ZONG READ IN SOUTH AFRICA

All roads seemed to lead to the Bloemfontein City Library on Monday (April 16)where book-length readings of the monumental poetic work, Zong!, took place.

Zong was written by the acclaimed Canadian author, NouberSe Philip, and readings from the work were being done simultaneously in Canada and South Africa.

The South African reading attracted a number of sterling poets and writers. They
included the formidable literary critic and poet, Pule Lechesa; author and poet, Charmaine Kholwane; award winning poet and essayist, Hector Kunene; celebrated journalist and book reviewer, Mpikeleni Duma; the flamboyant poet-performer, Dr Cool; renowned South African female poets: JahRose, and Rita Chihawa, among many others.

Also present was the phalanx of the media, both print and electronic, including the
award winning photo-journalists, Motshwari, and Thabang Lenko. They, together with teeming members of the public, basked at the occasion.

As the proceedings commenced, the significance of the occasion was pointed out, together with an Introduction to the works of the pertinent author, Nouberse Philip.

Thereafter the focus was on Zong itself, its historical and literary connotations and ramifications, with a bevy of readers reading straight from the riveting text.

An exhilarated Pule Lechesa enthused about the occasion: "It has been incredibly moving. Zong is a literary tour de force, haunting, moving, rhythmical, rather
zany, yet coherently comprehensive. The plight and travails of slaves at the time should never be forgotten. An empathetic, majestic work!" - O Bolaji

"ZONG" IN SOUTH AFRICA

Excitement is mounting in Bloemfontein, South Africa, as a book-length
reading of celebrated Canadian academic and creative writer, NourbeSe
Phillip's work takes place at the City library.

Of especial interest is the fact that this African reading will
take place simultaneously in Africa whilst a similar reading is taking
place in Toronto, Canada with the protagonist and author present.

NourbeSe Phillip was born in the Carribean Woodlands, Moriah, Trinidad
and Tobago. She was educated at the University of West Indies. She is a world-acclaimed poet, novelist, playwright, essayist and short story writer.

It is her recent work Zong!(2008) which will be at the epicentre of
global interest on Monday 16 April as a cross-section of the literary
fraternity in South Africa converges at the Bloemfontein City Library
to bask in the reading from her exceedingly powerful extended poem (Zong).

The author, NourbeSe Phillip is palpably excited over the reading in
South Africa. She said: "This reading is intended to remember all
those who lost their lives on board the Zong...I will be happy if
people are clad in white to honour Olokun, the Yoruba deity of deep
waters."

The celebrated writer also expressed her wish that the section titled
"Ebora" should also be read at the reading.

Charmaine Mrwebi of the Bloemfontein City Library, a young African
female author and essayist too, said: "We are very excited about this
poetic reading of Mme NourbeSe Phllip's work. She deserves plaudits for remembering
her roots despite being based in an Eurocentric environment. I have read
some passages from the internet on Zong and the work is not only
extra-ordinarily powerful and moving; but one cannot but cry over the
plight of slaves at that time, especially the disgusting and insanitary
conditions of our black female slaves in the horrific ship."

The book-length reading session will commence at 2pm South African time
and will roughly take place at the same time as the event in Toronto.

INTERVIEWS WITH EFFERVESCENT WRITERS (2012)

Book: Interviews with effervescent writers
Edited by Christine Mautjana
Publisher: Mbali Press (SA and Lesotho)
Design and layout: Thabo Ntai (Lesotho)

This new book – featuring striking interviews with various African writers - is not only a veritable breath of fresh air, but exceedingly welcome!

Writers from diverse backgrounds, race, colour, proclivities, come together to talk about their craft, drive and passion for the written word. There is a strong South African presence here, but the work is still international, and global.

As the editor, Christine Mautjana, correctly points out, over the decades there has always been something excitingly fascinating about writers talking about what makes them tick, especially the likes of pungent, unconventional Aryan Kaganof
who bares all in this work!

George Rampai, novelist and critic, puts it succinctly - "Over the years I have cherished any books where writers are interviewed. From the African perspective two works, African Writers Talking, and Talking with African Writers, will always remain indelible in my mind. I am chuffed that now I am being featured in a new major work of this ilk!"

