Backyard Background Blues

#JazzMoya #HerbieTsoaeli #AfricanTime

Jobur Post field work

interviewing Samthing Soweto back in '17 at WAM. he was to perform at the 969 Festival at Wits. wrote a nice little review for Joburg Post afterwards. 

Show Review: A conscious-raising escapade

Such shows as this month's Poetic Thursdays event at Soweto Theatre tend to become nightmarish for a reviewer who tries to recreate, by way of words, what was on offer for the attending audience. This is simply because such shows, especially where poetry is central, can deliver on such a high level that only a few words can reach.

This was the case in the typically cozy Blue Theatre on Thursday evening as a near full-capacity audience were treated to arguably one of the best poetry assemblies of the year.

Kicking off their third season in partnership with Soweto Theatres, Poetic Thursdays has established a knack for attracting some of the warmest, friendliest and understanding people to make up part of its audience. This allows crucial curtain-raiser features such as the ‘Open Mic’ to function under a welcoming atmosphere, which is most ideal for the would-be skittish novice-poet.

Another of Poetic Thursdays strongest items, wittingly or unwittingly, is the MCing. Kgotso Motaung, AKA Poetic Justice, has set a lofty standard with his incredible authentism as the regular MC of the show over the years. With him being one of the night’s performers however, Trigga Soweto filled in admirably with a similarly authentic ghetto gusto.

Poetic Justice, also creator of the show, stepped a rung lower to position himself in front of the gaze and mercy of the audience, treating them to his conscious-raising and creatively poignant work that he chose to prelude with his favourite from the virtuosic Mak Manaka’s Flowers of a Broken Smile. The 28-year old’s poetry is deeply rooted in the Black experience and affects with a swaggering assuredness only cultivated by having about 10 years of growth and experience in his locker. To risk a seemingly odd football analogy, Poetic Justice does with words what Brazilian sensation, Neymar, does with the soccer ball. He is compellingly crafty, infectiously bold, strikingly effective and unimaginably mercurial.

Writer, entrepreneur and publisher, Shibombi Baloyi too had everyone under her alluring spell. She tells a lovely story through poetry all readily consistent with her endearing aura. Among an impressive poetry output she shared her first poem written in critique of poets, who according to her were too prone to exaggeration. It is on that motif that she performed a poem that expressed boastful pride in owning the idiosyncratic exaggerations of poets.

Lerato Lichaba’s sonic offering was a complementary break that re-energised the senses. The feature of a ballerina contrived to give a visual account of the elegant yet psychedelic notes emanating from Lichaba’s guitar strings. The Urban Village band leader evoked something ancestral from his Kemetic garb down to his evocative sounds. In entertainment terms, he was a complete item.

Thabo Kolo, AKA Sensei, also showcased his undeniable talents and also allowed for his friend and colleague Molefe Nong to wow the crowd. Together they run LentsweAfrica Ltd., a South African privately owned creative house and digital hub positioned to provide a range of arts and craft solutions. The company’s strongest inclinations lean towards poetry, music (of all forms, styles and genres) and writing/editing.

Thursday’s season-opener was an overall success. While escapades are usually characterized by inebriation, Poetic Thurdays’ experience is as intensely sobering as it is trance-inducing. By last night’s showing alone, it truly stands out as the bellwether poetry show in Johannesburg.

Hoe voel jy?

Ek voel Dolly vandag! Double Dolly! #Kofifi #DieTaal