A Night of Poetic Justice
Dumisani Ncube | Monday March 21, 2016 18:00
An endless line up of active young poets such as Mmakgosi Tau, Steady Onx, Gomolemo ‘Ghost’ Motsamai, Kgotla Molefe and Ronald Kegomoditswe touched on political, social ills, post hangover and economic issues.
“Don’t provoke my thoughts by telling me black isn’t a colour yet you refer to me as a black or that I am beautiful for a dark shortie as if there are levels of being beautiful, do not provoke my thoughts by saying to rock my natural hair and later say it’s too nappy that sh*t don’t move,” soulful poetess, Mimi Koyabe recited a piece titled ‘People of Absence’ which celebrates dark- skinned women.
Still in celebration, Kgotla Molefe went on stage to recite a homage poem for Botswana where he mentioned, a number of areas in the country, talking of what they are prominent for. “I want to go back to boKalaka, Masunga, Tsamaya it feels like home in the cold when the old folk tell stories by the fire. I want to touch the tomb of our first president out of respect I was not born in his prime that’s how I want to connect with the powerful leaders intellect”.
Gomolemo Motsamai, who was regarded as the best performer of the night, touched on political and social ills taking place in African countries such as Zimbabwe. He performed his well-known poem the ‘Graduate’. It talks of a young man who is struggling to find his true national identity.
“It surprises me that the pale people always appear happy to be lost in the new knowledge of a few good words to get around in an office building. The Setswana word madi is translated as either blood or money, I would mention this fact but history is only kind to those who survived their own death,” stated Motsamai on the Graduate peace. Clad in tattered jeans, a white top and an African print earrings Mmakgosi Tau performed a piece that she said changes titles depending on the mood she is in, and as such this time around she decided not to title it. She started with beat box to a ragga, as an introduction to her untitled piece. The untitled poem speaks of how she is a strong feminist who through the art of poetry can break the walls of Jericho. She had stage presence, and that grabbed the attention of the audience the minute she started reciting her poem. There was also an opportunity for comic Solomon the Funny to showcase his craft, but the funny man failed to make the crowd laugh as he gave dry jokes.