15 Sep 2015

Batshidi Moeti (22) of Sanyedi Ward in Maun is a poet of note, although she had initially dreamt of becoming an actress. Poetry has since become the pillar of her livelihood. Moeti said her love of poetry started when she was at Tsodilo Junior Secondary School. 

Still said one of her schoolmates told her that she could be a poet and advised her to start writing short poems. That was the beginning of her journey in poetry industry as she started reciting her short poems during school activities. 

“Before that when I was at primary school I used to watch a certain student relaying his poems and I enjoyed his lyrics”.

Her grandmother also played a vital role in her achievements as she taught her social values when she grew up. Moeti explained that the elderly woman used to teach her the basics of life and that moulded her to become a responsible citizen. Since many people noticed her talent in poetry, she ensured that her talent was developed when she was admitted at Maun Senior Secondary School.

She grabbed every opportunity that came her way. Moeti also participated in Maun International School Competition organized by Women Against Rape (WAR) and she emerged the champion and brought a trophy to her school.

In 2011, she participated in another poetry writing competition organized by Poetavango Association and her poem got position one. Moeti would not regret the day she started poetry as that changed her life for the better. .

The President’s Day Competitions came as a blessing for her as she had been doing exceptionally well and walked away with prizes over the years. That alone opened doors for her and made her famous in Maun and the surrounding villages.

Moeti also participateds in community activities such as independence, weddings, parties and government activities welcoming visitors during kgotla meetings and other events. The memorable day for the young poet was when she was invited by department of veterinary services to welcome President Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama at the Batawana main kgotla.

“I was very happy as I had an opportunity and the privilege to shake hands with the President for the first time in my entire life. It was a day that I would never forget,” she said.

Moeti said poetry was a unique skill that one could earn a living through. She narrated that poetry was an art and it consisted largely of oral works in which language is used in manner that is felt its user and audience to differ from ordinary prose. She said to be a poet does not require any skill but someone has to be confidence and able to communicate.

She believes that a poem could change the lives of people because it could be used to convey or spread message adding that normally her poems carries a message of hope. She explained that most of her poems were based on real stories and focused on lifestyles, love, diseases gender based violence against women and girl child.

Moeti believes that a female figure is someone who is delicate and need to be protected and valued because of their status in the society hence her poems always spread a message to urge men to stop the habit of violence against women.

One of her poems she likes most is dubbed ‘The Cry of a mother”. The poem talks about a man who was abusing her wife and children. “Every time I relay the poem I become emotional because I am a woman and brought up by extended family”.

Now, the youthful woman has been invited to take part in an International Poetry competition in Italy and currently the Botswana Poetry Association is working around the clock to see how best they could help her to honour the invitation.

Explaining how she was invited, Moeti said she sent her written poems to the organizers in Italy. She is aiming high and hoping that she would succeed as that would be an opportunity for her to penetrate the international industry.

The winner at the completion would be awarded a medal by the Italian President and also offered a humanitarian course. She was also invited to take part in a competition at America this month.

However, Moeti has found a niche in poetry as she said it does not perish and more profitable. Her dream is to pursue a course in Bachelor of Arts and Poetry. She also intends to give back the community her price money and realize one pillar of Vision 2016 which calls for all to demonstrate love, care and compassion to the needy society.

Her aim is adopt some students who were not registered with the council and buy them full uniforms. “I am not after money but I found it fit to respond to the President plea of restoring dignity to the less privileged society. I want to partner with the department of Education and drive my dream”, she added.  Ends