WABO launches Mahube 3Oth anniversary issue

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday December 7, 2010 00:00

 

The edition, which is a compilation of short stories and poetry from new and established writers in Botswana, appeals in that it fuses two genres in one; which is uncommon. This fusion of both university students' and literary gurus; prominent names in the literary scene is a good read as it covers a wide range of topics from the plight of the girl child, how Africans use other Africans during the colonial era against the popular story of how the West used us during the scramble for Africa, prayer and motherhood inter alia.

Shakers and movers of the literary front included former WABO chairperson and one of the founding brothers, as he prefers to be called, Barolong Seboni, UB's head of newly found Visual and Performing Arts Department also a poet and novelist, David Kerr, spoken work queen TJ Dema, novelist Lauri Kubuitsile, Bobana Badisang and Tiro Sebina. Seboni spoke against writing in isolation, urging Botswana-based writers to organise and share thoughts in order to move local literature forward. He added that writers should know that they are writing in a historical context and informed by words that came before them; hence one cannot make a good writer if they do not read extensively. 'The literary tradition is very important, ' he advised. Giving a background of WABO, Seboni said it was born from the energy that they had from the University of Botswana Writers Workshop, which was influenced mostly by the revolutionary period in Southern Africa. He encouraged WABO members to revive the literary pulse and called upon them to feed the mind through weekly readings and literary critiquing exercises.

Commenting on the future of the association, chairperson TJ Dema implored local writers to work together and take advantage of opportunities that come from associations like WABO. She added that they do not discriminate against any local language employed, what they want is creativity and taking the country's literary assets to Batswana and abroad.

'We should also record and archive our work so that it can be easily accessible,' she said. Contributors were in attendance to read parts of their work published in the 30th Mahube edition and also to sign copies bought at the launch.

Most importantly, a copy was signed by all in attendance for iKalanga literary icon, Albert Malikongwa.