POETRY PARNASSUS 2012

Word on the street - the internet actually, says poet and current artist in residence at the Southbank Centre, Simon Armitage is planning a super exciting poetry event billed for June 26 - July 2, 2012.

Parnassus is, so I've been told, a mountain in Greece where according to Greek mythology the Muses live and it is also the mythological home of poetry and music.

Back to the festival concept, basically 1 poet from each of the 205 countries will represent themselves and their country, over a week in London. There will be various readings, talks and performances. If you are a UK based translator or interpreter there is an opportunity for you to be involved with what promises to be a truly global event.

You have until July 22, 2011 to nominate the poet you want to represent your country or any other competing commonwealth country. Get voting !

2011 BESSIE HEAD LITERATURE AWARDS

A couple of months ago I was asked to adjudicate the annual Bessie Head Literature Awards poetry section. This is one of very few writing awards Botswana has and the short story and poetry section alternate annually. The winners have just been announced and the press release is below and contains information about the open prize giving ceremony.


PRESS RELEASE

The BESSIE HEAD HERITAGE TRUST, together with Pentagon Publishers, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 BESSIE HEAD LITERATURE AWARDS.

In the category of NOVEL, the winner is Ms. Tlotlo Pearl Tsamaase for her manuscript Unlettered Skies of the Sublime. The first runner-up is Mr. Service Motsamai Monyamane for Mma-Shirley’s Children, and the second runner-up is Mr Moreetsi Pius Gabang for Cryout. The winner will receive a cash prize of P2, 500.00, the first runner-up will receive P1 200.00, and the third runner up will receive P800.

In the SHORT STORY category, the winner is Mr Boikhutso Robert for a story entitled “The
Zambezi Crocodiles”. The first runner-up is Ms. Rebaone Kenanao Motsumi for her
story “Incestous Scandal ... saving Grace”; the second runner-up is Ms Jocasta Tshomarelo
Bobeng for “The War of Animals and Plants”. The prize for the short story winner is P1, 500.00; for the second runner-up it is P900.00; and for the third runner-up it is P600.00.

The POETRY winner is Mr. John Hutcheson for a set of poems (“The Massacre of
Innocents”, “The Man”, and “Curse”). The first runner-up is Ms Lisa Reed for a set of poems
(“Buffalo Sunrise”, “Campfire”, and “The Joy of Africa”). The second runner-up is Ms. Bernice
Tiny Letlhare also for a set of poems (“Wisdom”, “Allegory of a Strong Being”, “What is Life”
and “People in the Street”). The poetry prize for the winner is P1, 200.00; for the first runner-up it is P800. 00 and for the second runner up it is P500.00.

On 24 July 2011, Ms Penelope Moanakwena, President of the Botswana Reading Association, will award the above prizes in the National Museum in Gaborone, in a ceremony beginning at 2:30p.m. at the National Museum in Gaborone. The event will include readings by the winners and runners-up, a launch of the works of the 2010 winners in book form, and an open mike session.
Pentagon Publishers will promote the titles of their BESSIE HEAD SERIES of writing in English from Botswana.

24 July 2011
2:30 pm
National Museum, Gaborone
Free Admission

GO TELL THE SUN by Wame Molefhe

Recently at the No 1 ladies Opera House there was launch of a short story collection by a Motswana writer named Wame Molefhe. Wame started writing short stories a little over half a decade ago, in 2008 she left her job to write full time. She has since written television scripts, contributed to collections geared and accepted for the school syllabus, published a children's collection of stories Just Once in 2009 and this past Saturday she launched her first 'adult' collection "Go Tell the sun."

Go tell the sun was published by South African publisher Modjaji this year (2011). The blurb by South African poet and writer Rustum Kozain says, " Wame Molefhe's stories have a gentle yet intimate and captivating feel to them...And through them the author brings to bear a woman's perspective on the societal mores in which sexual abuse, homophobia and AIDS, among others flourish and spread..." This and more is true but I digress, my focus is the launch.

Rre Batho Molema a leading authority on Setswana folklore and music introduced the 'cast' - two vocalists, a percussionist, a guitarist(all members of Kabo Leburu and Ethno Jazz band) and Wame herself. Although I've known Wame for years, we first met as part of a British Council initiative called Crossing Borders and now serve on the same writers' board, I had never actually heard her read but I've seen traces of the performer in the way she expresses herself about everyday things in regular conversation. It was a wonderful evening, the 2 stories she choose to read were read to music with vocalists turning some of the words or dilaogue into a musical refrain.

Even though Wame writes primarily in English - she is writing through it not necessarily in it - her stories are peppered with Setswana references, proverbs and phrases occassionally actually written in Setswana, the simplicity of the language is almost a blatant refusal to pen any words with more than 3 syllables, all the magic lies in the meaning condensed into each line. As a Motswana I can proudly say this book feels familiar, not because I've heard or read the stories before, but because these are our stories told in a sophisticated but readable way. Yes we have dimo (folklore's giant ) and mainane (our folktales) that we were raised on but we need to tell our right-now stories as well before they are past and forgotten. And as Kozain rightly says Wame's voice leaps gracefully from issues on identity and immigration, family and infertility, sexual orientation and social expectations with admirable dexterity.

When asked if she intends to ever write a novel, she stated that it was more likely to be a string of short stories masquerading as a novel. She feels her strength lies within the realm of the short story but one could argue that "Go Tell the Sun" is a novella of sorts - it's disjointed sequencing allows you to look at the 'same characters' from multiple angles. You know, kind of like reality, always so many versions and only so many sides of a situation each person can or is willing to see.

At the end of the evening, cocooned in blankets and throws, and full of cake and coffee, we had a QnA with the author and it was clear from the comments and feedback that everyone had enjoyed themselves. We are hoping for a repeat performance and Wame tells me she's considering it, we'll keep you posted.

If you have read the No 1 ladies detective agency series but would like an inside out perspective by a Motswana, of all things beyond the daily drinking of rooibos/redbush tea - do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of 'Go Tell the Sun' it may very well be a literary investment you'll be passing on to your daughter or son in the future.