"TO DUDU"

“TO DUDU”

A poem by Tiisetso M Thiba

How will I start to say this DUDU?
By the vision eye I could peer through your fissure heart
Even though you didn’t tell my ears about your anguished feelings
When I juggle around the pain of sorrowfulness
And you hoping for a jolly good time
But you encountered some 'wonderings'
My beautiful DUDU I wish I could answer your wonderings
But I’m also wondering like you
I know I’ve shattered your heart
But you kept standing tall above them all
To swear it wasn’t the component of my ideals
When I did not have vigour to kick high like sansei

I know we don’t have abundant era together
We didn’t go far yet we are just beginning
We had a few months together now
Not a year but running close…
But so far you’re an angel sent by God
A flower that keeps blooming every second
You are my light when I wander in the scaring night hopelessly
The moonlight that keeps flashing all the time
We are all fallible humans, not perfectionists
We have our own weaknesses and strong points
But there are other weaknesses uninvited, and will never be
Satisfaction of precarious is not one I intended to tender
Satisfaction of proactive is the one in my mind
But you promised to be my armour when I’m down
And I do believe you will keep your pledge
That’s why I’m saying this: “I LOVE YOU TO DEATH”

When I cascade a tear and make the pillow sludge
You felt hurt and I know you don’t want to see me mar
And also mine I don’t want to see you crying ‘cos it hurts me a lot
In life sometimes other pains are unbearable
And you keep strengthen and revive me all the times
I need to be strong for the future outcome
I’m yearning you only the sunshine on your destiny
I hope you will always wipe tears on my cheeks when I couldn’t
I wish your big heart well-being and cheerfulness
You will always roam in my mind
You are someone who owns my heart, and brought joy to my heart
I will always remember you wherever I head to; remember me too!
The lessons you taught me I will learn them by hear
I will adore you until the end of time “DUDU”!!!

World Class African Author wins prestigious award

Mandla Langa, one of South Africa, and Africa’s most powerful imaginative writers, has been hailed for winning the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Langa won the Best Book award (African Region) for his novel, The lost colours of the chameleon

The lost colours of the chameleon (2008) is essentially about the vagaries of political power. The author formidably creates an island (Bangula) in the Indian Ocean where plenty of strife and bloodshed take place. As most African countries are well used to over the decades, it is the ordinary man who suffers most during this anomy.

Elinor Sisulu, who chaired the Judging panel for the Africa Region enthused about the novel: “(It) combines allegory and realism. Langa deconstructs the inner workings of a mythical African state laying bare the frailties of leaders too blinded by power to effectively confront the major challenges of their times”

The lost colours of the chameleon came out tops from a very impressive short list of books produced by excellent writers. These included Zoe Wicomb’s The one that got away, and Sindiwe Magona’s Beauty’s gift ( a moving work that confronts the ravages of aids)

Peter Moroe, literary critic, says that Mandla Langa has always led the way with quality works. “Langa is quite simply a world class writer, polished and elevated. He’s one of South Africa’s all time great black writers – like Es’kia Mphahlele, Lewis Nkosi, Njabulo Ndebele or Zakes Mda. Mandla Langa’s writing career, his pedigree, shows he’s always been sublime,”

In 1987 Mandla Langa published the brilliant work, Tenderness of blood. Then followed A rainbow on the paper sky (1989), The naked song and other stories (1996), The memory of stones (2000); and now the acclaimed, award winning The lost colours of the chameleon.

The Best First Book Award (Africa Region) went to Nigeria’s Uwem Akpan for his collection of short stories, titled Say you’re one of them.
- Paul Lothane