HECTOR KUNENE SPEAKS ON HIS DEBUT BOOK

We caught up with an inspiring young and vibrant poet in Free State Hector Kunene. Seleke Botsime presents this awesome interview of the soon to be launched book called Through The Tunnel by HECTOR.S. Kunene.

SB : How do you feel about the imminent publication of your first book ?

HK: It is quite a humbling experience having to talk about my own work going to press at this stage, I have always dreamt that one day I will have my book in the shelves of libraries throughout the country and bookshops, I know it’s a big dream and to realize it is not easy but I choose to aim for the sky and if I don’t reach it then I will fall on the stars.

SB : Obviously you love poetry so much, how did it start for you, from childhood?

HK : I am not going to lie to you man, I only realized it when I was doing grade 10 at school. I just got inspired and started writing; I loved literature and was brilliant in understanding how to break down a poem into understanding and getting to picture the mind of a writer when he wrote the piece. I always had brilliant teachers in English so they made poetry interesting whenever they read it so I think that caught my attention. From there I wrote my first piece which was published on the school news letter. My parents were excited when I showed them my name on the bottom of the corner. As they say the rest is history but for me it is a present moment.

SB: What do you think the role of literature, writing should be?

HK : That is a brilliant question, we writers do not only write because we can but we are conveying a message either to warn about a danger that we foresee or we could be simply expressing our feelings, the role of writing should definitely be to tell about our histories, stories for our children, to bring comics and laughter and to convey knowledge and literature best does it.

SB : It remains a sad fact that relatively very few blacks read for leisure – poetry, drama, etc. what can be done to improve the situation?

HK : Yoh! This is a difficult one but I think we writers need to make it our role to go all out in getting people to read perhaps staring in our community where we are based and do reading campaigns and go to local radio stations and encourage the people telling them of the importance of libraries. We complain about everything whereas if we went to libraries we would find a lot of information that can help us to step out of poverty. We are not poor because we do not have money but we are poor because we think money will come to us, it actually works the other way around! e.g Money will not come to me but I need to invite money by writing a book then money will come after me. We need to provoke something in order for it to give us attention so we must provoke the people to read. Looking especially on my book Through The Tunnel, this book will provoke your thoughts about stuff, it will challenge you thinking about why you are on earth, look at the poem called the Intention of my legacy it tells you that for the fact that you are here it means there is a purpose for your life. You can see this poem on Freestatewriters.blog or you can google me. I dare you will be enlightened.

SB : Which writers or literary activists have influenced, helped or encouraged you the most?

HK : Well first that will be the love of writing and turning a complete clean A4 page into life changing cycles. You have got to love what you do or else how do you expect somebody else to? I am in love with my own writings, after writing a piece I look at it and I call it a masterpiece artwork! This is not necessarily self praise but self confidence. I must be able to sell the piece to myself so that the next person can buy it. Ha ha ha, well back to the question sir I was inspired by William Shakespeare especially when I studied Macbeth in grade 11 and 12 so even today I still even remember the first lines of the book “when shall we three meet again, in rain, thunder or storm” which was the line of the witches. Anyway from there I continued to love the sonnets of Shakespeare about love “shall I love thee” I loved the language even thou I had to have a dictionary all the time. From there on I began to write my own sonnets and I thought wallah! I attended a Wits University point system to see if I qualified to study there and I met Kafela oa Gogodi who was going to be my Bachelor of Art in Dramatic art degree lecturer and he inspired me a lot but unfortunately I could not go to Wits due to financial constrains. Locally currently I am reading books by the great O Bolaji’s Snippets, a poetry book he wrote whilst he was in Cape Town, I just finished reading the book of the ladies in Free State and I am busy with Pule Lechesa and Mr. Flaxman Qoopane... Quack of Qwaqwa, I want to know who was there before me and what they did so that we do not get to repeat history.

SB : You have a full time job, a young family yet you still read, write, produce a column regularly. How do you manage to juggle, balance all this Mr. Kunene?

HK : ( Smiling ) it is not easy baba, as a young father who recently got married, when my wife and I met she knew that I was a writer and a poet so she understands me very well although I do not take for granted that I must give her the time she needs. Being married and having a toddler in the house can be difficult for any writer so when I am at home I am the husband and when I get out I am a writer so I spend most of my time especially lunch time writing or before I go home I pass the library to do some research and write. There is a poem called In-flight joy thought, I wrote this one when I was flying from Joburg to Bloemfontein. It is also found in my book Through The Tunnel, here I was meditating about my son Ntokozo before he was born. My wife Christina also helped me in typing most of the work that I wrote when I did not have a laptop with me. She complains that I write all the time yet I never finish anything; so this is my first book going on print and I am truly humbled and blessed. I must say that at times I slip out of bed to write in the middle of the night and when I am done it feel like a massive achievement. I then sleep in peace! Thank you...

