30/04/2016
Some three years ago I met a tall young man who became my student. He was always quiet and would almost sit silently at the back of the class all the time. I observed him closely as I always do with all my students, but apart from him being tall, I always suspected that there was something more to this guy than what meets the eye. He listened attentively and rarely spoke but took notes and participated in all activities without stealing the spotlight because of his height. Time passed and it was perhaps in his third year of his studies under my tutelage that this guy shocked me when he was part of a production I was directing. He left me speechless after delivering some poem with so much heart, sincerity and depth that I had never known he possesed. I knew then what his strength as an artist was. Since that day I understood why he listened twice as much as he spoke. I then started pushing him to embrace the calling he had and speak truth to power as much as he could.
Tonight, after a long while, I was priviledged to share the stage with none other than Skhaleni Samkelo Tembe in a thought provoking, breath-taking, heart warming and emotional roller coaster of a Poetry Show he and other poets on campus had organised.
Charles Njabulo Gumede and MaBusi Ndlovukazi KaGcwabe, you two are phenomenal poets. I have worked with you and I remember our journey with the Drama for Life Lover and Another Poetry Challenge the other year!
To all the other poets who took part in the show tonight, hats off! All so humble yet so brave and courageous to speak truth to power. To talk about the truths that the system will never let you know, to dare share your Bare Thoughts, that may as well be the thoughts of many, who unfortunately would never know how to say them.
Long live the culture of poetry that sends you home searching for answers.
well spent
.for. life
.thoughts.
