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.
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