Wednesday, November 28, 2012

SOL PLAATJE

SOL PLAATJE (1876 – 1932)



Selected Works

Sechuana Proverbs with literal Translations and their European Equivalents

Native Life in South Africa

“…Plaatje’s tactical humility which is consciously undercut by the confident poise of language and style, and whose expressed reservations about its own merits assert the very opposite of inadequacy – “ Njabubo Ndebele, on Native Life

Diphosho – phosho (A Setswana translation of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors)

Mhudi: An epic of SA Native Life a hundred years ago.

“A thrilling and well-written book…the style is wonderfully good for a native…” The South African Outlook

“Mhudi itself is a second-rate, badly organized hodge-podge of semihistory, semi-fiction, shoddy allegory – a pastiche combining fact and fiction in a most illogical manner” – Criticism of the work by Mazisi Kunene.

Mafeking Diary

“At six o’clock there was a perfect fusillade…There have been certain smashes in town during this week, and everybody is tired of the siege. I am afraid some of the people will be too far gone to welcome our relief when it turns up. It rains nearly everyday, but softly enough to keep things in good order”

- Excerpt from Plaatje's Mafeking Diary

Monday, November 26, 2012

Academics and writers share information at UFS Conference



By Flaxman Qoopane and Vangile Gantsho


The African Century International African Writers Conference held at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa on 7-10 November 2012, gave a platform to academics and writers to share information among each other, and also imparted skills to younger writers.


Faith Ben-Daniels from Ghana presented a paper entitled The Global Stage for Humanity and the African Disposition, a case study of Efo Kodjo Mawugbe’s Upstairs and Downstairs.

According to Daniels, Upstairs and Downstairs is an absurdist play from the African perspective. It is centred on three lunatics and the Light House. In the play, the lunatics discuss issues concerning Africa such as poverty and bad governance. The lunatics’ role is to open audiences eyes to the challenges that Africa is facing and the don’t provide a solution.

Nadine Gordimer, the Nobel Laureate, read from her latest novel: No time like present. The novel is about a Jewish Steven Reed and a Methodist Jabulile Gumede. Gordimer explores the couple’s relationship in exile in Swaziland, as a married couple and how they cope with their different backgrounds in the political climate of the time.

Bramwel Oita Akileng, Director of Jacaranda International Property Business Consultants, presented a paper: The Challenges Facing the Modern Writer and the Benefits of the Proper Use of Copyright.

Akileng said: “The paper covered the objectives of the African writers on the continent and from the diaspora in writing their literary works. The main objective has been to tell the African story of the struggle, colonialism, slavery, competition, poverty, homelessness etc. Very few, if any, have pursued the profit objective of copyright.”

Prof Anne-Marie Beukes from the University of Johannesburg presented a paper: Translation as a Tool for Creating Discursive Space: The Political Dimensions of Translation in South Africa. She said: “I used the case study of what the Afrikaaner Nationalists did after 1925. They used intellectuals such as teachers, clerks, writers, journalists and translators to fast track the development of Afrikaans, of establishing Afrikaans from a kitchen language to a public language. They referred that period of fast-tracking the development as our century of translation because the Bible was translated into Afrikaans.”

Prof Beukers added that translation has been modernised as a social practice in post-Apartheid South Africa. “I say it is time for a new century of translation, but an inclusive century, involving all our languages to develop and intellectualise our languages.”

Dr Polo Belina Moji, Pose doctoral fellow from the University of Kwazulu Natal presented a paper-Domesticating Ivorite: Equating Xenophic Nationalism and Women’s Marginalisation in Tanella Boni’s novel Martins de couvre-feu 2005 Ivory Coast.



Dr Moji presented a novel Martins de courve-feu (Mornings of the Curfew) by Tanella Boni, a well-known writer, philosopher and a poet from Ivory Coast. Boni writes in French, which is why her work is unknown in English speaking Africa. Dr Moji told me that; “My research interest is bridging the knowledge gap in literary studies between the French and English speaking countries in Africa. The novel deals with issues of Xenophobic nationalism in Ivory Coast (Ivoirite) and African women’s marginalisation domestication. The novel won the Ahmadou-Kourouma Literary Award in 2005”.

Prof. Andries Oliphant delivered a paper- The role of Literary Journals in African Struggles for Cultural and Political liberation. He focused on the role of the missionaries by establishing the Printing Press in Lovedale, Eastern Cape in 1823 and at Morija in Lesotho. With the establishment of those printing presses, Xhosa and Sesotho Literature started to be published in newspapers, he added that Drum magazine was also established in Africa.



