Monday, 31 August 2015
Thursday, 13 August 2015
RICCI NIEKERK-GROENEWALD UNVEILS HER “BLOODY”, RIVETING POETRY
By Tiisetso M Thiba
The
sun shone enchantingly, bright like a diamond – which was in consonance with
the venue of this pertinent book launch, Kimberley the diamond city! And a
memorable book launch it was.
The
occasion co-incided with ‘Woman’s Day in South Africa” (August 9), as bard
Ricci Niekerk-Groenewald launched her first poetry book at the teeming Mayibuye
Centre.
“Things Unsaid” is the name of the
Ricci’s debut poetry book. During her speech she vouchsafed that the book is
very close to her heart because all the poems in the book constitute “things I
never told anyone, and I feel that it would be good to share my stories,
experience, feelings in poems’ form with the world at large.”
Indeed
in her book, laced with imagery, she writes about sundry topics like happiness,
love, sorrows, and nature and all the things that inspire her to write and
write more.
Ricci
also told the book launch attendees that her book is one that many can relate
to; hopefully instigating all ladies to read and read more to broaden their
knowledge of what is happening around them and afar. She was full of bliss and
felt blessed to finally launch her book that she disclosed she actually wrote
almost a decade ago.
Sandy
(Sass) Schultz said about the book (Things
Unsaid): “It seems to be written in blood, raw and red, like the crimson
that stains this sleeve. These pages cradle cries that echo from a wounded heart and
speak to our understanding of human hurt”.
The
day was celebrated in style and woman in poetry came together to support one of
their fellow poets. Poetesses like Ntombi Kayise, Lynthia, Siza Nkosi and
Nosipho recited their poems based on women’s experiences and articulations; many
felt that it was a proper day to acknowledge the vital role of women in the
various societies and household. It divulged that women can do many things on
their own.
Gontsewa
Chaane was the innovative master of ceremony. Among other artists that were
present at the “Things Unsaid”
launch, included the illustrious Sabata Mpho Mokae (with the author, above), Maruping Phepheng, Moses
Nzama Khaizen Mtileni and Siza Nkosi.
The
book ‘Things Unsaid” was published
under The Ink Sword Publishing
Company based in Kimberley. Ricky
Groenewald, one of the co-founders of Ink Sword expressed his gratitude to
everyone who attended the book launch, and inspired everyone to read and write
because “you can’t write if you can’t read”.
He
also revealed that the goal of Ink Sword is to publish many writers writing in different
languages in South Africa, and the entire World. Ricky
added that “Things Unsaid Book” is
one of the twelve books that the Ink Sword has published since its inception
almost two years ago.
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
Mathene Mahanke examines the book, FREE STATE OF MIND
By Mathene Mahanke
As a literary critic, when one is
confronted with a fresh publication of the calibre of ‘Free State of Mind’
from the pens of three women of a reputable pedigree - Nthabiseng Jah Rose
Jafta, Rita Chihawa and Lebo Leisa - with the introduction written by a
fascinating poetess, and the foreword by a literary giant, one gets
intimidated....
One gets intimidated when Napo
Masheane says “There is something powerful when women voices come together like
a spider web. Because once the spider’s web has begun to weave its base... God,
the universe and our ancestors send a thread. There is something magical,
almost unbelievable when hands of women find words between their fingers...”
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, one gets intimidated when O Bolaji
says, “These are powerful female voices and bards who have a lot to say,
encapsulating and ventilating their experience in a manner we must all learn
from. Hearken them!” .... It’s intimidating...
Thank you,
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen. May I express my gratitude for being
afforded the opportunity to be one of the first people to express an opinion on
the freshly ground work of the three ladies who have birthed an addition to the
literary family of the Free State province. I am humbled to stand in front of
the audience of this magnitude and say words that cannot be compared to the
voice of reason in the book, Free State
Of Mind. Thank you, Nthabiseng. Enkosi
Rita. Ke a leboha, Lebo.
As a
literary critic, I am always guided by the literary theories so as to
contextualize my appraisal. I must confess, after glossing through the book...
which was handed to me only yesterday.... I could not immediately think of any
particular theory. Because it is a book written by women one would be tempted to
rush for the feminist approach. But one immediately thinks, is it not demeaning
to say these are women, and they should think like women. Are we not retracing
our steps that led to the emergence of the very theory to the exclusion of
other aspects?
I would
rather look at it from the perspective of a Womanist literary theory. This is a
term used by Alice Walker to describe a theory that looks at the perspectives
and experiences of a black woman. Reading through this book one is confronted
with strong words that, at times, suggest anger..., but, in the introduction
Napo says, “I think the day the world stops to box ‘the black women writings’,
or label it as angry ... more women will write and be in a ‘Free State Of
Expression.’ ... To ensure that any writing by women take it’s deserved place
in the literature of South Africa and the world I think we should heed Napo’s
call.
In the
light of the above, I would, therefore, locate the writings of our three
authors in a free state of mind, without undue conformity to any particular set
of rules. I would also encourage whoever ventures a review of their work to be
careful not to apply a single theory to the exclusion of others. Let me make an
example of how any literary theory could be deployed to unearth the treasures
hidden behind the words and phrases put together by Nthabiseng, Rita and Lebo.
