kagablog

jessica mbangeni

It was a memorable day of sparkling performances and conviviality as the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) from Pretoria hosted the Poetry Evening and Gala Dinner at PACOFS in Bloemfontein. The event brought together several renowned poets and many hitherto unheralded burgeoning poets from four provinces in the country under the theme “Celebrating our Poetry during the Heritage Day”.

The line-up for Free State participants included Ramotete Machogo, (one of the youngest practitioners of the old traditional praise singing) Pule Mabusela, Nthabiseng “Jah Rose” Jafta, Serame “ice bound” Makhele, Flaxman Qoopane, Lebogang Motloung etc. Some of the country’s renowned poets who were invited to the occasion were Don Mattera, Napo Masheane, Masoja Msiza, Kgafela Oa Magogodi, Lesego Rampolokeng, Sabata Mpho Mokae (all from Gauteng) and Vonani Bila from Limpopo. The North West Province was represented by a female praise – singer Mandisa Phandliwe. Another formidable woman poet, Jessicca Mbangeni, held sway.

Danny Moleko an official from the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture was the Programme Director during the Gala Dinner. Kingdom Moshounyane’s six piece band composed of Smomo Ndamoyi, Mamickey Mathe and Rinkie Nkati (members of the Women in the Calabash) performed some of the famous songs of Mirriam Makeba, Letta Mbuli, etc. Getrude Mothupi – the Mayor of Mangaung Local Municipality (M.L.M.) welcomed everybody to the Gala Dinner. A praise – singer Machogo rendered poems including Dinonyana (Birds). The audience were moved and inspired as the female poet Nthabiseng Jafta performed her poems including Mme (mother)

ntate flaxman qoopane

“Ice bound” who uses hiphop beat in his poems was the cynosure of the eyes as he performed at the gala Dinner. Flaxman Qoopane captured the hearts of the audience with his riveting poems about “President Thabo Mbeki’ and the “ANC”.

The Premier of the Free State Beatrice Marshoff said that poets have helped the country to get rid of apartheid. And they need to take part in building our democracy.

dr.z

Dr Z. Pallo Jordan, the Minister of Arts and Culture addressed the audience and said; ”Heritage month recognizes aspects of South African Culture both tangible and intangible creative expression such as music and performances, our historical inheritance and most importantly, the language we speak.” The Minister added that the theme for 2007 Heritage Month is celebrating our poetry. “It resonates with initiative undertaken by the Department of Arts and Culture (D.A.C) to revitalized South African languages and literature in their oral and written forms. “As the custodians of South African heritage, the DAC is committed to promoting a culture of reading and writing as well as encouraging equitable development by all South Africans.” he stressed.

napo masheane

A vote of thanks was presented by Ace Magashule – MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture in the Free State. He thanked the D.A.C for organizing the event and every body including poets and poetry lovers for participating remarkably in the event. The legendary Don Mattera was unable to attend the occasion. However many copies of his anthology of poems – AZANIAN Love Songs were distributed among the audience. Poet Napo Masheane, a member of The Feela Sistah: the Spoken Word Collective (other members are Myesha Jenkins, Lebo Mashile and Ntsikki Mazwai) attracted attention with her recital and the women were ululating.

oa

Dreadlocked Kgafela Oa Magogodi, famous for his anthology of his poems Thy Condom Come, and his films – I Mike what I like, Yeoville Blues and Valentines used his poetry to address subjects such as poverty and women’s celebration. Vonani Bila, Poet and editor of Timbila, a journal of onion skin poetry, paid tribute to Gito Baloyi and read another poem in Xitsonga Minga Tlotlomeli (Don’t Rush). He also read some poetry from his new anthology – In the name of Amandla. Poet Sabata-Mpho Mokae from Tshwane said: “I recited three poems including If These Hills Could Scream. In December 16, 2005, I visited the Freedom Park in Tshwane during the Reconciliation Day, I was inspired and I wrote the poem. “On the other side of the Ben Schoeman Highway you see the Voortrekker Monument. In both Freedom Park and Voortrekker Monument (both hills) two different groups tell different stories about the same country”. He also read a poem which was a tribute to the late Moses Molelekoa, Jazz musician.

Masoja Msiza, an actor in theatre and TV and also the creator of Lentswe Poetry Project on SABC2 from Springs encouraged the audience to promote our plays and poems in our indigenous languages. He also performed some poems in Zulu. Mandisa Phandliwe from Mafikeng recited praise – poems in Tswana dedicated to Minister Dr Z. Pallo Jordan, Basadi Bomme (Women Mothers) and Bokone Bophirima (North- West). Jessicca Mbangeni’s performance of her Xhosa poems left the audience calling for more. Praise singer Paseka Mofokeng who was also included in the line – up of poets recited some of his poems in Sesotho. Lesego Rampolokeng, a lawyer and poet who has published many anthologies including Horns For Hondo (1989), Talking Rain (1993), Bavino Sermons, performed several poems which electrified the spell bound audience. Premier Marshoff, Mayor Mothupi, M.E.C’s Joe Mafereka, Neo Masithela and other guests left their tables for the dance floor, as the band enchanted them with South African music.

The audience was palpably impressed with the poetry evening and gala Dinner. Kedisaletse Selebano from Hillside View in Bloemfontein said; “I just want to congratulate the D.A.C for hosting this event in Bloemfontein. To me it was wonderful; I enjoyed and learned from poems of all poets. Thank you Kgafela Oa Magopgodi, Napo Masheane for enriching our souls.” Adam Motaung said: “The event opened my eyes on the role of poets during Heritage Month.”