13 Apr 2016

Motlhaolosa Poetry Ensemble in partnership with Limkokwing University will hold Setswana Poetry Awards on April 30 at the latter’s Hall of Fame.

The awards dubbed: Single Man’s Act Poetry is the brainchild of renowned oral poet and columnist, Moroka Moreri.

When briefing the media on Tuesday, Moreri said in the past 35 years, poets had not been awarded or recognised acoordingly.

He said the awards would honour and celebrate Setswana poets whose art and talent were not recognised in history of the country.

Moreri said it had been observed that the visually impaired had been side-lined on poetry hence the decision to include them during the event. They would have the opportunity to read one of the poetry through braille. He said this will motivate the visually impaired to write and speak poetry.

He further said one of the poems would be done by sign language in order to find out if those who could not talk could have endurance of Setswana poetry and another one would be animated in order to find out if children would not be attracted by poetry when displayed in other forms of communication.

He further said prior to the awards in the morning, there will be a book fair of both Setswana and English poetry from Botswana and South Africa.

He said over 20 Setswana poets would be honoured with awards in four categories: oral poets, written poets and both written and oral poets and other categories include researcher, radio personality, journalist and young upcoming poet.

For his part, Assistant Minister of Education skills and Skills Development,  Moiseraele Goya who is also the patron of Motlhaolosa Poetry Ensemble said the event would celebrate Botswana’s pride.

“As you may recall, despite poetry being the ancient art form, it has contributed immensely to our traditional Botswana society as well as the modern Botswana Poets,” he said.

He said poetry promoted self-confidence, assertiveness as well as creativity among learners that were in professional development, adding that it built a young person who could ultimately make a living out of the art form.

“Since Botswana is turning 50 years, I feel the poetry awards are very relevant and timely, as a convergence point, to celebrate our own local product poetry and similarly ponder upon its future and relevance as we go forward as a nation,” said Goya. END