By Mohalenyane Phakela
MASERU — Poetry is Alive will present phenomenal South African comedians and poets, alongside local poetry acts at Maseru Sun Cabanas next Thursday.
Poetry is Alive, which always attracts sizeable crowds, hosted a number of shows last year. The Thursday event will mark the opening of 2014 shows.
“Our movement is still alive in 2014, bringing forth only the best wordsmiths from in and out of the country,” pioneer of the movement, Sheila Khala, told the Weekender on Monday.
“Sheila The-Eagle Productions has taken the oath to revive the poetry spirit in Lesotho. The show will be the initial one of many more that we are to have throughout this year.
“The movement’s mission is to extract and explore raw talent from individuals and students in different schools.
“I worked with Ultimate FM last year, visiting different schools around the country hosting poetry competitions. We have worked with winners from previous competitions to compile an anthology which we will be launching very soon.
“I do give them a chance of rocking the microphone alongside established poets.
“In the last shows, we gave that platform to Manako Mpoka from Leribe English Medium School and Ntsie Thethoane from Mohale’s Hoek.
“I believe putting them under the spotlight will help them flourish as these children are passionate about what they do and are quite optimistic,” she said.
Wara Bafo and Mzi Matiwane from East London will be performing alongside Lesotho’s very own Sekete Lesaoana, Drizzle and Sheila herself.
Itumeleng Molise, a comedian from the Free State who has represented the province in a show So You Think You Are Funny will also be performing alongside the revered David Kau.
“I see a bright future for local poets as we are able to share the stage with South African poets.
“I am hoping that we will break the boundaries by hosting United States’ poets in addition to the ones from the rest of Africa.”
The event is sponsored by Sun International Lesotho, Ultimate FM, Afrinet and Twentieth Construction.
