GILBERT MODISE REMEMBERED WITH PANACHE

Poet Gilbert Ngwaneso Modise was post-humously honoured in Bloemfontein at the weekend at the National Afrikaans Literary Museum and Research Centre (Dingolweng Tsa Sesotho Museum) at Charlotte Maxeke Street. The objective of the event was to also honour Modise as a poet, imbongi and sangoma, according to Mpikeleni Duma, veteran journalist, political activist and essayist. "To my mind a sangoma and a poet are very close in category, both using the power of the imagination and the inner eye, and both listening with the inner ear, and both of them giving messages to the people," said Mpikeleni in honour to Gilbert Modise. Charmaine Mrwebi, from the Bloemfontein Public Library and one of the organizers of the event conferred a certificate from the Words of Ink Writers Club of Bloemfontein to the family of Modise at the function in his honour. Also, messages of support from all over the world were read, including one from the people’s poet, Mzwakhe Mbuli. Mbuli’s message read: "The year 2012 marks 100 years of our struggle for liberation against tyranny. As the country celebrates the Centenary, the name of a creative cadre Gilbert Modise comes to mind. We pay tribute and salute selfless contribution of this son of the soil who fearlessly used his talent against the apartheid monster. We shall always remember brave martyrs like him who could not be silenced in the face of injustice. Long live the poetic spirit of Comrade Gilbert. Longlive!" Also present was Tshediso Maseloane from the Arts and Culture Department; Kgang Abel Motheane, the prolific writer, Serame “Icebound” Makhele, the well known rapper artist.

Poet Flaxman Qoopane, who was a friend and close associate of Gilbert Modise, took the audience on a journey about the life of the deceased. Qoopane, who runs an art gallery in Mangaung township, revealed the story of Gilbert to the audience as he displayed photos of his friends when they were both overseas and in South Africa. He collaborated by reading a poem with fellow poet, Jah Rose in honour of Gilbert Modise. Qoopane said he was disappointed that the Performing Arts Centre of Free State is allegedly ignoring the works of Gilbert Modise. Kedinamotse, Gilbert Modise’s elder said her family was happy that her brother was honoured. She said: "It is important that the arts fraternity in the province must honour my brother including other veteran poets who have been before him on the scene. We are honoured as a family and his children that our son is not forgotten." Kedinamotse also introduced the daughter of Modise, Jerusalema. Modise's daughter broke down because of her happiness as her father was honoured. Songbird and vocalist, Mantele Moye in her Difela (Hymn) Ha le mpotsa tshepo ya ka, led to tears flowing from the family of Modise as she remembered the poet. Moye used to sing at the church of Modise at Rocklands. The occasion was characterized with the rendition of poems: Poet Magic Raselebeli Khotseng, Hector Kunene, Mojalefa. Veteran Comedian, Mesuli Dlangamandla had the audience in stitches. The family of the great writer, Ntate Moiloa attended the function to support Gilbert Modise including actors who worked with him for years. Modise was born in 1964 in Batho Location, Bloemfontein, Free State. He obtained his secondary education at Sehunelo High School in Bloemfontein and thereafter educated himself further by reading widely and imaginatively. He went on to become one of the most celebrated black cultural worker in the Free State - an author, poet, general innovator, musician, playwright and literary activist. He also published novels in Setswana.

OMOSEYE BOLAJI DOCUMENTARY: 'Home away from home'

I suppose relatively few film documentaries are made focusing on black African writers. I have over the years enjoyed such rare documentaries made on African writers like Es'kia Mphahlele, Wole Soyinka, and Ola Rotimi. But such films are still thin on the ground, and it is a tragedy, for example, that top writers (now deceased) like Dambudzo Marechera, Chris Okigbo, Ingrid Jonker are not recorded on visual tape. Thus, this documentary is one to applaud and relish. It focuses on the versatile writer, Omoseye Bolaji (pictured above), and the impact he has made on literature including at grassroots level. Respected African writers like Pule Lechesa, Flaxman Qoopane, Hector Kunene pay tribute to Bolaji in this documentary. We see images of Bolaji, his published books, some of his major awards, here. Also, Bolaji himself talks about life as a writer, his influences, inspiration, motivation, etc. This is an illuminating, well produced documentary. The director, editor, and producer is Winnie Mokhomo (below)

The Executive producer of the documentary is Dr Melanie Chait. - Paul Lothane

Mbali Literary Awards, Clocolan

Literary protagonists who graced the inaugural Mbali Awards were united in their advice in respect of Free State literacy and literature – complacency is a bugbear! This was obvious at the event that took place in Clocolan. Pule Lechesa, the internationally renowned critic said: “FS writing can not afford to rest on its laurels. We still have a long way to go; we must guard against complacency which is a very dangerous thing; with the eloquent, futile shrug of the shoulder that does not bode well eventually,” Lechesa was one of the formal speakers at the Awards, which was graced by arts and culture practitioners. Speakers also pointed out that it was important there should be regular encouragement and boosts for writers in particular. “Fine Black writers are relatively few and far between in black Africa,” Peter Moroe said. “But this is no excuse for them not to be encouraged. Hence the pivotal importance of such award nites,”

Peter Moroe, widely recognised for editing the literary series, The growth of FS Black writing over the years, added: “We have to try much harder to build a society of readers. Our people are just not reading, and the few who do, read absolutely the wrong things. Hence knowledge of literature in particular is plummeting yearly,” Raphael Mokoena, polished critic and essayist, also bemoaned the prevailing situation. “The ignorance on literature is so shocking these days,” he said. “When educated black people are not familiar with the works of SA writers like Es’kia, Lewis Nkosi, Gomolemo Mokae, Siphiwo Mahala etc one, is enveloped in despair” He added: “Occasions like this show that there is some hope on the horizon. I have been impressed with the Citations on the Mbali awardees which display knowledge of literature and eclectic trends…One hopes that soon the likes of Flaxman Qoopane will be honoured for what they have done for the world of letters,”

- R Khotseng

ES'KIA MPHAHLELE'S DOWN SECOND AVENUE

The author of this great work, Pa Es’kia Mphahlele breathed his last after a long fruitful life (he was almost 90 when he departed this world) Mphahlele was celebrated as one of the greatest writers Africa has ever produced. Over the decades he was an academic, journalist, editor and international professor. As early as 1959 he published his classic, Down Second Avenue which made the literary world to drool.

