WenaThe 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'. |
Contents
Wena | 1 |
Hey black gal | 9 |
Noord Street taxi rank | 13 |
Kwenzakalani? | 15 |
Some fathers | 19 |
Ghetto princess | 21 |
Famous family | 23 |
After I lost uMama | 25 |
If you say that you love me | 47 |
Abuse | 51 |
Age of colour | 55 |
Hamba | 57 |
I choose life | 61 |
Love in Soweto | 65 |
Miss WhatWhat | 69 |
My generation | 73 |
Boy problems | 33 |
For you | 35 |
Thinking of you | 39 |
Uyakhumbula? | 41 |
In my garden | 43 |
Good company | 45 |
One thing remains the same | 85 |
Risen | 87 |
Labels | 91 |
Too much woman | 93 |
Back cover | |
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Common terms and phrases
African Perspectives Publishing African women Dance Afrika Kwenzakalani age of colour Azania Bakufuna bonke blak Born Free choose cosmic connection crap the cosmic crimes you forgive culture my story David Wa Maahlamela dlozi power pulsating Don Mattera ISBN drama emancipation Sing fathers forgotten the strife freedom The crime Ghetto princess given Nontsikelelo given Ntsiki speaks Hamba wena Hayi Hey black Hey black gal history Undoubtedly Kasi kwaito Kwenzakalani Ma Afrika learnt live The crimes lost uMama Love in Soweto Mama Afrika Mashile meet the world mini skirt Miss What-What Multitudes were murdered never ngehips nempundu Nontsikelelo has risen Noord Street taxi Okwang kwetla Osweri vibe mos pain poem poet poetry powerful words praise singer Quit the crap Sing sing Street taxi rank strife Your ancestors There's no chemistry tomorrow's Uyakhumbula vibe mos Wena voice weak wena NTSIKI MAZWAI woman write quiet storms write to move Xhosa girl على