Russian
Formalism would address the literariness in each poem where we see beautiful
metaphors in the hands of these women-crafters. The opening line reads: I
yearn like a coloured butterfly to fluff away in a song In this line we are
afforded an opportunity to peep inside the mind and soul of the author, or I’ll
say authors as this piece is co-authored, to see with our imaginative eyes the
quest to break lose and be free spirited young women... free of all inhibitions
and man made impediments.
The words
that come out are likened to a song because it will not just be a haphazard
junk, but it will be words selected to make an intended impact, and packaged to
appeal to the ear of the listener. In the same line the words are likened to a
butterfly which gracefully moves from one flower to another.... But, mark this,
this is not ordinary, dull butterfly. Like the flowers it visit it also has
colour; meaning that it blends well with the flowers... The metaphor can be
stretched further: While the butterfly moves from one flower to another we
marvel at the beauty produced by the colourfulness of the butterfly and that of
the flowers. We are, most of the time, not aware that the butterfly is carrying
pollen from one flower to another, cross-pollinating the flowers for
reproduction, multiplication and increase... What a beautiful metaphor, right
at the beginning...
This is
poetry. It comprises of two elements: What the poets want to communicate... and
how they communicate it. And like a livewire this trend runs through this book
setting every idea alive and brightening every dark corner with a metaphor. The
night is short, Mr Programme Director. I would have, otherwise gone on to
analyse each and every poem on the basis of the communicative devices that turn
words into poetic lines and make these young women artists who, with the
formless clay would create a structured work of art. Suffice to say, ladies and
gentlemen, poetry is more difficult to write than any other genre because the
literariness in poetry means the ability to handle language at different levels
while not losing meaning and sense.
As I
stated earlier, the work cannot be seen from a Formalist point of view only. A
cursory look at the book said to me all theories applied will unearth the
formidable nature of the book, Free State of Mind as a work of art. We could
look at it from the point of view of the Sociology of literature which is a
branch of literature that examines the relationship between the literary works
and their social contexts. This would assist to understand how the mind of a
young woman perceives the world.... They are poets, but they are human beings
also. This is what they say about men: Rita is 'jilted'; and she tell the man
where to get off: Because he has the power to crumble my heart into pieces
Just like all of these diseases Fatal and harmful I thought that he was cool
Little did I know that he would stoop this low? Well, he does not want me
anymore!
Lebo is
puzzled by men who do not make any move, and does not hesitate to tell them of
their unmanly behaviour: Athe banna ba kae, banna ba motseng Banna ba ho
ithoka bo? Senyamo se, se mpheta le hoja ke itlhatswitse Ke le dikonkosi Ha ho
lekopokopo ho koposela, ke re metsi a pula ho lelemela Tjhe! Le ha ke le mobe
ke le ya kgesehang Ha ho ya nthonakang?
Jah Rose, cautions young women to define limits in love
relationships and be wary of men who are only interested in deflowering them.
She calls such a man, molemi, one
who plants without caring for the garden. Poetically put she says: There are
plenty ways to have fun I may even loosen up at times Not with my rose
Thank you.
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
SILK PURSE INDEED... Oiwona Andrew and his Poetry
By Seun Ajijala
A chartered
accountant, Oiwona Andrew, is a stammerer. This is definitely not a trait that
anybody wants to flaunt in the public. What with the stigmatisation that those
who stutter suffer, especially in the hands of comedians who mock them in
wicked jokes.
But for Andrew, a
creative person should be able to turn an ugly experience into something
meaningful. As a result, his first collection of poems, entitled Heavy Tongue, is built around his
experience as a stammerer. The collection of 19 poems is something that really
gladdens his heart.
He says, Heavy Tongue is an imagery of someone
who stammers. The title was taken from my personal life as someone with a
stuttering tongue. This actually happened as a result of heredity. Nobody has
control over the circumstances surrounding his birth. Therefore, whatever life
throws at one, one can handle confidently with faith.”
Prof. Olusesan
Oliyide of the Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, also in
the foreword to the book, notes that the poet has an exceptional talent, saying
the gift compensates for his being slow in speech.
Oliyide adds, Heavy Tongue covers and touches several
areas like one’s personal experience, women, traffic jam, elegy, nature,
apartheid and religion. This makes the targeted audience for the book to be
large. The poem, Mandela, is
suitable for international journals and worthy of international recognition. In
that poem, he dwells on racial discrimination which Mandela fought and won in
South Africa.”
The title poem, Heavy Tongue, is a nine-stanza piece
that bemoans the inconveniences of being a stammerer. Featuring paradoxical
statements, among other devices, the poem paints the picture of the problems a
stammerer faces.
The hidden part of her candidly talks about the struggle of an impotent man
in intercourse, thoroughly describing the privates of a lady and making use of
imagery, rhetoric, similes and metaphors.
Woman’s Chapters describes the phases of a woman’s physical and mental development from
adolescence to adulthood. This poem richly employs rhyme, imagery and pun,
which make it very humorous.
On the whole, Heavy Tongue is an inspiring collection.
However, the image of the tongue on the cover of the book seems unnecessary, as
it can affect the maturity of the work. Besides, the description of sexual
organs in The Hidden Part appears to
be too overt.
·
* Courtesy,
PUNCH
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