POLOKWANE – The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Limpopo Language Committee and SABC honoured the 2019 Literary Competition winners on International Language Day this year.
Among the winners was Deffo James Nare, who won the Sepedi category. He won a trophy and a R20 000 for his poem, Mabose Fela.
His love for poetry started in Gr 2 when he first recited the poem, Mafakudu and today, he draws inspiration from life in general. He started writing poetry and drama in 2000 when he was in Gr 12. Today, James enjoys travelling as he says this exposes him to life, from where he can translate his experiences into words.
James is a teacher at New Look Primary School and says his occupation complements his writing as he often writes about learner scenarios.
Two of his poems were nominated in the Afrika-Borwa e tletsego ka dikgonagalo competition in 2007.
Although James did not win, two of his poems were nominated and aired on Thobela FM. He wrote a poem about the youth which was aired on Thobela FM on 16 June 2007. He wrote a radio drama for Radio Turf in 2011, and has also written a poem about former president Nelson Mandela for Sadtu. The poem was celebrated on a national level in 2018 at East London.
James won the Schools Heritage competition in 2018 and 2019 representing his school.
His drama, Your Choice, which is based on bullying, gangsterism and drug abuse, is awaiting release for schools. He is also working on a manuscript for a short story, Itatswe.
James hopes to write more short stories and inspire change in the communities.