Down Second Avenue details the early years of the author’s life how he incredibly made good for himself despite coming from a background of great poverty. We learn all the hard things that happened to him and his family when he was very young but how he decided to be different. It was his love for the written word – for reading and writing – that came to the author’s rescue. From a very early age he relished reading books and in fact went through virtually all the books in his local library easily. He began to explain things to his friends and contemporaries; things he had learnt from books and the early cinema in those days. We see the strength of women in those days of apartheid – the strength of mothers, foster mothers, aunts, etc who despite grinding poverty were always ready to help one way or the other. The young Es’kia did well at school, became a teacher, and later a celebrated journalist and editor at Drum. For a man of his great intelligence and awareness, apartheid era was completely unacceptable, so Es’kia decided to go abroad, to west Africa which was of course then much freer than South Africa. Here he began to blossom as a great creative writer and critic… - KA Motheane (Bookshelf Column)

MEET SEISO MPETE "DR COOL"...

Recently, the much anticipated Macufe poetree took place at PACOFS Ofm Downstage. Among the 20 poets who where featured that evening there were likes of Napo Mashiane, Lesego Rampolokeng, Ice Bound, Jah-Rose, Hector Kunene, Afurakan Mohare. Also strutting his stuff was the poet who many say was on fire that evening and he mesmerized that stage with the unforgettable perfomance. Who can it be none other than Seiso 'Dr. Cool' Mpete, a poet from Bloemfontein who never disappoints with his performances anywhere in the country.

This is what he had to say about the Macufe poetree night: “Thanks to Macufe and Jah-Rose productions for giving us SA poets a night to always remember.” When we asked him of how does he manage to keep his performances accelerating positively he said “I once told myself that I'll forever stay hungry, as much as I'm honored for my achievements and my fans.. every time when I perform, I perform like a beginner who is doing his best to be recognized because all what God was to give me a Talent and now it's up to me if I'm gonna keep it alive or let it die.” “My highlights of that night would be Napo Masheane performance, and my friend's performance Lesego Rampolokeng, Marvelous performances if I may say.” as he continued “I will like to thank all our fans and supporters who came across the Country to support us, we are who we arebecause of your support. "To my fellow Artists... I cote myself hahahaha... If you want to stay the best in what you do 'NEVER ALLOW YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO LEGENDERELIZE YOUR MIND OR IT WILL ALL BE OVER.' close cote hahahah...” Congratulations to Jah-Rose productions and Big ups to the Doctor of words Dr. Cool!!!!!

Mayibongwe Mpanda's UKUKHANYA

Book: Ukukhanya By Mayibongwe Mpanda Because of the high standards of literary trends in the Free state we tend to intimidate would-be writers a-times - this despite the fact relatively very few books are published by black writers. Yet we must remember that not all books are published for literary acclamation or purposes. The writer just has something to say - this includes books with spiritual or motivational purpose. Ukukhanya is such a work. The author is Mayibongwe Mpanda and this book strives to improve us spiritually... Ukukhanya (light) contains a variety and diverse kinds of poems and there are some real questions posed prompting the reader to logic thinking. There are poems covering various topics like faith, social affairs, family affairs, economic affairs, political affairs etc. A work written to foster widespread improvement! “Once light has appeared the life of a person can no longer be the same. Where there is light, there is life, and darkness flees! The light shines and provides light to those in the dark...” Poems here include humbleness, youth, talent, ubuntu, reconciliation, Holy spirit, women’s Day, South Africa, rainbow nation, water of life, wisdom, bread of life, no to crime, complacency; among others. By the way, I was delighted that this column was shortlisted for the prestigious Mbali Awards. It is reassuring that some pundits appreciate what we try to do here in this column. - K.A Motheane

LESELI MOKHELE AND HIS SHORT STORIES

Leseli Mokhele is one of the outstanding short story writers in Southern Africa; he hails from Lesotho, and made his debut as a very good writer of fiction with the book, Home grown short stories. The reader is struck with two things soon after being introduced to Mokhele’s work: his wide diction, and also his fertile imagination. The underworld, the sleazy, different types of women; desperate men – these are some of the themes in his short stories.

Then there is also the violence. A lot of this seems to go too far and a streak of sadism might well run through his work. The sweetness and dangers that go with women are well highlighted, including heartbreak and Aids. The stories are more in the line of the hard school of overseas thrillers. But the beauty is that the background is very much the black world of the locations, and the like. That Mokhele is well read can be seen from his references to literature and literary giants in his fiction. Like Marechera, he pays tribute to his favourite writers directly and indirectly and spreads some enlightenment in the process. Mokhele has published another book titled The Charismatic charlatan. It is also a collection of short stories; and the good news is that this book is available in many of the Free State libraries. Lovers of African fiction will do well to read Mokhele’s work. K.A Motheane