Other writers interviewed in this book, apart from Aryan Kaganof and George Rampai, include Maxwell Perkins Kanemanyanga,Omoseye Bolaji, Petro Schonfeld, Teboho Letshaba, Nthabiseng JahRose Jafta, Pule Lechesa, Leboela Motopi, Hector Kunene, and NMM Duman.

In this work, there are moving introductions or mini biographies of each writer, preceding every major interview. There are pertinent special quotes, photos,
bibliographies, including supplementary bibliographies, et al.

Also of interest is the Editor's introduction which sheds light on the
conception of this remarkable book. This is an invaluable work that
will be treasured for ages by researchers, scholars and lovers of
literature worldwide.

SHEILA KHALA'S "MY PEN IS A 'SOCIALITE'" (2012)

Foreword by Dr V. Z. Nyawo

Poems include -

Dumelang
A prayer to the God of poetry
Good morning Holy Spirit
Nna
When we write poetry
Hypocrite
God is able
Phenomenal woman
What others say
Breathing dreams
Tearing others best to fit you better
The cave in the heart
Phase of the unborn
Under this tree
Sweet talker
Baptism of the heart
Mama
Anger bewitched an innocent heart
First love
Words spoken by scars
My Muti
Navigating myself to meet you
Dear Sir
My pen is a socialite
Garden of motivation
Think we love each other
My mother
Boom companions
Kalatelayanlatelang
Inspiration of Roma mountains
A heart of an orphan in winter
Ke le Khala
Taken by the tongue
I met my father
Hope, Destiny and Love
To the army of darkness
At the cross
Tucking the ink in bed
My pen is a teacher.

Excerpt:

"Suggestions with stale hearts degrading
the level of upgraded thoughts.
They forge your edified ability to merge their mediocrity.
Their odour of jealousy makes you drowsy..."

GOING DOWN MEMORY LANE...Saint George Vis

Saint George Vis was named Free State Author of the year back in 2003. The press celebrated his feat then, as can be seen above...

AN AMBIENCE OF MYSTERY SURROUNDS KHAYACHOW TOWN

Book: Tebogo and the Bacchae (2012)
Author: Omoseye Bolaji
Publisher: Eselby Jnr Publications
Reviewer: Mpikeleni Duma (for Sowetan)

Black African authors who churn out Mystery/Detective adventures (books) are thin on the ground. Against this background the Free State based author Omoseye Bolaji has to be praised for his fecund output in his wise.

Cedric Robinson has written that a novel is a parable. It is a moral, philosophic, and political exercise. Like the myth in phatic groups, the purpose is to demonstrate the terrible consequence to the human spirit as well as to the social organisation of a total exorcising of a social ideology.

Bolaji created the now famous detective or sleuth Tebogo Mokoena and before the beginning of this year he had published seven books in the series. Early this year the eighth of the series, Tebogo and the Bacchae (2012) was published to the excitement of readers of the series.

In this new work the author creates the fictional town of “Khayachow” where Tebogo has to investigate the events of an ill-starred night when three people lost their lives in gruesome fashion. As Tebogo burrows into life in the small town he discovers that things are not necessarily what they seem to be on the surface.

In Tebogo and the Bacchae the reader is introduced to a gallery of intriguing characters, including the enigmatic Tiisetso, the ubane Sibusiso, the shadowy Allan and of course the tantalising lady, Thobeka. The story reaches a climax later on and ends in a shattering manner – like previous adventures in this series.

The author also largely changes his style of narration in this new adventure. Hitherto, teh adventures were written in the first person – “Tebogo” himself telling the stories; but this time around the Omniscient narration style is utilised with Tebogo sometimes playing very much a secondary role in some of the chapeters.

Becasue of this Omniscient style of narration we get to know many of the characters very well, even sharing their thoughts; irreverent and zany thoughts every now and then. But all combine to emphasise the ambience of mystery that surrounds this new adventure.