He said that Es’kia Mphahlele became the literary editor of Drum magazine. Lewis Nkosi, Bessie Head, Can Themba, just to mention a few became journalists and the started writing fiction for the magazine. After Sharpville massacre, the ANC and the PAC were banned. Prof. Keorapetse Kgositsile. Dennis Brutus just to name a few went to exile. In 1978, Staffrider magazine was published by Ravan Press in Braamfontein South Africa. Prof Oliphant edited the magazines for many years.



Ikeogu Oke, author and poet from Nigeria presented a paper- The Poetry of Dennis Brutus and the Dynamics of Africa’s Literary Struggles. Oke said; “The poetry of Brutus is poetry that validates the fact that the struggle for justice is never autochthonous, that its origin is always in something other than itself, and that man never began to care for justice, to struggle for it, until man began to visit injustice on his kind, and that the roots of such struggle are often in the need to reverse the deprivation of justice, of humanity, to those who wage it. It is, in effect, the poetry of a true poet in whose works a sense of beauty is inseparable with a sense of mission. Its overriding goals, as Wayne Karim has affirmed, are “compassion, understanding, truth and equitable, fair shake for all in access to health, safety, food, shelter, and opportunity and right for the enhancement of ours and the Earth’s well being without doing harm to others”. These goals are proof that though South Africa was Brutus’s country, humanity was his constituency.



Elinor Sisulu, a writer and biographer said; “I thank Ikeogu Oke for giving a presentation on Brutus. I grew up in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, when I was attending school, Brutus’s father was my principal. My first connection with Robben Isaland was through the poetry of Dennis Brutus. After his death in December 2009, how much is Brutus read in South Africa. Is his poetry appreciated in this country, how can we pass the legacy of Brutus to the next generation?”



Dr. Neville Choonoo from the University of New York, USA, presented a paper- Black Autobiography, Resistance and the Diaspora. During an interview with me he said; “I was trying to show that within the black experience under white hegemony, we developed mechanism of survival. We created black spaces among ourselves, which were very rich in terms of our construction of mode of our survival”.



Dr Wangui wa Goro from the University of London presented a paper- Intercultural Knowledge Production and Management through Translation and Traducture. In memory of Neville Alexander and Michel Henry Helm.



Dr Wa Goro told me that; “My key message is centrality of translation and traducture, life is unequal. You can’t see translation is complicated political and it involves issues of power.



“Our languages are dying fast and like the trees and forest. We need to protect our languages urgently. The restorative project, sustainability project, they have to happen at the same time. Our survival as African people is dependent of the survival of our languages, as we seat here our languages are dying”



It was an honour to have an author Winston Tsietsi Mohapi to facilitated a short story workshop at the conference 9-10 November. Ten participants attended and they learned about the structures that make a short story. There was an exercise for participants where they read two stories, The Suit by Can Themba and The Suit Continued by Siphiwo Mahala.

They discussed, analysed, and commented about the conflict, protagonist, climax, resolution, settings in these two stories. The participants gained valuable skills about how to write short stories. They left the conference with a believed that they are going to be a future short story writers.

On Saturday 10 Novenber 2012, at 14-15 hour, during the conference author Siphiwo Mahala participated during the Book Reading and Discussion session. The session was facilitated by Flaxman Qoopane. Mahala read from a collection of his short stories African Delights (Jacana). He read stories including the Suit Continued, this was followed by questions from the audience and the author responded well.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

MBALI LITERARY AWARDS (2012)



The Mbali Literary Awards (2012) took place at the weekend in Clocolan, South Africa. Four writers based in the Free State were honoured in different categories. Here are excerpts from the formal Citations on the winners:

Category: Author of the Year

Winner: George Rampai, author of From where I stand



“The committee was unanimous in choosing the book of the year - to wit, Mr George Rampai’s novel From where I stand. The criteria, the simple test was clear enough. This is a work, a book that can be set beside the general creative works of talented African writers like Ngugi, Ayi Kwei Armah, Gomolemo Mokae or David Maillu without feeling the awful draft...a fine imaginative novel with a number of twists in the tail to boot. We commend Mr Rampai for his creativity and impressive diction.”

Category: Commentator/Writer on literature

Winner: Kgang Abel Motheane (columnist)

“The award for commentator on literature was also a simple choice. It goes to Ntate Kgang Abel Motheane for his Bookshelf column. It is a superb, concise, informative column which comes out every week. This year alone, the column has published excellent appraisals on writers like Leseli Mokhele, Gomolemo Mokae, George Rampai, Job Mzamo etc; why, even the late illustrious Gore Vidal (American) was featured in the column! It is no surprise that a large number of these excellent write-ups have found themselves on the internet for the world to read”

Category: Most promising new author of the year

Winner: Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga



“For the category of promising newcomer, new author of the year, the committee is again unanimous in announcing Mr Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga as the winner. His book, a nuanced individual study, his critical work on the iconic writer, Omoseye Bolaji has been hailed across the board as a success. (The book is titled Omoseye Bolaji: a voyage around his literary work) It is no exaggeration to state that never before on our shores have we witnessed any new author and their debut book attracting so many quality reviews, critiques etc as Mr Soqaga has done. Our congratulations to him too.”

