Mahuma: From a hardcore criminal to a traditional poet

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Friday June 25, 2010 00:00

 

When one listens to Kaone Mahuma reciting this praise-poem of self, the immediate thought that crosses the mind is: Why he should relegate himself to the reject of rejects and a hopeless scumbag? And that is until one hears the young man's eventful life story.

Arts & Culture found time to sit down with this Sekwena traditional poet who informed this paper that there was a time when he, together with his Maspotisi peers were hell-bent on wreaking havoc in Molepolole, assaulting their victims at will. The 30-year-old poet does not hesitate to confess that at one time he was a messenger of evil.

The young man was weeding his homeboy's yard in the village of Takatokwane when he heard a mysterious voice saying:'Kaone, o tlaa nkgana go leele go le kae? Meaning 'Kaone, for how long would you reject me?'

The young man says than on that day of decision, he saw a vision of two pathways, one to heaven and another one to hell and that was a turning point in his life.

Today, the reformed Mahuma is a respected traditional poet who is part of the Basimane ba Bakwena quartet, whose star is rising.

According to Moroka Moreri, Mahuma, who is the youngest in this group of Bakwena traditional poets, has enjoyed renditions in key national settings, mesmerising audiences with his unique oratory styles curiously accompanied by a talented male ululator, Setsogile Madiabaso.

Mahuma was born to Phillip and Bino Mahuma though his maternal grandmother, Botlhale Tese of Boswelakoko Ward in Molepolele, raised him. This wordsmith told Arts & Culture that he was raised in the Setswana traditional way and that his uncles, especially Mokwadi, Ntebogang and Kelekantse Tese taught him the Setswana norms and culture.

During school holidays, the young man says that he would visit his father Phillip Mahuma at the cattlepost where he would further be inducted in the traditional way of life.

It was at the cattlepost that he learnt the importance of cattle rearing having realised that his father managed to successfully raise his family as a farmer.

'Ke ithutile boleng ja thuo hela jaaka Rre a nthutile gore ke nne kana, ga ke a tshwanela go tlhoka kgomo,' he says.Mahuma asserts that it was at the cattlepost where he learnt the importance of avoiding juvenile delinquency.

But things went downhill for the young poet when he joined the infamous 65-strong Maspotisi of Molepolole in 1995.

Surprisingly, although the young man hung out with a bad, crew, he did not drink and take alcohol.

The poet says that as part of the Maspotisi, he and his peers used to beat members of rival gangs, blue and black, leaving some of them dead in the process.

He said while he did all this evil, his parents and guardians were not aware of what this urchin was up to.

Then in June 2000 when he was doing his Form Five, he gravely assaulted a young girl who had been 'spreading rumours' about him and his uncles who threatened to severely punish him.

His grandmother Botlhale Tese then intervened.

'My grandmother grabbed a traditional mat and instructed me to sit down beside her and I knew at that point that we were about to have a serious talk because that is what she always did when she wanted one,' he reminisces.

After the life-changing chat with his grandmother, Mahuma, decided to relocate and fortunately he was admitted to Kweneng Bophirima Development Association (KBDA) in Takatokwane to do auto mechanics.

It was while at the brigade where he received the aforementioned visitation from God that led to his convention forcing him to depart from his Maspotisi ways. As mentioned before, it was around that time that he became a poet, albeit by chance.

Mahuma says that he became a poet by chance one day when his traditional dance group, which had been slated to perform at an event did not turn up.

Determined not to disappoint the organisers, he then approached a certain Setswana teacher, Teb Dire, who is also a published author to help him compose a poem for recitation at the event.

Mahuma was able to perform the following day and fortunately for him he realised that his audience appreciated his offering,It was around the same time that he also realized that he was spontaneous in his approach.

According to the artist, he can recite a praise-poem on anything and ever since the beginning of his career, he has been able to recite poems of presidents Ian Khama and Festus Mogae, the three Dikgosi, Dikgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete, Kgari Sechele of Bakwena, Lotlaamoreng II of Barolong, Mareko Mosielele of Manyana, Gobuamang of Moshupa, Motsiele Tsiane of Takatokwane and top politicians Kitso Mokaila, Robert Masitara and  Moeng Pheto.

The poet points out that his career got a boost when he started performing at a number of wedding parties and that that he got yet another boost when he met his male ululator Setsogile Madiabaso.

'Although Madiabaso is male, he is the best ululator I have ever seen in my life and I have to confess that if he is not able to attend an event where I am supposed to perform, I do not give the best offering,' the poet says.

Mahuma praises his fellow performer saying he is so good that at times he is mistaken for a woman and that one of those people who got confused at one point is the President.

He also asserts that having a male ululator works for him as it helps him avoid temptation, since in his 'Maspotisi days he was a womaniser who would not hesitate having affairs with different women.

The poet says despite being a qualified auto mechanic, poetry is what puts food on the table.  As mentioned before, he has gained his popularity by performing at wedding ceremonies all over the country and he charges P 750 per poem.

This soft-spoken poet is doing ministerial studies at a bible college in Tlokweng and he is planning to use the money that he has saved from his performances to finance the whole wedding that is going to take place in November this year. One can only hope that this talented poet would go a long way to help revive traditional poetry (poko ya Setswana).

Tlhaa dileele, makua bobe maphura tshiamoMotsalelwa serobing sa seso o mothubamonyoRamelo ya botshelo, mokalapedi se peolwaneKe ngwana wa monna banna...Philli weeeMorwa Mokote, motlhaola dimasisaMagamelwa dirathana