Unsung prolific writer sticks to his mother tongueYingwani Mashaba

For years Hlengani William Mthombeni has been producing volumes and volumes of literary works – only a few of them have been published.Mthombeni, whose love of Shakespeare earned him the name 'Julius Caesar' amongst the Mtititi community, is an avid reader too."Reading and writing is more of a therapy to me.

It's either you find me reading or writing, or I'll become sick," he says.When asked if he sets himself a writing plan, he said that writing just comes naturally to him. "Once the writing bug starts to bite, I hardly resist it, but swiftly respond to the urge.

Even if I'm amongst a circle of friends, if it calls, I leave everything I am doing and heed the call. Failure to do that results in me not having peace of mind!"This unsung prolific gem writes in xiTshonga, his mother tongue.

"Through the use of the vernacular, I can easily send the message across because that's the language the intended readers are familiar with, so they consume my works."The poet, playwright, novelist, folk-tale and short story writer who is also a Nehawu member, counts amongst his role models: William Shakespeare, BK Mthombeni, WR Chauke, Freddy Rikhotso, DC Marivate.

He cites these writers as people who throughout his writing career have been an inspiration."If you have a talent for writing, just engage in your chosen field with passion and seek inspiration from established writers". "The fact that I have not had much of my literary work published does not deter my spirit. "When I write it gives me pleasure and peace of mind. It's like breathing to me, whether I strike it big or not, I will continue to write."

Why?Is this not the right timeon being a humble domestic worker.Break free from the chains?Is this yoke not too heavy?

Domestic worker cries ignoredMigrant workers voices not heardInhumanity and injustice to farm labourersGetting core of justice an invitation to dismissal

Is this what we call redressOr process of transformation to chosen fewGrievances an invitation to ugly warStand up mama – fight for your rights.

Shocked when we saw our mothersWore smiling faces when facing hardshipOrdinary things in an extra ordinary wayPeople's inhumanity to tolerant woman

Historically marginalised by societyMinimum wage below living wageConditions of work matters notRaise your banner even if matters not

Saying the same philosophy wordsRealisation that blood is thicker than waterThus, we remember those who suffer before usVictims of the apartheid society

Grandfathers chock their headsClaimed we bring remembranceHalt wokers and as for unityPromised losing battle without unity

Great are those who believe in non-violenceNot only with arms obtainable is justiceIndeed even softer words produce justiceNegotiations and unity, virtually produce victory.

Vuyisile ka Fundakubi

Ijoo Bathong!!Bathong thusang,Ga twe; ‘senkganangSe nthola morwalo,’‘Tlheng nna se nkganangSe ntshala morago.A go boelwa maropengKgotsa kwa maleng?

Ke bone kgarebe,Ngwana wa magana go lejwa,Ngwana wa mmala wa sebilo,Ke tsewa ke maikutlo,Ka ipea mebala,Ka itaya sefolletse,A gana nnang wa banyana

Ka itlhoboga, ka leba ntlheng engwe,Go re ke se ke ka kgobega maikutlo,Go se re gongwe ka thanya Lomapo lo le tsebeng,Ka ngoka maikutlo a me.Go itlhobogaJaanong ke tsielegile.

Bathong reetsang ke a lela,Rarollang marangrang a me,Se nkutlweng ka sa morakile,Le teng ga ke sematla,Ga ke ba tle go wela lengopeng,Soo se mathata a botshelo,Ga se gore ke legatlapa.

Pastor Andries Linda Mbokazi

Kopano ke MatlaLife can be hard, That's why we turn to one anotherIn time of needBut why only when we are in needLet's get to know one another better,

Starting todayMake a new friend in your communityGet talkingExchange ideasThis is how we connect and grow strongerAnd when union members stand togetherNobody will divide themThey will remain strong

They can overcome any challengesBecause in their heartsThey are ones who care about peopleIt is so easy to sit backAnd say things are bad these daysBut what can we do?

Yes we face many challengesLike crime, poverty, unemploymentHIV/AidsBut the truth is thereThere is so much to doTo overcome these challengesWe need to work togetherAs a team, as shop stewards, as leaders

Let's learn the lesson from all mightyBecause it applies to childrenAs much as it does to adultsIt's amazing what we can achieveIf we work togetherThe beautiful thing about learning isNobody can take it away from you.

Douglas MnisiBabelegi

grapevine

clothed in tattered ragsim the man christians call god muslims call me allahamaxhosa athi qamatha rastazsay jah wach mecr8t the most terrifyingrevolution the world has seenripapart the bank statementtearoff the payslip ma handtouches souls ma ears listen2prayers im the book of solutionsthe theory plus the practikal radikal poetikalpolitikal movements rely on ma servicespolice stations crumble whn im aroundmarry had a little lamb socx wasthe wolf who engulfed it & turned marryin2 a soulsistah

mr preacherman…ur days are numbered

bible upsidedown ndiphethi’ndukusmoking inqawa let the fieldbcom a warfloor take it 2da next level wachdaman of wisdomeliminate nonsense ma sixthsense ontune the universe sharing verses witma hart de sun giving lyt 2mabrainwash ma soul in the rain nevalet go of the rebelliion welcometo da shack of cr8vity positivity relativitywashumkhukhu biza abantwana bangene endlini…let the games begin

sonwabo meyi

JAZZ BEFUNKED

ARTIST : MPHUMI DHLAMINIALBUM : COMBINED ELEMENTS (SONY/BMG)REVIEWED : AYANDA BILLIE

His name is not familiar to jazz circles of e-Mzantsi but Combined Elements will make those who are serious about good sounds listen attentively and ask, 'who is this?' The name is Mphumi Dhlamini. He is a 21 year old jazz artist who has composed most of the songs in his album.

This young man of jazz plays piano, rhodes, alto sax and has done vocals for some songs. The compositions in this album are brilliant. He is so young but he is living ahead of his time. Such creativity remind us of Taiwa Molelekwa (rest in peace).Some of the artists that are featured in this album are Vusi Khumalo, Carlo Mombelli, Victor Masondo,Fana Zulu to name a few.

Such an album that carries the cream of Mzantsi music geniuses will not fail you.The first song Bana commands your attention with the piano that runs straight to your heart. Two and three are the tracks that take control of my senses and convince me that with jazz you will never go wrong.

When I met her – it’s obvious the song is for someone close, affectionately remembered by the artist. Artists have memories of an elephant; they do not forget easily. Yenana and A Journey With Taiwa, show Mphumi looking back and seeing those who have inspired him to be where he is.

He calls them by name so they may know what they have done to him. It is those songs that make one acknowledge this album; Mphumi’s talent will grow to greater heights if he moves with this pace. The genre of music he has taken has deep roots and its audience is very hard to please.

His type of smooth jazz is very inviting even to those who do not find something igniting in jazz. The beat won’t lose you, it is African in all notes and tunes. Jimmy Dludlu, Bra Zim Ngqawana and other South African jazz musos must tighten their sounds, the road to the Sama awards is getting rough, the young Mphumi means business!Jazz is Befunked puts you into a good mood with Afro-Cuban congas and bongos.
All these songs are a Self portrait of Mphumi’s track in life. Number nine sounds as if it is deja vu, a sound you once heard, but no, it is Mpumi At Peace with himself When Going Home in Rush Hour.

This album deserves to be in your CD collection if you are serious about South African music. In times like these we need something to cleanse our souls and revive hope!

Source

Numsa News