18 Jun 2017

President’s Day Competitions provides a perfect platform to help Batswana build their career and sustain their lives.

In an interview, Khuis resident  and a poet, who had benefitted from the annual competitions, Moabi Itaoleng, said his passion for poetry started at an early age when he was still at primary school.

Known as Halala Sebatana in poetry circle, Itaoleng said he started learning more about it at primary level.

“Since then, my interest for poetry never vanished and as a result, I developed my dream of becoming a poet,” he said.

The young man said he started his solo career as a poet after being involved in theatre group that he used as a way of getting an exposure.

He noted that he had participated many times in President’s Day Competitions but was unfortunate not to proceed to the finals.

The results, however did not dampen his spirit as he took it as a learning curve and kept working extra hard especially where he failed.

In 2016, Halala Sebatana said his dream to advance to the finals came true.

“I was astonished to participate at the finals last year with the most powerful poets from different parts of the country. Even though I did not do enough to impress the judges, I was happy to share  the stage with poets who I looked up to,” he added.

He said competitions had helped to develop him as a poet, adding that he was now recognised by many people.

He said he was now invited to perform in different events in and outside the country.

The passionate poet highlighted that he always consulted poetry veterans to seek advice to enhance his work so that he could grow in the industry.

The 24-year-old said he writes his own poems based on the nature of the event or competition’s theme.

He tells stories expressing emotions through poetry.

He noted that poetry was a major part of his life and he could not think of anything that he can do other than it.

In future, he said he wanted to be known as one of the most powerful and successful poets worldwide.

He is willing to collaborate with other young people in his village to release an album that will prove the richness of Setswana poetry.

Itaoleng has urged young people to use President’s Dat competitions as a tool to change their standard of living. BOPA