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A Press Alert, 02 September 2014

Ta Borala: A Sepedi/ Sesotho sa Leboa poetry anthology



Pages: 246 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9869991-6-1
Publisher: Timbila Poetry Project, 2014.
Editor: David wa Maahlamela
Price: R230


The Timbila Poetry Project, the leading poetry movement in South Africa has once again
added a riveting anthology of poetry, Ta Borala, a remarkable feat in the tapestry of
indigenous publishing in Africa. Ta Borala, an anthology of 202 poems in Sepedi/Sesotho sa
Leboa, compiled and edited by the award-winning poet and Rhodes University PhD
candidate, David wa Maahlamela is a result of an intensive creative writing workshop which
was held in 2010 in Polokwane. Like good wine, it took four years fermenting in the hands of
the editor and in dialogue with the featured poets. This collectors item will be launched on
11
th
September during the Polokwane Literary Fair.

In the history of Sepedi/ Sesotho sa Leboa poetry, Ta Borala up to so far, is the only poetry
anthology with a balanced gender and age representation. Its multidimensional variety in
forms, content and approach, encompasses the rich diversity of dialects including the
constitutionally overlooked ones such as Khelobedu, Setlokwa and Sepulane. Subject varies
from traditional to urban life, enabling both the rich orally composed and the modern which
is enormously seasoned by different influences to flourish without any restraint.

In the making of this book, it is the size of the poem, rather than that of a poet, which was
prioritized. It is on this basis that the book features legendary wordsmiths such as Matshediso
Aletta Motimele, Phomelelo Moshapo-Machika, Tau Motubatse Mashupye Nchabeleng and
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Mankgase Shadrach Mashabela not for their names, but for the credibility and intriguing
poems. However, age did matter, but also not of a poet, but rather the age the poem would
survive. Four years later, these poems still taste fresh, like timeless treasures. Underplayed
and avoided yet crucial themes such as feminism, which have, in African language literary
repertoire, been treated like taboos, are dearly embraced and deeply explored in Ta Borala.

Ta Borala comprises ordinary stories told in unordinary ways that redefine Sesotho sa
Leboa/Sepedi poetry. It is a perfect blend of dialects, forms, voices, cultural outlooks, gender
and age, that form a culturally and literary density. It preserves the past while critically
exploring the present and its dynamics. Seasoned poets are meshed with fresh yet striking
voices to take Sepedi poetry to new heights. As if it was not enough, the anthology is,
throughout, sandwiched with rarely used yet intriguing Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa proverbs, so
as to encourage the preservation of folklore within the realm of creative and artistic literature.

Featured poets include students, language experts, radio presenters, health professionals,
industrial engineers, art practitioners and of course and literary scholars all pouring out
public and private pain and moments of bliss without holding back. Such a wide range attests
to a wider outlook that is bound to a general readership from all spheres of life. One priceless
feature is a poem about death written by Pontho Marumo Motimele a week before she
passed on: confirming the prophetic nature of poetry and its social and spiritual relevance in
our lives.

All in all, the anthology features poems by the following 28 poets: Mpho Godfrey Molapo,
Phomelelo Moshapo-Machika, Matete Motsoaledi, Pontho Marumo Motimele, Tau
Motubatse Mashupye Nchabeleng, Madihlare Christobeth Molapo, Makwaya Piet Madula,
Matshediso Aletta Motimele, Magoja Humphrey Hlaka, Motjidibane Bapela, Thabo Letwaba,
Makosha Dimo, James Mashupu, NS Sebati, Malehu Agnetia Molewa, Tiego Phillimon
Tjale, Moloko Mahuma, Lesley Ramushu, Mankgase Shadrack Mashabela, Magosechaba
Violet Mamabolo, Lethunya Mmuroa, Ngwanamohuba Wilhemina Sebati, Amos Tebeila,
Peter Moruthane, Mamoleme Jacob Mokaba, Makwena Manamela, Makgadi Grace Koma
and David wa Maahlamela.
The high quality production of Ta Borala which defies the shoddiness that is associated with
makeshift books published in indigenous languages was funded by the National Lottery
Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) during the 2012/2013 phase of the Indigenous Languages
Publishing Programme (ILPP). The Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme (ILPP) is a
joint initiative of the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and the
Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).

To order the book, please contact Timbila Poetry Project on 015 291 2088 or 072 1296 496 or
email timbila@telkomsa.net

To arrange an interview, contact the editor, David wa Maahlamela on 074 628 5247 or
maahlamela@writing.com
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Pego ya Tsebagato, 02 Lewedi/Setemere 2014

Ta Borala: Pukuthetomohlakanelwa ya Sepedi/ Sesotho sa Leboa



Matlakala: Matlakala a 246
Nomoro ya boitshibio ya puku: 978-0-9869991-6-1
Baphatlalati: Timbila Poetry Poetry, 2014
Morulaganyi: David wa Maahlamela
Tefo/serto: R230


Timbila Poetry Project, baphatlalati ebile e le mokgahlokgoparara wa boreti mo Afrika
Borwa, ba gatiite pukuthetomohlakanelwa ya moswananoi, Ta Borala, yeo e lego
katlegokgolo mo legorong la kgatio ya dipuku ta maleme a kaparaswana Afrika ka bophara.
Pukuthetomohlakanelwa ye ya Ta Borala, ya go ba le direto te 202 ta Sepedi/Sesotho sa
Leboa, e hlaotwe le go rulaganywa ke moreti wa mothopadifoka, ebile ga bjalo e le
moithutelabongaka Yunibesithing ya Rhodes, David wa Maahlamela. Yona e tla morago ga
tlhahlo yeo e tseneletego ya ta bongwadi yeo e ilego ya swara ka 2010 go la Polokwane. Go
swana le beine ye monate, pukuthetomohlakanelwa ye e tere mengwaga ye mene e hlotlwa
diatleng ta morulaganyi gape a bolediana le bareti bao meomo ya bona e akareditwego.
Todi ye ya boreti e tlile go ketekwa le go hlomamiwa ka la 11 Lewedi/Setemere go
moketeko wa ta bongwadi wa Polokwane Literary Fair.

