PRESS RELEASE: BA RE E NERE...LITFEST (MARCH 2011)

The choice is ours

So is the mind and the matches too

The choice is ours

So is the beginning...

The choice is ours

So is the need and the want too

The choice is ours

So is the vision of the day - Extract from Keorapetse Kgositsile’s poem If I Could Sing (Kwela Publishers, 2002)

Literature is an ongoing conversation that engages a politics of friendship; a process of discussion and discovery that takes place across multiple platforms and in various spaces and contexts. Literature also cannot be confined to a provincial way of relating to, expressing, narrating and even acknowledging it. The role of extra-textual references also cannot be ignored when engaging in literary discourse. The Ba re e nere...Litfest (March 2011) seeks to encourage discourse on these factors.

In Lesotho, writers and musos such as Thomas Mofolo, Polo ‘Malehlohonolo, Patrick Bereng, Morabo Morojele, Mpho Brown, Bhudaza, and Mary Bosiu to name but a few have provided nourishing text reflective of, amongst others, their cultural roots and social influences whilst other renowned writers such as Njabulo Ndebele, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Zakes Mda and Ayi Kwei Armah have suckled from Lesotho’s bosom to become who they are and what they write about today. The Ba re e nere...Litfest (March 2011) pays homage to literatis’ by exploring their work and experiences through the access to Chimurenga Library at the Vodacom Internet Shop (Maseru, Lesotho), screening of audio-visual material as well as the hosting of weekly discussions throughout the month of March 2011 in Lesotho.

King Moshoeshoe I noted, ntoa boholo kea hosane and as such the Ba re e nere...Litfest seeks to acknowledge Basotho and other pan African authors, learn and share knowledge within and across geopolitical borders as well as encourage a literary discourse in Lesotho for the tales of tomorrow reflect the etchings of those from the past that are daily impressioned on, recounted and re-written by the authors, distributors, vendors, artists, printers, institutions and readers alike.

The Ba re e nere...Litfest (March 2011) is conceptualised and curated by Liepollo Rantekoa

For more info:

[Tel. ]+266 59738858

[ Email] lesothobooks@gmail.com;

[Facebook] Ba Re Literature

Sponsors

Alliance Francaise, Maseru (Lesotho); Morija Museum and Archives (Lesotho); Nhlahlapa Architects; Meditteranneé: Pizzeria Restaurant & The Coffee Shop, Maseru (Lesotho); Pioneer Office National, Maseru (Lesotho); Tee Tee Chemicals & Equipment (pty) ltd.; Vodacom Internet Shop, Maseru (Lesotho); Ster Kinekor; Maseru (Lesotho); Nemisis Inc.

Audio-visual screenings

Material provided by Chimurenga Magazine, Jimmy Rage, Kgafela oa Magogodi, Lesego Rampolokeng and Peace Corp

Live sessions

DATE DAY PARTICIPANTS PLACE TIME

5-Mar Saturday

Morabo Morojele in discussion with Kgafela oa Magogodi and Lesego Rampolokeng; Satchmo

Meditteraineé 18h00 - 20h00

11-Mar Friday

Patrick Bereng in discussion with Mathorela Tsikoane; performance by Lomile Maputle Alliance

Francaise 18h00- 20h00

19-Mar Saturday

Leseli Mokhele , Mpho Brown and Keorapetse Kgositsile in discussion with ; performance by Lomile Maputle Morija 14h00 - 17h00

25-Mar Friday

Mme Polo 'Malehlohonolo Ndumo; Friday Flyer in discussion with Mbulelo Mqathazane Alliance

France 17h00 -20h00

* Calendar subject to changes. Any changes will be noted via print and audio media as well as facebook [Ba Re Literature]

** Participants’ material will be available for sale at all Ba re e nere...Litfest sessions

Participants’ Brief Bio

Morabo Morojele

Morojele hails from Lesotho. A writer, researcher, economist, critic and musician (a former member of the jazz quintet Voice which supported esteemed artists such as Zim Ngqawana, Gloria Bosman, Paul Hanmer, Barney Rachabane, Sibongile Khumalo,Abdullah Ibrahim and Bheki Mseleku. How We Buried Puso (2007) is his first novel.

Kgafela oa Magogodi

A former lecturer at the Wits School of Arts, literature, film studies in Africa and the diaspora and Ymagazine columnist, oa Magogodi is a poet and audio-visual artist who has featured, in collaboration with uDaba, at the Pan African Space Station festival (http://www.panafricanspacestation.org.za/l) - an annual music intervention on the internet and in venues across greater Cape Town from September 12 – October 12. His works include titles such as Dread Scribbles (book of essays/articles) and I Mike What I Like (poetry cd and film). For more info visit www.kgafela.com

Lesego Rampolokeng

Poet and playwright. Rampolokeng has published three volumes of poetry, including the acclaimed Horns for Hondo and the novellas Whiteheart and Blackheart. He has also published many plays, including Fanon's Children.

Patrick Mohlalefi Bereng

An author of several published titles covering Basotho culture such as I Am a Mosotho (1987), Bereng is a distinguished former journalist, writer, historian and narrator based in Lesotho.

Mathorela Tsikoane

Tsikoane is a proud parent and co-author of a book dealing with the subject of unsung everyday heroes. She is currently the warden at the National University of Lesotho (NUL).