"I'm proud to put the Free State on the Map"

“I’m proud to put the FS on the map”

It is exciting times now with the World Cup just around the corner. FIFA is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the tournament is a success. One of their projects is the FIFA training sessions even for journalists. The Free State was represented at the last session by Pule Lechesa, who jets out again to Kenya next week for the second part of the training. Free State News’ Lebohang Masisi spoke to Lechesa

Your general comment on your first trip to Kenya?

It was a fine learning process. Seeing the world makes one more broad-minded and makes one to realize there are countless other languages and cultures out there! Football is indeed a universal, quite unifying sport.

We had journalists from different countries such as Zimbabwe (Toni Wellington) Zambia (Augustine Mukoka) Uganda (Norman Katende) Uganda (Denis Dibele) Tanzania (Mwani Mbani) Tanzania (Saleh Ally Saleh) Uganda (David Kbanga). What impressed me with these guys was that they were pulsating with the knowledge of European and African football.

Did any of them have some prior knowledge of the Free State?

Many people I spoke to there commented on the fact that they were very impressed with the Free State Stadium which they saw on satellite TV when Spain played at the last Confederations Cup which South Africa hosted. I answered all questions about our Province (Free State) easily over there. I am always proud to put the Free State on the map!

You had a supervisor over there?

We were trained by a veteran Sports Editor, Allan Kelly, who seemed to know his ropes beyond any shadow of doubts. He has a very impressive journalistic pedigree and I regard our group as lucky as he eagerly rubbed off his prowess over us.

Some critics will say that – with all the experience you have already on covering sports, what else can you learn from such very short training sessions?

There’s always a lot to learn. As sports writers we are all different but you can always assimilate other things that make you a better writer. It’s important to avoid complacency; have your work criticized by others and hopefully you improve in the process

Of course you write a lot on sports yourself. But your own style of writing – full of big words, adjectival; don’t you risk alienating many of your readers?

I prefer to believe that my readers are intelligent, and anyway they’ll appreciate learning sometimes from what I write! But I think my column is simple enough, from the reactions I get from readers.

Good luck with your trip

(Smiling broadly) Thanks

WATCHING SUGAR MAN

The movie, Sugar Man is now being seen in the townships of the Free State. Already well known internationally, the movie is written, edited and directed by Aryan Kaganof. Urbain Tila the first black man to produce a movie based on Bloemfontein city spoke with Jerry Seekoei about “Sugar Man”

JERRY: You’ve now watched the movie, Sugar Man. What was your general impression about it?

TILA: You know the interesting thing in our townships is how so many people can gather together to watch, exchange the DVD in question; so it has been with Sugar Man. There was one particular viewing session where over 25 people were watching the movie in a private house! To be honest, I think Sugar Man is very well produced, never mind its being shot by cell phone. It’s professionally done, with fine angles of shooting. That it was done in Jozy heightens the interest.

JERRY: But virtually all our black people who watched the movie have expressed anger and frustration that the black men could not sleep with such attractive white ladies in the movie.

TILA: Yes, that aspect, from our point of view, is unconvincing. We know that most black people – especially those virile young looking blacks in Sugar Man – will in reality be very excited about those women and will easily sleep with them. And these white women were very seductive, dancing, exposing their boobs etc. So why couldn’t those blacks rise to the occasion?

JERRY: And they (the blacks) paid Sugar Man a lot of money to sleep with those ladies…

TILA: That’s another thing (laughing) You know many of our people whilst watching the movie say something like: ‘If it was me I won’t waste such large money on a pimp. Even in Bloem here we know the many places where you can pick up an attractive white prostitute for 200 rand or even less! You don’t need the services of a pimp for that!'

JERRY: What about the portrayal of Sugar Man himself in the movie?

TILA: I thought there was something strange about it. Maybe because we are blacks…I mean, we know quite a few “pimps” locally and they are “jolly” fellows, not remote like Sugar Man; they (local pimps) in fact get intimate with their “girls” so to speak, they protect their monetary interests but they are passionate people!

JERRY: Did you read Bolaji’s review of the movie?

TILA: Of course. I read it very early this morning. But the “review” was not really a review; you know Bolaji is always trying to be fair. What he did was that he just largely published the comments and opinion of Aryan Kaganof on his movie!

