund writer, Omoseye Bolaji. Soqaga told Mangaung Issue: “I am happy the book finally came out at last. Bolaji has inspired so many writers and built so many of us with his powerful, diverse books.”

Mr Soqaga also disclosed that he had been working on the book for up to five years. “The protagonist in question (Bolaji) has published so many books and it is not easy to comprehensively evaluate and criticise them all. In the end I focused on about five, six of the books; with a general Overview” Meanwhile, critics and pundits are already hailing this new study across the board, likening it to renowned international studies on African writers over the years published by the likes of Gerald Moore, Dr Adele King, and Robert Fraser. But Soqaga himself humbly refuses to get carried away with all the praise. “I do not think my attempts can be likened to works churned out by those illustrious writers and critics,” he says. “But I am very flattered to even be mentioned in the same breath as such people. The reviews of my book I have been reading on the internet have all been very positive so far,” Literary critic, Pule Lechesa expressed delight over the publication of the book. “It’s great to see a book of real quality again,” he said. “Soqaga’s new book definitely adds cubits to the corpus of African critical writings. He took his time over the work and it shows,” - Report by T Masakala. First published in Mangaung Issue, 29 August 2012 edition. Page 6

OMOSEYE BOLAJI: A Voyage around his literary work. A new book by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

Excerpts here: "Yes, unashamedly I am Pan- Africanist who believes in Pan- African ideology, if then our forefathers were fighting for liberty of life therefore I must assert my opinion very sharply without favour or fear. I am born of African descent being raised in the continent that once experienced unfairness of life and suppression from other races and creed. I am the descendant of Khoisan, Xhosa, Sotho, Zulu, Yoruba, Shona, Tswana, Berbe etc. I am African and I do believe that’s how I must be perceived! I discern it as a rather intricate exercise to write about the author of many books such as Mr. Omoseye Bolaji, son of the late Mr. Simon Labanji Bolaji who also was an excellent writer. Is it a coincidence to know how Bolaji is connected with black literature? Although a superb and scintillating writer, I know he does not really believe in segregating literature or writing generally; as can be seen from the magnificent mixture of Eurocentric and African writings in his international columns. For a long time, Bolaji the writer has been a literary catalyst, a champion of literature who is involved in spreading awareness. As I write this, I am so delighted that a film documentary has been made about the great man. As a matter of fact I have been researching Omoseye Bolaji for some years now; but it has not been easy. It was actually a complicated task for me because I didn’t have a clue where to start considering his versatility, and the copious studies already published on him. I started as early as 2007,and meanwhile, a young writer like Hector Kunene was able to put together a solid book on Bolaji (2010) (Omoseye Bolaji: a voyage around his literary work - is a new book by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga)

I AM A RAPE SURVIVOR, NOT A VICTIM!!

Six years ago I got raped! This occurred at what was suppose to be at secure environment (at school to be precise) and all I could say then was; dreams which seemed to be coming true were shattered within a blink of an eye. This incident was never known till this point of sharing it with you. Perhaps I was too alarmed even confused. "Who would believe me?" I pondered in my thoughts, but, regardless of how I was feeling, the main reason which prompt my silence is that I was (and still) uncomfortable of how people would claim me as being a victim. I asked myself, "who is going to claim my survivorhood instead of my victimhood?" What happened to me can be viewed from many aspects. My story is one of forgiveness Claiming your worth Letting go of past incidents and holding on to the hope of tomorrow or however you might perceive it. What I learned from this experience might sound like a cliche but it's actually the truth. 1. I took 6 years to break the silence and forgive whereas I was oblivious to the fact that; forgiving your perpetrator will be like taking off a painful pair of shoes after walking in them the entire day. I don't know the anything about the two male persons who took away my innocence, but I know that nothing weighs heavily upon progress than a heart filled with grudges. Many are trapped in the prison of grudges due to people who have caused their lives to be a living hell. Grudges rob you of your sanity as you approach different stops of your life. 2. Letting go means I can look towards my future and new possibilities, hence rape is not me but it happened to me. Sipho Mnyakeni says: "my sisters, you are still in line for your personal greatness Seize it, Your future depends on you, Size it, Self-pitying is self destructive, Cease it, As the incident seeks to finish you Your will to survive will sustain you You are not defined by it You are greater than that ; I wish you could see what I see in your eyes, Hope lives, The future is safe, You are still in line for greatness SEIZE IT! Turn to the mental field of your youth Play again dream again believe again live again" 3. If you are still breathing then God hasn't given up on you. Your occupation is to persevere and your promotion will be victory. We all have the ability to see the brighter picture in our dark experiences. Break the silence and claim your survivorhood. This article is for all those women who have been denied the platform to say: "I was raped!" I know you. I feel you. I, too, was raped. And rape is NOT us. It just happened to us! By Reitumetse Mokhoantle