Local Poets Commemorate International Poetry Day
Ame Motimane | Monday March 25, 2019 12:48
The Ministry Of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development went into partnership with The Black African Poets Organisation with the main aim of grooming poets and commemorating the day.
The ceremony was graced by former president, Ian Khama, who witnessed the beauty of children expressing their feelings through poetry. “Poetry is very vital, more especially being expressed in our mother tongue, as The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport And Culture Development,” said Dineo Phuti who was a representative from The Ministry Of Youth Empowerment, Sport And Culture Development.
“…..we not only support and celebrate, but also on its day and more that it is there in schools to help students identify the difference in using different languages in poetry and also helping them develop a love for poetry and the beauty of poetry using Setswana.”
The black African Poets Organisation seek amongst other; to develop resource base for Batswana poets, and poetry in the digital space which will include formation on reading public readership. In this way, they came up with competitions at primary schools in the Old Naledi area. The children competed in poetry given the topic Dithopo in which 11 year old Juliet Gabriel scooped position one.
“I feel so proud of how well I have done in this competition given that I only started poetry last year and this being my first ever award, I am honestly happy,” said the proud Juliet Gabriel. Chairperson of The Black Poetry Organisation, Lebarona Dumelang gave her highest gratitude to their sponsors who made the even possible, being Executive Catering, Sefalana, Sebilo Book Services to mention only but a few.