Botsotso 14: Poetry, Essays, Photographs, Fiction, Reviews

Anna Anuradhá Varney

Description

The Botsotso literary journal started in 1996 as a monthly 4 page insert in the New Nation, an independent anti-apartheid South African weekly and reached over 80,000 people at a time – largely politisized black workers and youth – with a selection of poems, short stories and short essays that reflected the deep changes taking place in the country at that time. Since the closure of the New Nation in 1999, the journal has evolved into a stand-alone compilation featuring the same mix of genres, and with the addition of photo essays and reviews. The Botsotso editorial policy remains committed to creating a mix of voices which highlight the diverse spectrum of South African identities and languages, particularly those that are dedicated to radical expression and examinations of South Africa's complex society.

Sujets

• Littérature Africaine
• Littérature Africaine

Informations

• Publié par: Botsotso Publishing
• Date de parution: 29 décembre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9781990922008
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 32 Mo

Extrait

finalbot 30/8/07 6:53 PM Page 1
Botsotso
Contemporary South African Culture
14
Botsotso Publishingfinalbot 30/8/07 6:53 PM Page 2
Published by Botsotso Publishing 2007
Box 30952 Braamfontein, 2017, South Africa
email: [e-mail]
website: www.botsotso.org.za
© in the text: the writers themselves, 2007
© in the visual material: the artists themselves, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9947081-7-5ISSN 15627632
We thank the following funders for their support:
Cover photos: Kabelo Mofokeng
Cover and text design & layout
Anna Anuradhá Varney
Acknowledgements:
“look at me”, Woman for Children Project
Art for Humanityfinalbot 30/8/07 6:53 PM Page 3
Anna Anuradhá VarneyCONTENTS
Country of Deals – Lucas Ledwab a 6
Tings You Should Know; Te Light of Day;
Close encounters of the African Kind; Everything Goes;
Criminal – Abigail George 13
How do you house? – Monica Heinrich 14
Te photograph; the alex that never sleeps – Abbey Khumalo 15
Overheard on the Gautrain; A few Didactic Intimations from the
Master of the Universe – Mike Alfr ed 16
Whiteness Fading – David Fainman 18
Tiekieline – Katise Mashego 19
Seriting; Bosetihoko jwa Motsadi – Isaac Mosimanegape Molale 20
Guillaume Appolinaire wrote; 38 weeks – Denise Jack 22
Art for Humanit y 24
Mary, Mother of No One – Lindiwe Nkuta/Marjorie Maleka 26
A Woman’s Heart of Steel – Mmatshilo Motsei/Kim Berman 28
Die Kind – Magasina Majundo/Giselle Baillie 30
Homecoming – Maria Pillay 32
When It Rains in Dharamsala – Tenzin Tsundue 36
crimes of the varavas –Vonani Bil a 38
On receiving a book of bukowski’s poems; meditation on a red silk blouse –
Michelle McGrane 41
Gordian Knot – Peter Rule42
Resolution to Love; Bosiu – Tuto Make 50
Lorato O Morwa Mang? – Modisaagaarekwe Jakwe 52
Refugee; Speak English, Mama – Adetunji Adekoya 54
Te Poet; DRC – Mncedisi Mashigoane 58
Laughter Remembered – Myesha Jenkins/Louise Almon 60
Emoyeni – Mari Pete – Dina Cormick 62
Te Hotel – Christine Lucia 64
What goes around, come around – Mongi M Maphipha 70
Damn decide Joburg dead; over – Kai Lossgot 80
Vele; I am not – Ike Mboneni Muila 82
I do not Want to Meet You; Close to the Stone – Joop Bersee 84
Where the Poets Dream; You Travel – Natalie Railoun 85
Izinyembezi Zangemihla Ngemihla; Uwumondli Onesiawu –
Priscilla Zandile Mseleku 88
(Extract from) Pains of the War – Brian Kajen g o 90
Te Last poets – Christine Otten 98
Janus – Jennifer Scott/Yasmin Flett110
Kind wat Droom – Zandra Bezuidenhout/Este MaCleod 112
Te Leaves are Waxy in the Sun – Camilla Hersalek 114
Found Poem; my feelings about you – Anton Krueger 115
Dustbin reality; Rezerexion – Kabelo Mofoken g 116
Monis Mansions: Red Ants photo essay – Kabelo Mofoken g 118Te Bowl and the Stick – Meegan Hall 134
Greetings – Liesl Jobson 138
Boggel TJ Louren s145
May Da– David Maahlamela 146
SimplPut Laurence Bule148
Rugby Fields in Winter; While Others Laugh – Alison Green 150
Two Faces –Lionel Murcott 152
Trough three eyes – Anand Naranbhai
153
Mokgadi ; Te fat cat – Motjidibane Bapel a 156
No End; Falling from Sleep – Mark Espin 160
Te Mind – Judy Ann Eichstedt 163
Dancing with Angels – Mavis Smallberg/Gabisile Nkosi 164
Born to raise a Man – Bandile Gumbi/Nontobeko Ntombela 166
Te Gods – Rikki Lee Schroder 168
True Annoyance – Colette Murphy 170
Te Dream that is Life – Mlungisi Tshabangu 174
Voices at the River that Lost its Name; (Found Poem) Yeoville
Cyber Space – Karl von Holdt 179
Crowds – TJ 184
Lord? Be my habitat – Felicity Owoses 185
