21 Jan 2015

Poetry, the art of conveying messages through alliterations, metaphors, similes and syllables is commonly known to be perfected by the elderly and somehow the most learned and experienced in life.

However, young Kevin Tabudi has defied the odds and has already perfected the art at a tender age. This young talent is found in the dusty streets of Somerset East in Francistown, and his poetry flow can soothe even the hardened hearts. 

At the age of nine, the Standard Four pupil at Mahube Primary School displays amazing talent with his prolific poetic verses.  The reserved but ever smiling Tabudi surely sees through the future as he outlines that he would like to take poetry to an international level.

He also expressed his delight in schooling in a private school, stressing that it will enable him to enhance his talents and therefore build a platform to do poetry in both English and Setswana. 

Young Tabudi also stated that he would like to meet and recite a poem for and about the President of Botswana, Lt Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama someday. He said besides being one of the youngest poets, he would also like to write a poetry book for his contemporaries.

His father, Mr Benjamin Peter said their son amazed them from a tender age as he started doing poetry at five years of age while he was still at pre-school. 

“My son volunteered to recite a poem during the graduation of his forerunners at Kgakololo Pre-School, but to our amazement we never knew he had that talent,” said Mr Peter. 

He said since then, they and his teachers at Mahube encouraged him to pursue his talent and they also hired poetry coaches like Mr Solomon Matona to iron out their son’s talent.

Furthermore, Mr Peter stated that his son continued to shine as he was invited by former Minister of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) and now at Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi to perform at Serowe during the education fair in 2012.

In 2014, he went for My African Dream (MAD) competitions under the poetry junior category, where he came out victorious. His mother, Ms Zelpha Tabudi stated that her son is a well behaved child who takes both his education and talents seriously.

She said besides his unique poetry talent, he just like other children play football in the streets to pass time.  However she decried shortage of capital, stressing that they dig deep into their pockets to finance the talent of their child. 

She urged sponsors to assist them to nature her son’s talent, especially that he dreams of schooling in a private school and write a poetry book for his contemporaries. ENDS