Kgaotsang ka bokgopo
Mobung wa bo ntatarona le bommarona,
‘Popelo di hlapaotswe.
Lefatshe ntshike hoba ke sitwa ho mamella,
le ho emela kgang ya ho hlotholwa maphelo ho sa kgaotswe.
Ke qhitsa menyepetsi e kgakelleditseng potsohadi.
Ebe ‘fatsheng lee ya ho tswala tshepo esale teng?
Ee rona bo Mmasetjhaba re tswalletswe ho tswala,
Feela re fenethwa ke ‘tsoho la setjhaba.
Se re amoha le masea a rona meya ya rona eshwa ntse re phela.
Maleshoane Ladybid Mputlane Profile
MALESHOANE MPHUTLANE is a performing poet , best known with her stage name, LADYBIRD. Born 1987 in BOTSHABELO. She started writing and reciting her own work in 2006 and since proved to touch lives with her work. Her activeness started in 2002 as a traditional dancer then later realised that her calling is to be a messenger through words. In 2008 she became one of the finalists for the SABC LENTSWE POETRY COMPETITION. In 2012 she had the opportunity to perform for MACUFE HOMEBREW POETRY and in the following year in 2013, 2014 and 2019. In 2019 she was chosen by the Department of sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation to be a representative for the FREE STATE at the GRAHAMSTOWN NATIONAL ARTS [WORD FESTIVAL]. In 2014 and 2017 again she performed at MACUFE POETRY. She is now getting recognition for her Sesotho praise poetry.
Q&A with Ladybird:
Why do you write?
Writing for me is the only way I can breathe and be me; a weapon that has saved my existence and has proved that healing is not only of medicine, but words also.
Are there any SA female writers you admire & who?
It is quite hard to pick one, but I would say, after spending just 2 days with Phillipa Yaa De Villiers, I realised her greatness and I am not shy to say I would love to walk in her footsteps.
What did it feel like writing about the losses of women and children in your mother tongue and your borrowed language for this campaign and anthology?
I always don’t know where to turn to when I sense danger and all this makes me feel lifeless. I ask myself every day, why do bodies and minds of women and children have to be harmed this way? But I become weak when I think of it and a thought surfaces that there is nothing I can do about it.
When I wrote the two pieces, my emotions became turmoil. I got scared of what was coming out of my heart and if it will be a solution or perhaps help someone who really needs to hear it. Everything I went through as a child, a young woman and now a mother is everything I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I am grateful that I made it through alive but I don’t wish this on anyone.
So, I as I wrote I started to become hopeful that what I was putting down will be the beginning of a journey to healing for those who will read and listen. I just pray that we will one day know our real worth and find courage to voice out, fight back, protect our children
and walk away while we are still breathing.
We have been way too polite with the pretence that we understand, it takes time. Being strong does not mean we deserve to be weakened.
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