Setlogong sa boreti bja Sepedi/Sesotho sa Leboa go fihla ga bjale, Ta Borala ke yona
pukuthetomohlakanelwa e nnoi ya go lekalekanya bong le bogolo. Go fapanafapana ga
dibopego, dikagare, le mengalelo, go akareta le lehumopolelo la dipolelo-semmotwana teo
molaotheo o di tshediago mahlo go swana le Khelobedu, Setlokwa le Sepulane. Mateng a
itheile go thoma ka dikgopolo ta bophelo bja magaeng go fihla go ta setoropong, go
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dumelela gore theto yeo e hlamilwego ka molomo, le ta sebjale teo di ngwalwago gape di
nonthwa ke dikhuweto te fapanego; go ka ipapata ntle le thitio.

Ge go be go beakanywa puku ye, go be go editwe pele boleng bja sereto, esego bja moreti.
Ke ka lebaka leo direto ta bokomangkanna le dikonokono bongwading go swana le
Matshedisho Aletta Motimele, Phomelelo Moshapo-Machika, Tau Motubatse Mashupye
Nchabeleng le Mankgase Shadrach Mashabela di kgethilwe, e se ka baka la setumo sa bona,
efeela ka baka la go kgodia le bokgwari bja direto teo. Go le bjalo, mengwaga e ile ya
etwa, efela le mo esego mengwaga ya moreti efeela mengwaga yeo sereto se ka e phelago.
Morago ga mengwaga ye mene, direto te di sa kwala te nkego di ngwadilwe lehono, te
nkego monono wa mothaothele. Mooko le hlogotaba te bohlokwa efela di nyenyefatwago
le go katogwa go dingwalwa ta maleme a SeAfrika ka bophara, ta go lebelelwa e kare ke
bohlola go ngwala ka tona; mo go pukuthetomohlakanelwa ya Ta Borala di filwe edi le go
ahlaahlwa.

Bareti bao meomo ya bona e lego ka go pukuthetomohlakanelwa ye ba akareta baithuti,
ditsebi ta polelo, bagai ba seyalemoya, baomedi ba ta maphelo, dientenara ta meepong,
bakgabi ba ta bokgabo, gape le banyakiii ba thuto ya ta bongwadika moka ga bona ba
tweleta bohloko le lethabo ta phatlalata le ta boteng, ntle le go dikologa seolwana. Go
tloga go pannwe pitsi ta mebala ye e fapafapanego ka joko e tee, seo se tloga se kgonthiia
dibopego le tatso te fapafapanego teo re sa gononego gore di tla akareta babadi ka moka
go ya ka mehutahuta ya bona. Lehumo leo le sa lekanthego le selo ke sereto mabapi le lehu
seo se ngwadilwego ke Pontho Marumo Motimele beke pele a ithobalela boroko bja
mafelelo, go laeta gore boreti bo na le boporofeta ka gare gape bo tloga bo le bohlokwa
maphelong a rena a sedumedi.

Pukuthetomohlakanelwa ye, ka kakareto, e na le direto ta bareti ba 28, bona ke: Mpho
Godfrey Molapo, Phomelelo Moshapo-Machika, Matete Motsoaledi, Pontho Marumo
Motimele, Tau Motubatse Mashupye Nchabeleng, Madihlare Christobeth Molapo, Makwaya
Piet Madula, Matshediso Aletta Motimele, Magoja Humphrey Hlaka, Motjidibane Bapela,
Thabo Letwaba, Makosha Dimo, James Mashupu, NS Sebati, Malehu Agnetia Molewa,
Tiego Phillimon Tjale, Moloko Mahuma, Lesley Ramushu, Mankgase Shadrack Mashabela,
Magosechaba Violet Mamabolo, Lethunya Mmuroa, Ngwanamohuba Wilhemina Sebati,
Amos Tebeila, Peter Moruthane, Mamoleme Jacob Mokaba, Makwena Manamela, Makgadi
Grace Koma le David wa Maahlamela.
Kgatio ya maemo a godimodimo ya Ta Boralaye e fapanego gape e thulana le setlwaedi
sa kgatio ya go fokola, ya solanka, go dipuku ta maleme a kaparaswanake ka thuo ya
ta maeleng gotwa go National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) sehleng sa yona
sa 2012/2013 sa lenanego la Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme (ILPP). Lenanego
la Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme (ILPP) ke kgwerano magareng ga South
African Book Development Council (SABDC) le Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).
Go otara puku ye, ikgokaganthe le ba ga Timbila Poetry Project mo go 015 291 2088 goba
072 1296 496 goba timbila@telkomsa.net
Go rulaganya polediano mabapi le puku, o ka ikgokagantha le morulaganyi, David wa Maahlamela
mo go 074 628 5247 goba maahlamela@writing.com