Lomile Maputle

Since 2006, Lomile Maputle has captivated and captured the imagination, the hearts of, and essence of Basotho culture through afro jazz. Supported by a seven piece band and dancers using likupu (drums), sekhang kula, lesiba, tenor saxophone, bass and lead guitar, keys and marimba, Lomile Maputle threads together a narrative only peculiar of the Southern African region, with echoes of the rest of the African continent. Having performed at esteemed functions such as the SADC Summit (2007); the launch of Lesotho Electoral Authority; MACUFE and respective Lesotho Tourism jazz festivals, amongst others, the self-taught band has challenged the frontiers of afro jazz in their ability to teach, entertain and remind the listener of where one comes from - boleng ba hao- without romantacising past experiences. Mokhorong oa Khotla is the title of her first album.

Leseli Mokhele

Mokhele is a poet, writer and journalist based in Lesotho. His published titles include Home-Grown Short Stories (1st Edition, 2004) and he is the founding editor of the Weekly Mail newspaper.

Keorapetse ‘Willie’ Kgositsile

South African Poet Laureate (2006) and essayist whose writings focuses on Pan-African liberation as the fruit of informed heroism and compassionate humanism. Kgositsile's poetry books include This Way I Salute You (2004), Spirits Unchained (1969), For Melba (1970), My Name is Afrika (1971), The Present Is a Dangerous Place to Live (1974), Places and Bloodstains (1975), Herzspuren (1981; "Traces of the Heart"), and When the Clouds Clear (1990). He also edited The Word Is Here: Poetry from Modern Africa (1973). Kgositsile was a founding member of the ANC Department of Education as well as that of Arts and Culture in the 1960s. He is currently an advisor in the Department of Arts and Culture, South Africa.

Mpho Brown

Brown started writing lyrics and rapping in 2002. His drive to write was not only a product of me being surrounded by a growing culture of Hip-hop in Maseru (Lesotho), but also a growing need to express himself as he grew and life threw different situations at him, which mroe often than not were challenging. According to Brown, “picking up a pen and pad was one of the best decisions I ever made and since reciting my earlier rhymes at a Sprite-sponsored rap battle in 2003 and winning the competition, I never looked back. I went on to complete part of his High School Education in 2004 graduating Valedictorian, which earned me several scholarships to complete High School in Hong Kong, China.” Never letting go of his passion to one day become one of the best Hip-Hop

musicians, Brown has kept his focus and decided that New York City, where he currently resides and is a Economics and Political Science student at Columbia University, would be the place for his dreams of becoming a great Hip-Hop artist to become a reality . Brown has also completed an IB Diploma in Hong Kong and is now, continuing to excel in his academic, music and professional careers. For more information: http://www.myspace.com/ministerpo

Polo 'Malehlohonolo Ndumo

Author and social activist, Ndumo has published titles such as Africa My Africa. She is the founding director of the 'Malehlohonolo Ndumo Foundation (http://www.mnf.org.ls/) – a mobile library service provider and literacy promoter organisation based in Lesotho.

Mbulelo Mqathazane

Mqathazane is a graphic artist , reviewer and chief editor of L’Oeuvre: scripts, hand crafts and photography magazine. For more information: www.ronatwork.org.ls

Friday Flyer

Friday Flyer is an alternative newspaper-magazine first published November 2010, it is an initiative of 2 co-publishers who were inspired by the opportunities unexplored in media in Lesotho. The purpose of the paper is to inform the reader on issues that are important to the nation, some over-looked; trends in business, real estate, fashion. It is the kind of paper that offers hard-news articles, social issues, education balanced with fashion editorials and book reviews to name a few. Friday Flyer is there to share your aspirations, your dreams, your fears, your pain and your joy.

Jimmy “Wordsworth” Rage

Jimmy Rage is a Visual artist, performer and writer. He has had live poetry and Art performances in the Netherlands, Belgium, U.K. and the U.S. and participated in group exhibitions all over the world. Jimmy Rage has been a regular contributor to the KAGABLOG since its beginnings in 2005. Daily updates feature the poetry, short stories and artwork of Jimmy. Other work includes Jazzing through the Ages Liner notes for the John Coltrane Tribute Album – produced by Kindred Spirits. Jimmy Rage is also a regular contributor to CLAM Magazine in Paris. His latest contributions include the following: Growing Up – Selection of short stories and poems published in CLAM Magazine fall/winter edition 2007/8 and Escape – short story: When I Was in the Bush published in CLAM Magazine spring/summer edition 2007.

For more info visit the following sites: http://www.myspace.com/43065214; http://badilishapoetry.com/radio/Jimmy-Rage-aka-Femi-Dawkins

Chimurenga Library

Curated by the editors and contributors of Chimurenga Magazine (www.chimurenga.co.za), the Chimurenga Library (www.chimurengalibrary.co.za) is an archiving project that profiles independent pan African paper periodicals from around the world. It focuses on cultural, political and literary magazines, both living and extinct,

which have been influential platforms for dissent and which have broadened the scope for print publishing on art, new writing and ideas in and about Africa.

The aim of the Chimurenga Library is not to produce a comprehensive bibliography of periodicals published in Africa. Our approach is subjective and accumulation is the result of a critical inquiry and research that takes place in parallel to ongoing conversations with artists, poets, writers, philosophers, readers and researchers from global Africa.

The Chimurenga Library weaves together the interconnected histories of literature, politics, cinema and art, forging links between different countries, continents and time zones.

Some of the periodicals featured are deep within the postcolonial canon, others smaller and obscure, virtual even. In addition to cultural, political and literary magazines, the Library includes periodic music compilations (such as the Discotheque series from Silyphone Records on 70s Guinee), Mfumu' Eto comics, fictional publications (such as a collection of Fela Kuti's Chief Priest Say columns) and imaginary magazines not yet written. In short, a sort of archipelago of counter-culture platforms that impacted on our concept of the paper-periodical, the publishable even.