THE book Wena is one of the creative works of poet, dancer and author Ntsiki Mazwai
The author is also a well-known cultural worker to boot. Since publication, the book has been making waves in its own right.
Wena is essentially a compendium of the story of Mazwai's (still young) life, her experiences, her pains, her joys and the people who have shaped her as a person - all rendered in poetic form.
The work operates in the tradition of liberationist writers who have written on the existence of a vibrant African optimism and the idea of peace and justice along with the emancipation of women in variegated domestic life.
The emancipation of women and the humanisation of the male are all tasks bound up with building another world that the poems address.
The book reveals that Mazwai also gained inspiration from other cultural workers who have sought to keep alive the spirit of Ubuntu that says: "We are the world, let us come together as one."
She has also sought to be a healer.
Pundits have stated that the poems of Mazwai in this book are an extension of literature. Drama, poetry, short stories, novels - as literature has a very important part to play in shaping both individuals and their communities.
That is why it is important to have a strong and proud tradition of African and black diaspora literature.
Intriguingly, the author in this work blends Xhosa and English as she strives to merge her modern views with her cultural roots.
She feels strongly the need to reclaim her culture and language and blend them within the context of a cosmopolitan society. She also captures the "vibe and energy" of young South African and its blossoming. Issues the author deals with here include identity, feminism, prejudice, and rape. Her work challenges the reader to stop and ponder.
Yet, in many ways, Wena is a celebration of life.
The poems brim over with Mazwai's own desire to drink to the full and then go out and pour love and life out into the world.
On the whole, this book gives readers' pride in their heritage, but it also serves the important purpose of asking difficult questions and sometimes challenging norms.
Hey, Wena, add this one to your collection
THE book Wena is one of the creative works of poet, dancer and author Ntsiki Mazwai
The author is also a well-known cultural worker to boot. Since publication, the book has been making waves in its own right.
Wena is essentially a compendium of the story of Mazwai's (still young) life, her experiences, her pains, her joys and the people who have shaped her as a person - all rendered in poetic form.
The work operates in the tradition of liberationist writers who have written on the existence of a vibrant African optimism and the idea of peace and justice along with the emancipation of women in variegated domestic life.
The emancipation of women and the humanisation of the male are all tasks bound up with building another world that the poems address.
The book reveals that Mazwai also gained inspiration from other cultural workers who have sought to keep alive the spirit of Ubuntu that says: "We are the world, let us come together as one."
She has also sought to be a healer.
Pundits have stated that the poems of Mazwai in this book are an extension of literature. Drama, poetry, short stories, novels - as literature has a very important part to play in shaping both individuals and their communities.
That is why it is important to have a strong and proud tradition of African and black diaspora literature.
Intriguingly, the author in this work blends Xhosa and English as she strives to merge her modern views with her cultural roots.
She feels strongly the need to reclaim her culture and language and blend them within the context of a cosmopolitan society. She also captures the "vibe and energy" of young South African and its blossoming. Issues the author deals with here include identity, feminism, prejudice, and rape. Her work challenges the reader to stop and ponder.
Yet, in many ways, Wena is a celebration of life.
The poems brim over with Mazwai's own desire to drink to the full and then go out and pour love and life out into the world.
On the whole, this book gives readers' pride in their heritage, but it also serves the important purpose of asking difficult questions and sometimes challenging norms.
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