Category: Lifetime Achievement award category

Recipient: Omoseye Bolaji



“Mbali Awards Committee is also happy to announce that we decided to bestow a special Lifetime Achievement award on Mr Omoseye Bolaji this year. Here is a man who has seen it all and done it all. Mr Bolaji is truly a great African writer. Not only because he has published some 30 books of various genre. Not only because multiple critical books have been published on him; not to talk of countless essays published around the world on his literary work; and never mind his many awards. But also mainly because he has dedicated his life selflessly to promoting quintessential literature, inspiring, spreading pertinent literary information and knowledge in excellent fashion whilst somewhat seemingly lurking in the background most of the time. He remains the key, pivotal protagonist in respect of our literature.”

Above pix: Bolaji (left) and Motheane with their certificates



Thursday, November 15, 2012

Writes Associates Honours Writers at SALA Awards



By: Flaxman Qoopane (below)


I was proud to attend the 7th annual South African Literary Awards (SALA) during the Africa Century International African Writers Conference, at the Callie Human Hall, University of the Free State. Bloemfontein on 10 November 2012, I had an opportunity to interview some of the winners.

Fanie Naude from Cape Town, writes as S.J Naude, he won the First Time Published Author Awards, for his short stories. Alphabet Van Die Voels (Alphabet of the Birds) in Afrikaans. He personally told me that; “Being a winner in SALA awards means there is a public recognition of writing that is not in English, it gives me great joy”.

Sonja Loots from Cape Town received the K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award for her Afrikaans novel Sirkusboere. She personally told me: “Sello’s death was a great loss to me, but it was also ironically-a new beginning. My sadness that we lost him made me decide to write, which is what he told me to do all along.

“Receiving the awards complete a circle. He was there right at the beginning and now once again. I thank him wherever he is for inspiration and friendship. After his death I was glad that there was an award in his honour. I thought of working very hard, and if I am lucky maybe, I can win it one day. And my dream became a reality”.

Nhlanhla Maake also took the K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award for his Sesotho novel-Manong a Lapile. He personally told me that; “Taaanki! Ke a leboha!”.

The Literary Translator Award, English to Afrikaans was given to Francois Smith from Cape Town, he personally told me that; “I translated David Kramer’s Biography from English to Afrikaans- David Kramer: n Biografie, I am overjoyed, it is a very important incentive to me.”

Hannes Haasbroek from Bloemfontein took the Creative Non-Fiction Award for his Afrikaans book, n Seun Soos Bram (A son like Bram) He personally told me that; “Dit is ’n wonderlike geleentheid om die prys te kom wen na al die harde werk en al die navoring wat in die Braam Fischer book ingegaan het”.

Mclntosh Polela from Gauteng was honoured with the Creative Non-Fiction Award for his English book, My father, My Monster. He personally told me that; “This is the closing of what has been a great year for me. It is only my first book, it is a best seller, nominated for three awards and winning one. It’s a remarkable and humbling achievement”.

The Lifetime Achievement Literary Award was given to Ndivhudzanni Emelina Sigogo (63) from Ngwenani Ya Thomeli Village, Thohoyandou in Limpopo, for her Tshivenda novel Nandi Shenga (Am I a Tattoo). She personally told me that; “I feel great and honoured by the award. I feel encouraged to write more. I have published more than fifteen novels, drama and short stories”.

During the ceremony Sebenzile Yolanda Vilakazi (63) from Groutville Stanger in Kwazulu Natal received the Chairperson’s Award, on behalf of her late father Bambatha Wallet Vilakazi, academic, novelist, poet and researcher. Sebenzile personally told me that; “My father was born on 6 January 1906 at Groutville and he died on 26 October 1947 in Johannesburg. On 26 October 2012, the writes Associates invited me to attend the S.A Literary Awards. On 10 November, I celebrated my 68 birthday.

“My father studied at the Wits University in Johannesburg, he completed his Honours in Zulu. He did his Masters and his Doctorate at the same University. He was a researcher, poet, novelist, he published a Zulu to English dictionary; he published three books. I was three years old when my father died. My mother Nomsa E. Vilakazi died in July 2012.