JERRY: Are you saying there is something wrong with the writer, producer of a movie coming out to express his own thoughts, inspiration, on producing a book or movie?

TILA: No, I am not saying that. I mean – we have seen writers like George Orwell during his time coming out to confront reviewers, critics, of his classics like Animal Farm and 1984; with Orwell insisting that he did not like the way many of these commentators were misunderstanding what he had published…what I remember from Bolaji’s “review”; his own personal comment, is briefly that the movie, Sugar Man is sensuous!

JERRY: But Sugar Man is definitely sensuous

TILA: Of course it is! Great seductive scenes which come to nothing in the end in most cases! I love the part of those white ladies when they engage in love play, erotic scenes. It is very gripping. Tender, and…I know they’ll call me crazy – but the scenes look somehow decent. Like the ladies really like each other, are fond of each other…I don’t know how to explain it.

TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA!

Time for the United States of Africa!

Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga is very passionate about issues of Pan-Africanism. Here, he talks to Jerry about the prospects of Africans uniting for a common course…


JERRY: What is the background to this firm beliefs, credo, of yours?

ISHMAEL MZWANDILE SOQAGA: Post independence Africa has introduced a new era of hope for the African continent, it brings about significant change for the survival of the continent and Africans today are enthusiastically cheerful to the cause of African continent. Actually I believe African governments are seriously determined to usher in the unity and sustainable development of our continent. I am aware that Africa boasted enormous civilization in the past and I am ferociously conscious that in the past neither Africa was a Dark Continent nor was forgotten.

Primarily before the arrival of the white man, Africa was a continent unique in its own the indigenous people were largely enjoying the life as it was and they never complained or wished to embark in so-called revolution. They were having their own civilization of which was the best and appropriate to their context. Nevertheless, the impact of the white man in this continent caused a thorn and burden to the hearts and lives of the Africans and the African continent. The white man was conscious that Africa is utterly different from Europe. Therefore, they sought ways and means to divide Africa and the Africans.

These methods included cheating our ancestral kings to sign agreements that allow them to possess land and to teach Africans the “new and the good” religion, which is Christianity. Christianity was used as the way to convert the Africans to the more advanced (technologically at least) culture of the Europeans. Eventually Europeans established themselves as colonial masters and they unfairly mistreated indigenous people of Africa. In fact, the scramble for Africa ensued after the Berlin international conference in Germany in 1885-86 the conference was all about to reinforce and to formalize colonial policy. This policy was very destructive to the Africans, it never considered the welfare of the Africans, but rather its concern was to use Africans as laborers and slaves in the land of their own birth

But white presence in Africa dates back to centuries ago, doesn’t it?

Actually, before the aforementioned conference Europeans’ presence in Africa was very strong. In South Africa in 1652, the Dutch and East Indian Company under the leadership of Jan Van Reebeck settled in Cape peninsula. Most of the European countries were occupying most of African lands, in Namibia and Togo Germany was in control. Britain, France, Portugal, Spain embarked on the brutal, heinous, barbaric Atlantic Slave Trade where thousands of Africans were exported to the new world. It was very terrible for the life of the black African man and women in the hands of the white man. The purpose of colonizing Africa and other parts of the world was motivated by the sentiment of greed and material gains of which white man sought most. The colonizers looted and exploited Africa’s minerals to the larger extent they never showed sympathy and remorse for the development of indigenous people of Africa.

Africa was not passive then. There were pockets of resistance?

The Europeans encountered fierce opposition from Africans and they never practised their despicable and obnoxious acts so comfortably. For many centuries, Africans fought so hard for the liberation of the African continent. The fight against inimical colonial rule was both physical and intellectual. The Africans engaged in physical attacks and diplomatic tactics against the intruders. In addition, Europeans never conquered Africa completely; they were unsuccessful to take over Ethiopia and Liberia. In Ethiopia alone, Emperor Menelik inflicted an even greater defeat on the Italians, at Adowa on March 1, 1896, forcing them to capitulate. Subsequently a treaty was signed at Addis Ababa recognizing the absolute sovereign independence of Ethiopia. In South Africa, King Cethswayo of the Zulus humiliated the British in the battle of Isandlwane in 1879. All the wars of resistance that were fought against colonial rule throughout African continent served to promote common vision among the Africans. These wars are part of our history and they inspire Africans to work together for the common vision of African unity among the Africans.

You are a great admirer of Kwame Nkrumah, aren’t you?

