'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