Angel of Transformation – Mike Hagema nn 186
Holy Communion – Allan Kolski Horwitz 188
Bedtime, Sleep, Sleep! – Tendo Masi a 189
Birth – Anna Varney 190
Groote Schuur Pediatric – Liesl Jobson/Kerry-Ann Potgieter 192
Sindiswe – Arja Salafranca/Pontso Sikhosana 194
Te Private Eucharist – Michelle McGrane/Diane Victor 196
Metanoia – Tauriq Moos a 198
Zwihwetamaluvhi – Mukwevho Given Tshifiwa 199
Galo – Muthal Naidoo 200
Home is Where the Trouble Started – Willie Saayman 206
Been cruising; nothing like – Haidee Kruger 212
Anger fueled my weaving hours – Kate Nichol s 216
Swan – Lionel Murcott 217
Nomalungelo – Botsotso Jesters/Anna Varney 220
Poetry shall be no more; Meli – Siphiwe ka Ngwenya 222
Elegy on a Didgeridoo – Liora Kolska Horwitz 224
Of Dr owning and Drought; To a Friend in Scotland – Kobus Moolman
226
Reviews by Ewa Kowalska: Isis X; Soulfre Experience; Saving Water;
Chimurenga 8; Timbila 2005; Talks with the Sun; Leafdrif;
Ants Moving the House Millimetres 227
Reviews by Jackie Bischof: Magistan Fires; Corpse Lovers and
Corpse Haters 241
Review by Moira Richards: Taller than Buildings 245
Essay by Mphutlane wa Bofelo: Slam Poetry 247finalbot 30/8/07 6:53 PM Page 6
COUNTRY OF DEALS
Lucas Ledwaba
The Mining Magnate was on the television news again that night. It was the
announcement of yet another multi-million rand deal for his multi-million
rand mining company, Merafong International.
The cameras focused on The Mining Magnate’s smiling face, and the
chubby white man seated next to him—The Dealmaker who had initiated
the empowerment deal now being signed today.
Ah, but there are so many deals. Just the other day the former minister
of financial affairs was also in the news, announcing the signing of a major
empowerment deal between his black owned company and a major bank.
He, too, had sat like the Mining Magnate was sitting now, flashing a
gleaming smile while; yet again, The Dealmaker, with his trademark quiet
demeanour, sat staring straight ahead, looking like he had no care in the
world.
A week or so ago, another former minister, yes, the one who had served
in the transportation affairs portfolio, had signed an empowerment deal
with a big rail construction company. Again, though it was never
acknowledged in public, those in the know had said The Dealmaker was
also behind it.
Deals for a better tomorrow, deals for the African Economic
Empowerment Plan. The Mining Magnate’s R400m deal, the newsreader
said, was a step in the right direction for the African Economic
Empowerment Plan. “Ah, but The Dealmaker is a great man,” those in the
top echelons of the ruling African Liberation Movement would always say.
Indeed, the Dealmaker, since change came to the land, had brokered deal
after deal with black businessmen, all in the name of the African Economic
Empowerment Plan, the great plan to level the playing the fields of the
economy that for so many years had been the domain of white men in
white shirts and grey suits.
If you were in the top structures of the African Liberation Movement,
and you wanted to go into business, they said, all you had to do was hook
up with The Dealmaker—and soon, even though you had almost next
to nothing in your bank account, you would suddenly be worth a few
million. That is, of course, if you made sure you hooked up The Dealmaker
with the big chiefs in the African Liberation Movement.
Ah, look at Comrade Lawyer now. Not so long ago, he was a modestly
living civil servant in the new government, but now he’s on the board
6
poetry • essays • photographs • fiction • reviewspoetry • essays • photographs • fiction • reviews
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of this company, a shareholder in that, has a controlling stake in another,
owns land in that province, a smallholding here, and has several properties
in yet another province. All this, thanks to The Dealmaker. Yes, word in
Liberation Movement circles was that if you were looking to speak to God,
you needn’t wait for Sundays, all you had to do was get in touch with The
Dealmaker. But there were other rumours, of course.
Because he was owed so much money, and so many favours, the men from
the Movement said he was beginning to have too much influence. And,
of course, the big chiefs didn’t like that at all. But then, The Dealmaker is
a man who puts others on the road to riches. And who wouldn’t like such
a man, unless of course they didn’t want to be enriched by him?

Billy Mokone caught the last lines of the television report . . . “the Mining
Magnate’s R400m deal is a shining example of . . .”
He cursed, and stood up to leave.
“African Economic Empowerment Plan, my fat black arse!”
Mandla the taxi driver burst out laughing.
“