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By Nokwanda Sibandze | 2018-08-20
LOCAL and American poets moved thoughts last Friday during the poetry night made possible by the American Embassy.
The American Embassy together with independent organisations such as Furious Flowers from the Unites States, Rooted Soulz and Alliance Française to mention a few, hosted a successful poetry night which saw a number of local poets joined by four American poets perform for the crowd.
The poetry night also allowed young aspiring poets to perform in front of the country’s best and the American poets as well. Pupils from Sisekelo, Waterford kamhlaba and Sifundzani amongst other schools came to showcase their talent at the show.
Taking to the stage first were the pupils from the different schools, rendering their poems and showing what they had learnt over the past week during a workshop that was facilitated by the American poets with the help of local poets as well.
They delivered happy, sad and funny poems for the crowd; one of the outstanding poets was Chi, who rendered a poem titled ‘slay queens’, the audience was captured by the title and their reaction to the poem proved they were not ready for what he had prepared for them. With punch lines such as ‘they call themselves queens but when I look I see nothing on their heads other than weaves.’
It was when he finished his set with the line ‘See we men aren’t going to marry such women’ that the crowd lost their minds leading to a standing ovation.
Paix also from Sisekelo High School also rendered a touching poem titled ‘Don’t define my black’.
The first session was closed by SOS dancers who danced to different African music.
All the young poets delivered great poetry which also inspired the programme director Themba Mavuso. Mavuso also acknowledged Qibho Intalektual and Velemseni as they also made a major input in making sure that the show succeeds.
During the second session of the show, mature wordsmiths blew mind caps off throwing in massive punch lines, one after the other.
Opening the second set was Poet Sammy followed by calm and collected Ntokozo Mdluli otherwise known as ‘The Conductor’ who recited a poem named after his name ‘Ntokozo.’
MTN SWAMA Award nominee Majaha Nkonyane aka Poetic Soul had the audience eating out the palm of his hand as he went in deep, with eyes closed and recited how he never chose to be an African but it was God’s decision.
A number of poets graced the stage such as Black Rhino, NJ, NACA award winning Ntobie, and KrTC who did the unexpected and also rendering a poem for the audience. Themed by his surname ‘Sibandze’, the rapper intertwined his praise name with poetic words.
Qibho Intalektual was the highlight of the night as he rendered his poem ‘Mhlongamvula,’ a deep rendition that took the audience on a mind trip.
Following local poets were the American poets; Lauren Alleyne from Trinidad took to the stage first reciting poems inspired by the police violence that has taken a number of Americans.
She shared how she believes that every woman should be safe in her own society and not be afraid of being harmed just because they are female.
Dr DaMarris Hill also shared poems from her book ‘A bound woman is a dangerous thing’, she shared about her personal struggles. She also shared a touching poem about an American woman who was raped in jail by a guard.
What was inspiring about the American poets was that they had written poetry books. Mariahdessa Ekere Taillie shared a poem about a relationship that she loved because according to her it grew her as a person. What they all had in common was their poems which were inspired by struggles faced in America, especially struggles that are faced by women and black people.
The last poet to go on stage was Frank X Walker who gave a poem inspired by the famous chicken retailer KFC. “Who really believes that the best fried chicken came from an old white man” was the line that got the audience laughing.
Dr. Joanne Gabbin founder of Furious Flower Centre extended her sincere gratitude to the poets that performed on the night and also encouraged the young poets to continue with their passion for poetry. She also said that she accepts them as part of Furious Flowers. “Thank you all so much and I have been inspired to hear the poets that I have worked with render their poems, I was also won over by the enthusiasm and talent that these young poets have,” she said She also took time to thank the people that helped with making sure that the event was a success. From Sharon Martins who is the Senior Cultural Affairs Assistant and Education USA Advisor, to the US ambassador Lisa J. Peterson.
The fun did not stop there as just before the show ended Bholoja gave the audience a surprise performance. The audience were also treated to music and poetry by Tribe New.
Some of the crowd’s favourite lines:
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