“My late dad had the projection to the future, it is 65 years since he died, he is not dead, people still write about him much in Isizulu. I would like to request that one of the buildings at Wits University must be named after my father. He had overcome the barriers, he convinced the whites to admit black students at Wits University. He honoured Isizulu; Isizulu must be spoken by the Zulu, Isixhosa must be spoken by the Xhosa. My father’s work has been translated into other languages. People must write so that these other nations must admire our languages”.

During the occasion, Story telling was presented by Ikeogu Oke and backed by Pops Mohamed. Oke told me that; “I presented a folklore - The Lion and the Monkey. I sang the song from the Ibo culture in Nigeria as I tell the folktale. There are three lessons in the story, it is trust and gratitude, the other lesson is infused into the song where it talks about being careful about accepting things that are supposedly free - they might be a trap.

“I was free, maybe not be free after all as the lion discovered, where he realises in fact that the meat was bait by a hunter to entrap any animal that attend to eat”.

Olufemi & The Natives, a Nigerian band based in Johannesburg performed songs like Iba, Orimi, Lady (by Fela Kuti) and Africa Unite. Olufemi Ogunkoya personally told me that; “It is great that we are performing at the SALA awards, by inviting the Nigerian born band, it means there is love of music and literature shared by the South Africans and the Nigerians”.

The highlight of the ceremony was when one of the country’s top musicians, Vusi Mahlasela and his band took the stage. He played songs like Mmalo-we by the late Jabu Khumalo; like Thabo o wa nyalwa, including his song-The Spirit of Moshoeshoe; and the audience and the music lovers danced and sang along with Mahlasela.

Belinda Van Zwyndrecht acoustic, bass guitarist and percussionist from Bloemfontein backed by Malcolm Aberdean, bass guitarist and percussionist performed songs about life, country and people these include African Dancer, Freedom and Lied Van Lewens.

Chris Mapane, one of the best comedians in South Africa impressed the audience with his comedy.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

FLOWERS OF HATRED


“FLOWERS OF HATRED”

A poem by Raselebeli “Magic” Khotseng



You demon corrupters bayed for Tafari’s head

How your murderous hands beheaded Bambatha and assassinated Lumumba

The spirit of the great warrior of Congo shall one day rise like a seed under a cut-off tree

When killers and lifesavers emerge like flowers blossoming during summertime

Crocodiles fertilizing African soil with blood are killers whom history doesn’t embrace but talk about

Moshoeshoe our lifesaver never be voted to his kingship but laid the foundation of our future without bloodshed

So behold! You criminals of war that flowers of hatred will blossom for all your things done to us

2

At the door of my heart hangs a memory of martyrs

Vanished under Vorster and persecuted by Smith in Zimbabwe

Till now Africa is free but images of colonialism still exist

Its masters placed government on us whilst occupied the land and its resources

To labour and feed children of theirs

For theirs is to accumulate resources and condemned God-given rights

Resourcing UNITA and RENAMO to butcher our people in Angola and Mozambique

No wonder, Mugabe dispossessed them as they failed to honour Lancaster House Agreement

‘Cos their preaching is a plot to penetrate our wealth

In a stillness of my heart I witnessed them perpetuating civil wars in Congo, Burundi

Where dispossessed eyes possess pools of tears

Weeping for you Africa my son, Africa my beginning

They long for the day when God transform beasts to human beings

Whipping their military juntas with terrible lashes from Cape to Cairo

That day no more tears shall shed again as they feel flowers of hatred


3

Spirit of Nyerere rescue Africa from becoming a European province

Pump our hearts with spirit of awakening that makes us not to remain silent like stones

Rather take a bull by its horn and bring it down as we bring peace with no fear

Peace in the hands of those deceived the world in pursuit of colonization of Iraq

Their military generals turned holy city a battlefield with sophisticated machinery

When nobody unearthed weapons of mass destruction

O’Godlike serpents when you’ll be subjected to tribunal treatment along with Israel and its Zionism

But the moment you realize that the fall of twin-towers is the reminder of Hiroshima bombardment

That’s when flowers of hatred will blossom for all things done to us

4

It's far from where we came

From slave trade to being named terrorists by those who delayed our freedom

Refused to impose sanctions to our persecutors

From a soothing lullaby of slave song “Kumba ya my Lord”

Kumbaya! Neither Obama is grey but remains a clone to Bush

Replacing Reagan like mosquitoes relieving house flies from a day shift

Nor mists and clouds moving the same direction to the east

A direction leads to Red Sea where creators of imperialism reign

The imperialistic agenda made them three-in-one like Aquafresh

In them flowers of hatred will blossom for all things done to us.