25 Apr 2018

One talented woman, Mpolokang Arie is unfazed to shine with what God has bestowed upon her.

The 35-year-old poet of note is trusted in notable events within the jurisdiction of Mabesekwa village, and such talent is one of those gifts she uses to make ends meet.

Arie says when her employment contract at Botswana Meat Commission ended in 2013, where she served as an electrician; she never hesitated to go back to her home village.

She had much trust and confidence that with her talent, she would never go to bed on an empty stomach.

Arie became actively involved in poetry and the idea has paid her well beyond her expectations.Her life, she says, is just normal as if she is still has a permanent job.

Speaking with BOPA, Arie said that her passion in poetry started while she was a teenager.

She said this was influenced by the fact that she grew up under the care of a family that holds performing arts activities close to their hearts.

“I have always had the love of poetry.I grew up surrounded by people who loved activities such as poetry, traditional dance as well as the art of playing traditional music instruments,” she said.

 Arie said when all those were performed, she developed interest in idioms and rhythms of poetry and while playing on her own she would emulate what elders did.

She went for a course in Electrical Engineering, studying for a National Craft Certificate, thereafter she got a job and as such she had less time to continue with poetry.

“I have worked for eight years and when the contract elapsed, I could not get anything concrete, therefore I traced my steps back to poetry,” she said.

Clearly, poetry runs in Arie’s veins, as she easily managed to catch up on how to arrange the poetry terminology despite her long break.

“All I had to do was to familiarise myself with ways to arrange terminologies and idioms and in no time I could tell I was back on track,” she said enthusiastically.

When Arie bellows out her poems, one will expect to see a giant.

However, her tiny structure says a different story. She is a living testimony of the commonly used phrase: ‘dinamites come in small packages’.

She recites her poems in both Setswana and Sesarwa.

The young woman also intends to write them down and publish a book, so as to reach out to a wider readership.

“Poetry has sustained me well as every time when I am called for an event, I am certain that I will not come back empty- handed.” she said.

Arie also indicated that being actively involved in poetry had made her childhood dream come true.

She said when growing up, she wanted to be a motivational speaker or a counselor, but her parents wanted her to undertake an electrical course, thus discouraging her to fulfill her dream.

However, she said ever since she traced her steps back to poetry, she is now fulfilling her long-desired dream and the parents now do realise her ability.

Through poetry, she counsels people on different social related matters such as marriages, dangers of domestic violence, among others, and also advises on the use of drugs, alcohol and other related issues.

“Poetry is not only a form of entertainment, this is a platform that can be used to sensitise and send messages about different issues to the community.

Poetry creates a calm atmosphere and one can relax and open up with it,” she said.

Arie also noted that whenever she is invited to an event, she only sticks to the theme of the event and indicated that being actively involved in poetry does not compromise her domestic chores.

Every time when she performs, she prefers to look the part, a skirt and a bra top and sandals, all made from leather.

She would also tie a lace of cocoons around her ankle and a lace of beads around her forehead.

The mother of three has also entered the President’s Performing Arts competitions in 2016 at ward and constituency levels and got position one at both, and proceeded to the nationals where she did not do well.

“Presidential competitions are not an opportunity to be missed.

We gain a lot of experience as we get to interact with other competitors and share ideas that contribute well to activities we are involved in,” she said.

She also noted that the constructive criticism she received from a panel of judges tend to be a stepping stone in her own chosen dream.

Arie however encouraged her countrymen to refrain from migrating to cities and towns with the idea that they want to explore their talents as rural areas are just as condusive. ENDS