In 1957 something colossal took place in Africa Ghana triumphed over British colonial rule. The independence of Ghana as the first country in Africa to gain independence says a lot about the future of the African continent. It sent the message of hope and ever-anticipating dream for the liberation of
African continent from colonial rule. Kwame Nkrumah “Osagyefo” – which means “redeemer” in the Twi language, led Ghana’s independence. Nkrumah was an intellectual and an inspiring lecturer in political science.

Professor Nkrumah when he assumed the role of president never ignored the fact that Ghana “was not free until the rest of the continent became free”. Nkrumah was also perhaps best known politically for his strong commitment to and promotion of Pan- Africanism. Having been inspired by the writings and his relationships with black intellectuals like Marcus Garvey, WEB DuBois and George Padmore, Nkrumah went on to himself inspire and encourage Pan-Africanist positions amongst a number of other African independence leaders such as Edward Okadjian, and activists from the Eli Nrwoku’s African diaspora.

Getting Businesses off the ground

Luthando Teyise is publishing editor of SMME Business friend. As the New Year tapered to an end he spoke to Lebohang Motse about his new publication…

LEBOHANG: Why is it so difficult for so many black companies to get off the ground?

TEYISE: Alas, statistics have revealed that many newly established close corporations seldom survive beyond the first six months. Only recently, Cipro which is the registrar for intellectual property rights has lamented the fact that of the five thousand new businesses which are registered each month, only around 10 percent survive the first twelve months of operations. This has the result of making thousands of c.c’s to lie dormant at any given point in time. This really is a shocking state of affairs and something drastic obviously needs to be done to reverse this trend. This and other factors gave birth to the idea of publishing informative newsletters to assist the emerging and existing SMMES. My publication is appropriately titled “SMME BUSINESS FRIEND” and is a small contribution towards addressing the above problem.

LEBOHANG: What will you be reading during this festive season?

TEYISE: I always read anyway, no matter how busy I am. I will be reading some good books once again during the break. I was lucky enough to get a copy of Bolaji’s new book, Tebogo and the pantophagist. It was very nice of him to dedicate the book to the late journalist, Gloria Marobele. It was such a tragedy when she died so young, as she was so promising.

LEBOHANG: I presume you are planning great things for your publication next year?

TEYISE: Of course. A good publication is predicated on adequate marketing, and I have quite a lot of experience in this wise throughout South Africa. I believe the sky is the limit for my SMME Business Friend…

"Why I cut my locks" - Seleke Botsime

Interview by Thato Nkatswang

Seleke Botsime, the well known Free State muso, painter and writer made waves this week when the controversial muso cut off his dreadlocks that had been his trademark fo r almost ten years! Thato Nkatswang spent time with Seleke Botsime, the man behind hits like Zimbabwe and A song for Buhle, and The grass is green on his first album Confrontation.

What’s new and happening now about you?
I have taken some time out and learnt and about the man that I am, growing and most importantly listen since to me listening is a skill. Another thing is that I was conceptualizing spending more time writing my first book that I released in June 2009- called “Blasphemy”.

Are you happy about the sales of the first album?
Yes indeed! Considering the fact that I signed it under my label(blue print production) with limited knowledge of music industry ! I didn’t do much of the marketing for it. I just got in the studio after dealing with so many emotions and now when I think back I wanted some therapy and music was my way out. I was so unhappy with so many things, my life and including the loss of someone that I loved so much, even in the studio I was crying a lot while doing the project. “Confrontation” to me was to say to the music industry “Hear I am- make a space for me”.

That is quite deep; do you think you can give me some clarity about that?
Let’s leave it for another day! It was just one of those moments when you wanted to shut the door and stay in bed for the rest of the day if not all your life, if you know what I mean.

Tell us about the new project? And about the new look??? We heard that you had some offers for your hair!

I am working on the new album called Resurrection! I know that people will think that it is still soon. But I decided to go back in the studio, and let’s call this project “reloaded” I do my very best to create music that will linger and it was not a mistake for me to find myself in the studio the first time. I write music to express my inner self and it’s about words not forgetting that my music is scripture orientated. And about my new look I thought about cutting my locks for sometime now and I believe it’s a time for growth ,and what I can promise my fans on the new project is a sound that is more stable and grounded than before, so my sound will compensate my looks!. To all those that thought that I will eventually sell my locks I just wanna say it’s against everything that I believe in, sorry!!.

So it’s not easy to be able to sell a lot of albums without having a record company. I believe that in due time I will be signed. I think most of the so called artists get in the industry for the money, and when it’s not coming they feel disappointed I realise that a lot of junk is what sells lately and really good music is not on the shelf anymore. A famous artist once said “What good is a song if it doesn’t inspire” One has to do it just for the love of it, but if the money comes let it be a bonus and beside the album I am working on a biography of the great musician called Gideon Selebano “Magiva”.