I enjoyed reading this adventure very much but felt that the author could have done more to paint an even stronger picture of Khayachow town. Also, in this wise the reader can be confused sometimes as to whether the action is happening in Khayachow toropo (town) or the adjoining township.

But on the whole this is another excellent adventure of the grassroots-oriented sleuth, Tebogo Mokoena. He is still very much into bonhomie, grins and wisecracks. He even indulges in some romantic match-making in the end!

The preceding adventures of in the Tebo Mystery series are Tebogo Investigates (2000), Tebogo’s spot of other (2001), Tebogo Fails (2003), Ask Tebogo (2004), Tebogo and the Haka (2006), Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009) and Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010)
* Originally published in SOWETAN, Monday, January 30 edition

A MUSICAL WITH A DIFFERENCE

By DINEO MOKGOSI (Above)

This summer’s season of the Sand Du Plessis Theatre performances has just kicked off with four-day run of “Unbreakable Thread-Ubuntu vs Fear”.

This contemporary musical drama was directed by renowned theatre director Regina Nawa and written by Mothusi Mokoto and stars numerous accomplished theatre actors and television actors whose faces will be familiar to patrons who follow the theatre scene and are able to catch a glimpse of television every now and then.

The play is set at the Mthunywa household in Rocklands Bloemfontein, on the morning of January 08, 2012 and the family preparing to host Morena, friends, comrades and a few community members for a short ceremony. To prepare for the important day, Mkhulu Mthunywa, together with Morena, a Sangoma and a priest go to the heroes’ section of the cemetery to pay tribute to the fathers and mothers of our liberation struggle in a traditional ritual.

Upon their return from the cemetery, they arrive in the midst of diverse cultural dance festivities, from guests. In a short sermon, prior to the main festivities at the stadium, Moruti takes us through the journey of the formation of the ANC as a covenant made between the organisation and God on January 08, 1912.

As the elders later leave for the main festivities at the stadium, a conflict arises between Mkhulu and his granddaughter, Phetogo. The granddaughter is expressing frustration at the many unanswered questions she has been asking Mkhulu about the death of her parents in the struggle. She had been hoping that since Mkhulu had been writing a book on the liberation struggle, it might be the perfect place to find answers.

The main characters were played by Danny Jassoni, 34, as Mkhulu and Excellentia Rethabile Mokoena, 22, as Phetogo. Jassoni has acted in theatre productions such as Mid Summer Nights Dream, Julius Caesar and Maru; and also acted in television shows such as Molo-Fish and Ga Re Dumele on SABC 2.

“I thought the show went well. I believe people got the message. The message of Ubuntu which is what we should strive for in our everyday life. Let’s not forget who we are as the youth, as a people. In as much as there are differences now, there is still a lot to be done to rectify the wrongs of the past”, Jassoni said.
Mokoena has appeared in productions such as Op Soek Na Piet Khumalo and Mpumelelo.
“I’ve learnt a lot through playing this character. It hurts to find that people had to go through this for me to be here today. Youth need to be educated about our history”, Mokoena said.

Although poorly attended, the show ironically was a magnificent piece of theatre. The dancers executed a series of synchronous movements which brought euphoria into the Sand Du Plessies theatre as patron’s screamed at the sight of the dancers.
There is a dance scene which stands out as a masterpiece of choreography by Brian Mazibuko, the MK military training scene. “That is my favourite scene. We used Russian techniques with our choreography to do the scene”, Mazibuko said.
However, the amplication of the background music sometimes made it hard to hear what some actors were saying.

Stand out actors included Free State born actor and singer, Pesa Pheko, who has acted in big productions such as the Lion King and Sarafina, Sbongiseni (Khehla) Mguni, Katlego Khunou, Brian Mazibuko, who was also the choreographer, Abram Dithebe (Small) and the pint-sized 19-year-old singer from Welkom, Dikeledi Letebele.
Unbreakable Thread is an African National Congress (ANC) Centenary celebrations production that uses drama, music, reflection of historical experiences through movement and dance to showcase the values of Ubuntu.

The musical drama will showcase at the Sand Du Plessis Theatre until January 28, and every person, young and old will benefit immensely from attending the show piece.