I Will Alway Love You

Music transcends generations. True and genuine music lives forever. Regardless of the genre. It stands the test of time. When music legends pass on, they will forever be engraved in the world, right down the earth's crust. Such a legend she was, Whitney Houston. May her soul rest in peace. Dolly Parton said it that she’ll always love her. A remarkable singer indeed. I too say it, ‘I will always love you, Whitney. I will always listen to your soothing music.’

Words

Words, I believe, should be put down for a purpose. A purpose a reader should unveil, whether in the plain or concealed. Respect I have for words and I try, always, not to waste them. They are to me what water is to a desert inhabitant. I value words. Written. Spoken. Sung. Whispered.

Like Edmund Morrison once said, the fitting of words requires great patience, strength of purpose and particular skill, just like the fitting of stones. 

I love the beauty of words on the paper, the sound they make when read. I, therefore, will never compromise words for anything. I will never misspell a word intentionally or use the bad habit of SMS style when writing anything. 

I like looking at my words after writing – examining them and ensuring that they represent what I want to portray. I will never let words go astray without my control. Words, like ants on a piece of paper, can go their own crazy way. They need command and direction. 

Command and direction is what I will give to my words.

Poetry Festival Updates?

Yes! 

March 31^st 2012 is the day we are all awaiting. Big names lined up for the Maun International Poetry Festival 2012. For only P200, you will get the crème de la crème of poetry. The local list includes; Mandisa Mabuthoe, Tshipa, Barong Seboni, Psycho Cydd, Moroka Moreri, Juby Peacock, Vygos, Ngwao Putswa (Tsikitsiki), Berry Heart, Dredd X, Mista Poke, Prikath, Slash the Don, Ntirelang Berman, Keabonye, Tautona, King Philosopher, Mr T, Prophet Caribbean Weed, Messenger. There also will be the musical side of it and we bring you some of Botswana’s finest musicians. The legendary folk guitarists Stika Sola and the jazz icon Kabo Leburu..

On the international we have; Upmost (Zimbabwe) Black Star (South Africa), Corazon (USA), Blackpearl (Zimbabwe), Miss Quote (Jamaica), Prince Shapiro (South Africa). The list doesn’t end here. Keep watching this space – and buy your ticket soon, lest they run out quickly. 

Ticket sale points to be announced soon. In the meantime, you can book your tickets at (+267) 73597356 or (+267) 74404968. 

The festival is spilt in two sections – the preliminary show and the main show. The Pre-Show will start at 10am until 1pm. This part of the festival will be a showcase of the upcoming talent. It will be a grand finale to the Poetavango Interschool Poetry Slam. Students from different secondary schools (governments, private and special needs) will recite powerful poetry in front of a panel of adjudicators. Other performers for the main show will also grace this stage. 

Ticket price for the show is only P30. However, those who buy the P200 ticket for the main show will have FREE access to the pre show! What a bonus!

DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!

Names of our sponsors and donors to be posted here soon.  

read article in The Voice newspaper 

read article in Weekend Post newspaper 

visit Festival Blog and learn more about the 2012 festival and Poetavango Spoken Word Poetry 

There Will Be Fire

Excitement pulses in every artery, capillary and vein. Like a high-voltage eclectic cable. The closer the day gets, the hotter the blood vessels become. The Maun International Poetry Festival 2012 is almost here (31st March). Poetry giants from across the country and abroad will soon set the tourist town ablaze. There will be fire. Intense fire. Even the Thamalakane River water can’t quench this fire. When you take different minds and tongues from various countries and put them together, it results in a catastrophic fire. Maun is about to undergo a history-making process. But worry not, poets are seers.

Killing for Potatoes

Hmmm… I smell coffee and baked potatoes. Rich, strong, black coffee. The saccharine aroma wafts like a magical phantom to my room and into my nostrils. It feels wonderful; perhaps the kind of feeling one gets from sniffing cocaine. The potatoes, spiced quite adequately, tickle my morning appetite. What a breakfast this promises to be! I snuffle – once, twice, thrice – trying to figure out the direction from which this morning glory comes. It’s not from my kitchen, I know. It must be my next-door neighbour. But then, hmm-hmm, it can’t be. My neighbour is not the coffee type, nor any type of hot beverage. My neighbour drinks only Amstel – morning, noon and night. And potatoes? Certainly can’t be my neighbour. Whoever and wherever you are, I’m going to hunt you, and I’m going to find you. And, sadly for you, I’m going to devour those potatoes and guzzle down that coffee. I’m loading my gun…

Poetry Madness

When my bones hurt and ache inside, as though the marrow is burning, I know it's music wanting to come out. Remedy? I pick my bass or acoustic guitar and I'm cured - immediately. But when my brain turns inside my skull, swirling painfully, left and right hemispheres battling to change positions, I know its poetry. And I know I'll soon be labeled 'mad', 'insane', 'nuts', crazy', etc. But I'll just let my pen scribble...anything and everything.

Gruesome

Ouch, I'm watching them murder an animal - a sweet, innocent sheep. They are so full of joy as they take life. They say they are celebrating the New Year. Im looking at this beautiful animal as it struggles for its life, begging for mercy. They don't care. They slit its throat and rip its skin off. Blood on the ground. Blood on their hands and blood on their shoulders. They argue with me as I protest. They say God gave man dominion over all living things. I argue back. But their voices are louder - one against six. I weep for the animal that just lost dear life. I think about its family. It will be missing in the kraal tonight. They'll never know its buried in man's stomach. 2012 is starting so badly for me, and for the animals. Just witnessed a gruesome, first degree murder. Mankind, when will you ever have a heart? I mean a real heart.