I joined Holi and her friends for a poetry evening set at the Joburg Theatre , at Lesedi Auditorium. She said Mak Manaka was performing & I had to see it. I rarely attend poetry shows for a poet, so I was keen to see what this production would bring, and it was a beautiful evening. The production was so solid, we had a flavor of jazz , poetry, thought, drinks and song.
The show was opened by two gorgeous ladies, Belitha Andre & Busisiwe Mahlangu who made it clear that we are here to have a wholesome evening. Then one of my favorite poems of the evening was a Sotho poem by Jonathan Lefenya , I loved watching that as I am most comfortable reciting in my home language , Zulu and I always wonder if people that can’t hear the language can at least appreciate how the poem sounds based on how its delivered. I don’t understand Sotho that well, but I felt that poem.
Mak was joined by a choir called Amakholwa eSintu, and together they transported us into the daily struggles of every black person in South Africa in song and in word. Poetry is always beautiful because for a moment your mind paints a picture from listening & engaging with the poet’s message.
The real message I got out of the show is that as black people, we still have this deep longing for actual freedom. South Africa may have become democratic in 1994, but when you consider the amount of effort taken to colonize black people, how systematic and personal it was. You realize that very little effort has gone into reignite a black person’s personal vision about themselves.
We are truly homeless at home. This show was gorgeous and free, and the parking at Joburg Theatre is good 😊. I will share his upcoming gigs should I bump into them.
