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

Book: OMOSEYE BOLAJI: A voyage around his literary work

Book: Omoseye Bolaji: A voyage around his literary work (2012) Author: Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga

This new book is the latest in line of books dedicated to examining the works of Omoseye Bolaji, a rather prolific writer. Here I am not attempting to review the new work (maybe I might do so later); rather the publication of this new book made me cast my mind back on such books published over the years. The late Pule Lebuso published the early work, Omoseye Bolaji: his writings/his role as a catalyst for FS Writing (2001). Strangely enough, despite the passage of time, this book still has the best analysis of Tebogo’s spot of bother, which was Bolaji’s second adventure of Tebogo Mokoena the sleuth. Then came Flaxman Qoopane’s study titled: Omoseye Bolaji: perspectives on his literary work (2003). Qoopane was later (in 2008) to publish another book on Bolaji dubbed: THE CREST: Omoseye Bolaji honoured in Nigeria.

It was refreshing to see Charmaine Kolwane, a young black woman, putting a book together on Bolaji (in 2005). The book, titled Omoseye Bolaji: channelling one’s thoughts onto paper, was a success. Just a year later (2006), Petro Schonfeld published Tebogo on the prowl, a study of Omoseye Bolaji’s sleuth Tebogo Mokoena. The book drew many positive reviews at the time. Pule Lechesa also published the book, Omoseye Bolaji: on awards, authors, literature (2007) which focused more on Bolaji himself, as he talked about his life and works. 2009 saw the publication of Julia Mooi’s, Omoseye Bolaji: further perspectives. Hector Kunene weighed in with a lovely book simply titled OMOSEYE BOLAJI in 2010. It was (still is) a substantial work containing many different articles published on Bolaji’s work over the years. To his credit, Hector included, in particular, a superb interview near the end of the work.

And now comes this new work by Ishmael Soqaga which also considers Bolaji’s literary ouvre. This is a feather in the cap for both the author (Soqaga) and the subject, Omoseye Bolaji. - Paul Lothane

INTRODUCING MENAN DU PLESSIS

Menan Du Plessis was born in Cape Town in 1952, studied linguistics at the University of Cape Town before lecturing at the same university. She began writing poetry in the 1970s, which were published in the journal Quarry. She married Professor Renfrew L. Christie, Dean of Research at the University of the Western Cape. They have two daughters, and were guardian to an orphaned son Cornelius Graafland, from 20 September 1989 to 3 January 1994, when he turned twenty-one. Her two novels, Longlive! and A State of Fear, were well received within liberal circles as it deals with political tension in the mid-1980s South Africa. She was a member of the United Democratic Front (UDF), an organisation opposed to the national government of the time and allied to the ANC, and also wrote for their magazine, Upfront, to which she contributed articles as well. She believes South African writing can offer what European writing cannot: “Reading contemporary British writers, for me they are technically very good, but bland – South Africa offers a richness”. Sources Steyn, Pierre. 1986. Stop flinging false accusations. Frontline, 6(4), August. Aarons, Michelle. 1989. Private Anguish amid the Teargas. Weekly Mail 5(25), 30 June. Dederick, Jane. 1989. ‘Longlive!’ a Response to ‘85’s political turmoil in SA. The Cape Times, 7 July. Munnik, Victor. 1989. Menswees in die Revolusie. Vrye Weekblad, 13 October. Holtzhausen, Evelyn. 1989. Dull Characters in Search of a Plot. The Cape Times, 12 August. P.A.S. 1989. Portraits of a Familiar Scene. Daily Dispatch. 5 August. Ngcobo, Lauretta. 1988. Review: Apartheid South Africa: Through Women's Eyes. Third World Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 1, Succession in the South, (Jan.), pp. 299- 306 North, James. 1987. Unfolding Horror. New York Times, November 8 Political Editorial Staff. 1992. Polisie, IVP takel Amnestie oor verslag, aanklag. Die Burger, 10 June. 1986. Menan skenk Sanlam-Prys aan UDF blad. Beeld 30 June. 1992. Focus on Menan du Plessis. The New Nation, 15 October. - Senekal, B.A.

