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    Wena
    Wena
    Wena
    Ebook59 pages18 minutes

    Wena

    By Ntsiki Mazwai

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The collection of poems is an intriguing reflection of the sometimes torturous evolution of inner self which so many South Africans face as they struggle to find who they are in a multicultural society that espouses the values of traditional culture while reaching for the promise of a global community. Thus the blend of Xhosa and English as Ntsiki strives to merge her modern views with cultural roots. She feels strongly the need to reclaim her culture and language and blend them within the context of a cosmopolitan society. She captures the vibe and energy of young South Africa and its blossoming as well as its quandaries. Ntsiki does not hesitate to deal with controversial and painful issues, such as rape, and her work challenges the reader to stop and think, really think. The quest for self expression and self-understanding echoes throughout the book and through it, she exhorts the reader to have the courage to explore and understand himself. Underlying many poems is the unspoken but burning desire that, by telling the truth, she will create possibilities for others to do the same. In many ways, Wena is a celebration of life. The poems brim over with Ntsiki s own desire to drink to the full and then go out there and pour love and life out into the world. The manner in which she distills meaning and value from the negative is perhaps best expressed in her own words, from the poem, I choose life :
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAfrican Perspectives Publishing
    Release dateJul 26, 2011
    ISBN9780992187552
    Wena
    Author

    Ntsiki Mazwai

    Ntsiki Mazwai is a South African spoken word artist, poet, musician and beadwork designer.

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      Book preview

      Wena - Ntsiki Mazwai

      wena

      NTSIKI MAZWAI

      African Perspectives Publishing

      PO Box 95342 | Grant Park 2051 | South Africa

      www.africanperspectives.co.za

      © Ntsiki Mazwai 2010

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

      ISBN 978-0-981-43981-5

      Edited by Robert Greig

      Typeset by Gail Day

      Cover design by Mycalture

      Printed and bound by 4 Colour Print

      for bookings...

      www.ntsikimazwai.co.za

      ntsikimazwai@yahoo.com

      management@ntsikimazwai.co.za

      Contents

      About the author

      Acknowledgements

      Foreword

      Wena!

      Hey black gal!

      Noord Street taxi rank

      Kwenzakalani?

      Some fathers

      Ghetto princess

      Famous family

      After I lost uMama

      Boy problems

      For you

      Thinking of you

      Uyakhumbula?

      In my garden

      Good company

      If you say that you love me

      Abuse

      Age of colour!

      Hamba!

      I choose life

      Love in Soweto

      Miss What-What

      My generation

      One thing remains the same

      Risen

      Labels

      Too much woman

      About the author

      Private school girl from the backstreets

      This is no languid butterfly, drifting aimlessly among forced, insipid blooms in an artificial hothouse. Ntsiki Mazwai is a hummingbird. Multi-hued. Bursting with the delight of life. Radiating energy as she drinks deeply of the rich blossoms that sprout wherever they find root, she pours these experiences out in a brilliantly coloured tapestry of poetry, dance

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