Tell us about yourself
I’m a South African that grew up in the midst of the apartheid era South Africa. My political awareness was shaped by my Grandfather and both parents who were liberal-minded as well as the school I attended (Diocesan College). I studied economics and have been involved in fruit exports which has taken me to many countries as has my love for surfing. I am published in various anthologies and magazines. Last year I was shortlisted for the Sol Plaatje award as well as the UK Bridport Poetry Prize. By poetry collection the stretching of my sky was published this year. I serve on the Board of the South African Literary Journal that published the longest standing poetry magazine in South Africa called New Contrast.
Tell us about the poetry scene in your country
As we all know, there really isn’t money in poetry (except for the famous few!) so we do this for the love of it. South Africa has a very vibrant and active poetry tradition and what’s really great is the explosion of poetry among the school-going generation and college and university students and school leavers. We have regular poetry readings around the country. In Cape Town there are the weekly Off the Wall Poetry Performing and Grounding Sessions open mic and guest poet gigs in Observatory. The Poetry Circle in the Central Library meets once a month and there’s also a guest poet once a month at Kamili Coffee Shop. I think the University of Western Cape also have readings in the University Library from time to time.
Archie 3 years ago when interviewed you said, “you started writing when I was 13 and had poems published in our school magazine” what were the issues at the heart of a 13 year old Archie versus the issues at the heart of the 62 year old Archie
The first poem I ever had published nationally in appeared in English Alive in 1973 (English Alive is an anthology of South African High School creative writing that is still going strong). This is the poem:
mapolisa - the police
in the still night
as a cat whines in the darkness
a shadow lurks
mapolisa
and the people crouch
in clenched fists
of black terror
That’s fairly radical for a school kid I guess, but that’s the way I felt then and that’s the way I feel now.
Here is a poem about Sharpeville I wrote just two years ago. It’s the same eye and the same voice:
tell me i lived
robert sobukwe
our holes are dug
our coffins neatly aligned
our faces - masks
robert sobukwe
speak for us
write in our books
gather the dust of our blood
robert sobukwe
speak to me
tell me i lived
tell me i mattered
tell me i count
robert sobukwe
sing to me
sing a deep song
sing a lullaby
sing a methodist hymn
robert sobukwe
hold me
hold my warm hand growing cold
robert sobukwe
gather my soul
Having said this one learns the craft – there is the truth that it takes 10,000 hours – actually it takes more. You learn to understand your voice and your craft as time goes by and you do this by publishing and reading your poems as well as listening to the voices of other poets. I write on a variety of subjects. I write about what catches my eye. I always write for myself first – often trying to explain something to myself or capture my thoughts about something I’m experiencing. I try to write in a straight-forward way so others can understand what I’m saying.
How do you get around life and your creativity, how do you achieve balance between these, living and creativity.
For me there has never been any separation between life and poetry. I really don’t sit down to write - rather I find myself grabbing a pen and paper anywhere and everywhere to get things down that have caught my eye and inspired me.
If you were a poem, what type or form will you be in, and why?
I would just be free verse – unpredictable – free – not constrained by norms – experimental – pushing boundaries.
“Most of our indigenous history in South Africa, and I guess the rest of Africa, has been handed down from one generation to another through story telling”, What stories do you feel you have handed down to your children
I spend a lot of time with my daughters. They are wonderful free-spirited generous people who laugh easily. I don’t think I’ve ever sort-of sat any of them down and said “Now hear this!” but we are a family of story-tellers and I think everyone is good at it. Usually they are hilarious stories. I do tell them some of their family history, but it bores them I think!
What type of sports are you into.
I love most sports but surfing has always been my first love. The ocean is a great tutor. A tutor that never speaks yet speaks volumes – teaches how insignificant we are – how nature is to be respected and loved.
Tell us about your recently published poetry collection, what is it about, what do you want to achieve, and where it can be bought by those interested in procuring a copy
the stretching of my sky really has no theme. It is a gathering of poems about places, people, politics, tragedy, happiness, travel, loss and love. The 49 poems are accompanied by over 60 colour images – the paintings and drawings of friends as well as numerous photographs. Its available only in South Africa. In Cape Town it can be bought at The Book Lounge, Clark’s Books, The Olde Book Shop, The Central Library Book Shop and elsewhere in some Wordworth Book Stores and the Temanos Book Store in McGregor. It’s also available at the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and University of Western Cape libraries as well as the Cape Town Central and the Jacob Gitlin Libraries.
You have been with the BNAP family from the beginning,give us a perspective opinion of the project
It is the little flame that has become a wild fire. Obviously this was your vision, Tendai and what a vision it has turned out to be! There cannot be another joining of so many poets from our great African continent that comes close to this – so many countries and so many voices. Not just that, we communicate with one another through the groups regularly – we support challenge and grow. Here you are about to start on the 4th BNAP anthology – it’s amazing, not even to mention the Africa versus Latin American, Asia, North America collaborations that have been a spin off. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this. May BNAP go from strength to strength and receive the recognition it deserves!
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