Christine Mautjana writes on African women's writing

It is rather exciting that many young South African Black women interested in arts and culture now regard me as something of a role model after I published my first book – which is actually a series of interviews with writers. Many are putting me on a pedestal, which I do not deserve. The truth is I am just like everybody else – largely ignorant, but willing to learn. I must confess that I used to be very intimidated too as regards literature in particular until I mixed with academics, even professors, and discovered that even they were very ignorant in certain spheres. How much more myself? As a woman the scope and breadth of literature, in Africa specifically is breathtaking. I am happy to have contributed my small quota in this wise but it is just a humble beginning. The first obstacle is that I am quite young and I have to do my research about the literary past but even this can only be tentative. Also, should one focus on South Africa alone (narrow-minded, really) or Africa? I prefer our continent when it comes to our writers. But let us start with female writers. Perhaps black female writers. As a South African woman I know now that our icons include illustrious names like Miriam Tlali, Lauretta Ngcobo, Sindiwe Magona. I have tried to at least read samples of their work. Mama Ngcobo is very polished and suave; Magona strikes me as a woman who has performed miracles – somehow overcoming great poverty during apartheid (including three young kids) to travel overseas and become one of our great writers. Read her early works and how she struggled to feed her kids and you burst into tears; not to talk of the lot of “domestics” over the years… Then there are other great black African female writers, including those living overseas. From neighbouring Zimabawe the late Yvonne Vera, and Tsitsi Dangarembga have gone down in history. What about Buchi Emecheta and (the young) Helen Oyeyemi – both based in London – who are already part of English literary canon? As women there is also this impediment of feminism. Women these days are expected to be beating the drum of women’s rights and all that goes with it; but unfortunately this can be counter-productive. Feminism is a complex series of ideas that can be confusing. Let us not confuse this with a fringe male minority doing terrible things to women (eg rape) What do women want? True lasting love; or just exploiting men? This brings Nadine Gordimer to my mind, the first African (and South African woman) to win the Nobel Award for Literature. She has over the years been criticized for allegedly not supporting women’s rights or feminism which is absurd. Her literary achievements speak for themselves. It seems to me that the great lady is being attacked for nothing. What do women really want? Are we losing or gaining from this so-called feminism? I mean I am proud to be a black woman. In South Africa women continue to perform wonders, including very young and young women. We see how we work so hard to develop ourselves, take care of our loved ones. Yes there are some obstacles but should we exaggerate them? Can we in all honesty say that our sex counts against us? Are there not so many outstanding women doing great things in their field, including literature? Like Angela Makholwa a relatively new outstanding black female writer. In my book, there are many black Free State writers featured. They include Nthabiseng jah Rose Jafta who is now making waves (with two female poets) after putting together the book, Free State of mind. Three bright black young ladies. Can we accuse them of not grabbing opportunities open to them? No. - CHRISTINE MAUTJANA (Christine Mautjana is the editor of the book, Interviews with Effervescent Writers. Mbali Press. 2012. See image ABOVE)

Mfundo Ngcangca's debut work

This new book lifts the l;id on teeming tourism potential!!! "The tourism industry is one with many opportunities for entrepreneurs and the unemployed. It is well supported and encouraged in South Africa, but myself I decided to write a tell – all book about the pitfalls in the industry. Born and bred in Sterkspruit, today working for the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. I felt the need to put pen to paper when I noticed a growing trend within tourism. People have turned to be selfish. Fewer are sharing the big cake which is tourism. This multi-faceted , money spinning industry continues to hold many in its thrall. But instead of the tourism becoming full of employment opportunities which could grow in multiple directions, I noticed companies working alone instead of together. Certain sectors do not want to share with others, now the industry becomes cruel and affect all of us. For example, people in the transportation or hospitality sector want to own everything without utilizing or outsourcing other emerging entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is important to the growth of the tourism industry at large." Read this book for more details!

Tiisetso M Thiba pens WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE WINDOW

(Performed during Writers Workshop at Mcgregor Museum in Kimberly 18 11 2011) The cascade of the water Running down to the window-pane The mist is over now And i can see vividly The night has packed Its stars and moons and is gone I have seen the yellow sun-rise going up When i looked through the window The birds were dancing to the symphony of the new day They are no longer scared now for monsters of the sinister The heart beat is normal now All intimidation has passed When i looked thru the window I have seen exquisite roses wet with the morning mist Stomach full of glee before the agony of the sun When i looked thru the window I have seen no changes But only time has changed! By Tiisetso M Thiba