THE GROWTH OF FREE STATE BLACK LITERATURE...Inspiring

It is pleasing to see the name, and legacy of the one and only Flaxman Qoopane (below) kept alive and embraced in this new work. But then again, so are the likes of Gilbert Modise and Pule Lebuso who also stamped their mark on Free State Literature (the trio now deceased).

It is also remarkable to see a major essay on, a review of Kgang Abel Motheane 's poetry.  The piece is written by Ishmael M. Soqaga who is also the editor of this book. The many essays contained here are vibrant and revealing, even the shortest ones.

I also liked the short introduction to Phinithi Ntelekoa who we understand is incredibly talented, yet little if any studies have appeared on his striking creative work. One hopes to see studies on him, and even more on other outstanding FS creative writers like Matshidiso Taleng, and George Rampai.

It is also very important to see a review  - in English - of Tiisetso Thiba's Setswana novel, TLHABANE YA MAKGOWA in this new book (cover, above). Too often writing in African languages is undermined or even almost completely ignored; but reviews in a language like English draws more attention to the work across board. In this wise, we can mention the extraordinary work David P Ambrose eg has done in promoting Lesotho indigenous literature in particular.

Going through this book, the conclusion one reaches is crystal-clear: Free State Black Writing is quite important, and already established. And as the author points out, it keeps on growing and "ever-throbbing".
- Review by Raphael Mokoena

WE KISS THEM WITH RAIN. By Futhi Ntshingila

The ravages and vagaries of hiv/aids...for years it does seem to be devastating sub- saharan Africa and southern Africa in particular. The author, Ntshingila has been publishing fine creative works for some ten years now, including her debut novel, Shameless.

Her empathetic, humorous, yet serious style has always been in evidence. This her latest work is sombre indeed, and undulates powerfully with rippling undercurrents that grip the reader, as a pertinent society is delineated and the young protagonist, Mvelo gets somewhat sucked into a whirlpool of angst and despair.

One can imagine the shock of the girl - all of 14 years old - when she discovers that her mother is dying of AIDS and that the world can be a thing of unspeakable horror.

And at the end we get to understand the haunting, doleful ramifications of the title of this work, as we read, re the departed ones (slightly paraphrased here):

We walk amongst the living…
Wondering about the orphans we left behind
We kiss them with rain

I was reminded of some of Ngugi wa Thiongo's exalted fiction in this work, as there are shifts in narration with many other characters introduced; but such background information is relevant and pertinent as we get to understand how this family is rocked and beleaguered, with so much sexual violence and even mindless apathy along the way.

How do the very young get to grips with such harrowing goings-on in society? How has it come to this? Did this brilliant author do research for this special work? Probably she is just keyed in to one aspect of poignant reality of her society - like in her outrageous debut, Shameless.

Futhi Ntshingila understands her characters inside out, and is now without any doubt one of the most significant Black authors in South Africa, with ever-increasing studies on her work by perceptive readers, pundits, and academics.

- Malome Eric