What do you think needs to be changed in the music industry, and how?
I don’t think there is really much that can be done, but I want people to know that there is only a fraction of artists who are really making money in the industry. Then for the rest of us we are just trying to survive. There has to be a way of making extra money for one to put food on the table and pay the bills.

I still much believe that the radio stations must start giving us more air play than overseas one’s, and to appreciate us more as local artists, and lastly the artist must polish their material if they want to be taken seriously in this industry. There is really no room for clowns.

PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT YOU HAVE A SERIOUS TEMPER AND YOU ARE VERY CONTROVERSIAL, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THAT??


Okay! I don’t like it when people forget that I have my life to live and I deserve some privacy too irrespective of being a musician. . I expect to be treated like any one else. Its true that some time I happen to loose it , and being controversial I will say I think people misunderstood me and at the end of the day that cause a serious problem.

Any spiritual belief that you live with, an album that you are playing now, and last word to your fans.

“God is never far” and the album that I am listening at this moment is of Simply red album called “stay”. And to those who believe in me from day one “Ndiya bonga kakhulu” May God be with you always.

I was very sceptical about the interview, but all I can say now is that I finished it being a fan of this handsome, artist of Bloemfontein and Free State news wishes him good luck in this cut throat industry!

"My unbridled love for poetry" - Skietreker

Interview by Gloria Marobele

Richard (“Skietreker”) Seape is one of the most dynamic young Free State writers around. A powerful poet, he writes in both English and Afrikaans – and also in Setswana! His debut book was titled Apartheid ek gaan jou boks. “Skietreker” was one of the frontline writers honoured by the Mangaung Local Municipality/Bloemfontein Public Library recently. Here, Gloria Marobele finds out what makes him tick…

GLORIA: You are still quite young and already recognized and honoured as a writer. How did you feel being honoured by MLM/ City Library the other day?

RICHARD: Picture a train moving at a very fast pace
Don’t look back and don’t think twice
Close your eyes
And picture a baby learning how to talk and walk for the first time
On the Inside it feels like Heaven when small efforts are appreciated
But it pushes and inspires from within
And makes one want to kneel down and say a prayer work harder
And keep on doing it only with love
God is a fact
(Modimo are mesebetsi ya hao e tlao latela)

GLORIA: How do you explain your great passion for the world of literature?

RICHARD: We hear and see things but with words
We create a picture
A symbol of the past and present
Something that is part of us
Defined by those who speak art
Even when they are sleeping
How about we change and value literature
Play with words like jazz
Sit and converse
Until we reach an agreement that says
POETRY AND LITERATURE IS HOUSE
The same budget the same length
Equal speech

GLORIA: Your specialty is of course poetry. Are there any African or South African poets you admire?

RICHARD: My inspiration starts at home with writers of mind like Delazi, Infinite motions, Shasha, PMZ, Kagiso, McKenzie (Shups), Pule Lechesa, Kgosietsile Dinthoane, Bareng Dichabe, Thabo Mafike, Seleke Botsime and from there the pen takes me to the heights of Maya Angelou, Bessie Head, Antjie Krog, E’skia Mphahlele,Buchi Emecheta, Kgafela oa magogodi, Hymphatic, Kwani E, Lebo, Napo, Saul Williams and I will need another two pages! (laugh).

GLORIA: Who are the writers who have encouraged your writing?

RICHARD: I believe that most of the time it is not
How you write but what you write, not necessarily what you say
But how you say it,
So along my journey I had the privilege to meet
Great writers who each played a role in lifting my weight and spirit
So even when the sun is not shining because of them I write,
Mr. Bolaji has given me so much as a writer and is certainly an icon an inspiration, and Charmaine Mrwebi my sister with a conscious mind.

GLORIA: I understand you have a great collection of articles on literature, how did you build or collect it?

RICHARD: It all began with a dream inspired by what I saw. I began cutting pages which I felt were close to heart. The actual dream was to see myself one day amongst those who will go down in history. When coming generations read and embrace the spoken word.

GLORIA: You have already published a book of poetry in Afrikaans, why did you decide to write it in that language?

RICHARD: Writing in Afrikaans came as a blessing for I never knew I could write until I realised I had actually published a book. It was too late to walk away. I tried but I fell in love.

GLORIA: What are your future plans in the writing career?

RICHARD: I’ve never really considered that I would ever take writing as a career, but to march as I can… the war is far from over so I shall continue to read and learn from those who came before us so that I can also leave something for the next us.