MAHIKENG MAIL-MAHIKENG: Scores of writers, publishers and academics from the North West put heads together at Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation (Mmabana) from February 8-10 charting the way for the advancement of local literature, particularly books in Setswana.
Organised by Mahikeng-based author and publisher, Lerato Mileng, the inaugural Bokone Bophirima Literature Focus Festival was backed by the North West Department of Arts, Sports and Recreation (ACSR), Mmabana, the National Arts Council (NAC) and the National Lotteries Commission (NLC. The panel discussions and presentations were peppered up with performances by MmaAusi and Madibogo poet, 27-year-old Goitseone Seshunae (aka Role La Mmoki).
Publishers and self-published authors were on the floor promoting and selling their books to an enthusiastic audience. Role players included the North West University, the South African Library for the Blind, the national Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (Dsac), the National Film and Video Foundation, the Bokone Bophirima Publishing House, as well as the ACSR Language and Library units.
Topics included ‘Setswana literature in academia’, “Bridging the gap between authors, publishers, distributors and language practitioners” and ‘Exploring funding opportunities’. The genesis of the Festival was in founder Mileng’s own experience in the industry. “My journey as a writer, with its challenges, led me to come up with the idea of the Festival. I was facing challenges with channels to follow towards being a writer and being published.” She soon found out that she was not alone in the struggle to find knowledge and resources. After self-publishing her book, “Rooted” in 2019, she embarked on a series of workshops and incubation initiatives.
The results of the workshops and incubations were two books, ‘Coronacles 2020’ which is an anthology of poems by 50 authors from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It relives the experiences of the authors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The second book, ‘Peo Ya Setswana’, relaunched at the Festival, is an anthology of short stories in Setswana written by mainly first-time writers on their experience with the pandemic. Role La Mmoki the poet was impressed with the three-day Festival, especially as a growing artist. “It was a very successful event, and all stakeholders worked together. I got to be exposed to various aspects of the field of literature and arts. For me it was a valuable opportunity for networking and growing my fan base.”
Author Matumelo Mafoko from Potchefstroom, who was there to sell and promote her memoir, “Through The Silent Tsunami”, was also enthusiastic about the event. “It was a good interaction base for people who wanted to understand the literary world.”
