[VIDEO] Local poet, Koketso Tshoga recites ‘Culture’
21-year-old Koketso recites an original poem for Review during Heritage Month.
POLOKWANE – Heritage month recognises aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and intangible.
During the month of September, creative expressions such as music and dance, our historical inheritance as well as cultural practices, languages spoken, the food eaten are celebrated.
Embracing her culture and traditions as a Pedi young woman, Koketso Tshoga, otherwise known as Heatistic Poet, is a poet at heart. Born and bred in Turfloop, Mankweng, Tshoga says she’s been writing poems since she was in high school.
“What inspires me is that written and spoken literature has the power to evoke dialogue and cause people to share ideas and skills about life surviving skills. It also allows for people such as myself to express our feelings and views about life in general. I learn about deep fears, strength and weaknesses about myself that I never thought I doubt I would have known if it was not for poetry and the skill and passion for creative writing,” she explained.
Culture
Identified by the strikes of knowledge fathom by gods to generations yet to be born.
Riches granted
Sound the horn atop mountains
Oil spills from the hills of our lands
to the top of our heads
Sucked from our mothers
oozing from the tip of our tongues
down to mudhuts made of sweat, thatched together by strength
Men draped in glory,
spiting truth
after serenading our minds
to remind us of the healing power of the marimba
on to our hands
buttered with refined oil
to build kraals
for our loved ones to belong
shielded
baptized in the calabash
to hold life
down to the stiffened thighs
from the ritual dances
to the feet that touched foreign lands
bejewelled with the beads of honour
make way
to the valleys to check the treasures of those who came before us.
Their embroids engraved to the lands below
to keeps us at bay
in our homesteads
