The Arts Amuse performing Arts Services from Bloemfontein in partnership with the National Arts Council of South Africa organised the Art of writing Poetry Workshop at the National Afrikaans Literature Museum in Bloemfontein on 14 September 2013.
Rita Chihawa (above) from the Arts Amuse said: “The Arts Amuse in partnership with the National Arts Council of South Africa will be championing, developing and investing in artistic and literary arts workshops that enrich people’s lives.”
The lady icon added: “We are hosting another series of distinctive workshops that will ensure the Free State aspiring writers develop their skills ranging from poetry scripts, short story and novel writing and performance,”
She explained further that as regards the art of writing poetry workshop, veteran, polished, eclectic writer and journalist Flaxman Qoopane was roped in to chip in with his extraordinary experience and dexterity. Also invited was Serame “Icebound” Makhele who also strutted his stuff eloquently.
Flaxman Qoopane, always a colourful character, said in his distinctive voice: “During the workshop I introduced the twenty aspiring poets to the following language resources, spoken word, listening, speaking, reading, vocabulary, improving your writing etc. When we want to find out how well or badly a poem is written we appreciate or criticize that poem. In other words, we want to get points that help us in liking or disliking the poem. This is commonly referred to as literary criticism,’
During the workshop, Qoopane and Makhele distributed a poem, Alexandra penned by the illustrious Mongane Wally Serote, to the aspiring poets. The duo also helped the participants to analyse the pertinent poem. According to Qoopane and Makhele:
“Poet Serote praises his birthplace, Alexandra which is next to Johannesburg. The poet was nostalgic whilst in exile…’Alexandra is like a beautiful caring mother’ He personifies Alexandra by saying: ‘A most beautiful Mother’. The poet has travelled to many other countries, but still feels Alexandra is the best. These memories of the poet are strong, trenchant and resonating – as he even reminisces on the horrors, murders et al.
‘There is no place like the birth place’ is the stirring message that strikes a chord from this piece. It was a most enlightening workshop!
Serame Makhele presented a talk about the late Stephen Bantu Biko who was killed by the apartheid regime on 12 September 1977. He read some extracts from his book, I write what I like
Ncumisa Stokwe from J.B Mafora, Mangaung said: “The facilitators Flaxman Qoopane and Serame Makhele have great experiences as poets. We learned a lot from them about poetry. Thank you Arts Amuse for inviting Qoopane and Makhele to inspire us,”
Angelina de Wee from Bochabela Location in Bloemfontein said; “I saw for the first time the Qoopane Literary Gallery. It exposed me to so many SA writers. I felt as if I was rubbing shoulders with Mongane Wally Serote, Don Mattera, Njabulo Ndebele, Sol Plaatje, Lebo Mashile etc. A magnificent Gallery!!”
