Westonaria Library launches new teaching project

Library and Information Services for the greater Westonaria recently introduced a concept in conjunction with Word and Sound when American author, Jonathan B Tucker, hosted a workshop at the Simunye Community Library.

The workshop’s goal was for sharing knowledge with youngsters from the USA and the greater Westonaria engaging in conversation on social ills.

“This programme formed part of LIS Westonaria’s ongoing strategy to project the library as a social hub for independent thinking and alternative education,” says Righardt le Roux, Programme Librarian.

“It is our hope to reach a broad, diverse audience.

“One that is not necessarily familiar with conditions that brought about the conjunction of past and present – not just locally but also in the USA.”

Jonathan received the Coup Poetry Award in both 2010 and 2011 and as performance poet he has performed on various international stages.

He lives and work in Washington DC, melding arts and activism through his work as a performer and teacher.

He was very impressed with the talent from local pupils from Westonaria, Simunye, Bekkersdal and Tholakele Sithole, a grade 11 pupil from Westonaria High School, who was invited to perform with seasoned American poets like Clint Smith during their last performance in Johannesburg before returning to the States.

Clint is a poet and teacher from New Orleans, Louisiana who makes use of soccer and the spoken word to educate youth. Currently teaching high school English, he is the 2012 Graffiti DC Grand Slam Champion, and is a member of the Beltway Poetry Team.

“Clint has been featured on American TV as a premier poet and he is currently rated as the 5th best performance poet in the world.

“He has also served as a cultural ambassador to Swaziland on behalf of the U.S. State Department,” says Righardt.

“By means of the workshop the polarities of the past and present were unambiguously put to word by the youth insinuating the importance of freedom of speech.”

The workshop revealed very clearly the disparities between a generation that was supposedly “born free” and one that lived through both experiences of oppression and liberation.

“Furthermore it revealed that the effects of oppression in all its forms lingers on far beyond the rebirth of democracy.”