Poet's heart beats for her country

     Poetry & Literature

The heart of 22-year-old Prudence Bopape beats with love, anger, nostalgia, remembrance, optimism, strength and hope in the face of disappointments and confusion.

Her début collection of poems, This heart only beats for you, was launched at the Ferdie Beyers Hall in Louis Trichardt a fortnight ago.

“This 'heart' beats for my loved ones,” she said. “It beats for men as much as every woman who bears much pain in their heart, beating for them to rise and show the world that women are not just beautiful, but they bear the potential. It beats for my beautiful country.”

An avid reader, Ethel Luvhimba, who drove all the way from Gauteng to attend the launch, said that the publication served as a great milestone in the turnaround of the telling of African stories. “On a daily basis, we yearn for a true reflection of our stories,” she said. “Vhakololo Press has that opportunity to change the perception that good writers and publishers are of European descent. I hope to see more and more female writers coming through Vhakololo Press. Continue to support the great work our sisters are penning so beautifully.”

Luvhimba urged the poet to continue to write more poems and stories just like great female writers such as Maya Angelou and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche did. “It is about time that all of us as people join hands to eradicate illiteracy through reading,” she said. “Prudence, you are still young, age is still on your side. Have fun and enjoy this beautiful talent that God has bestowed upon you. By the age of 30, people should be making appointments to see you.”

The Pan South African Language Board's Mr Gezani Mabunda said the board was pleased to see young voices such as Prudence climbing the literary ladder.

The director of the annual Polokwane Literary Fair, Mr Malose Lekganyane, lauded both publisher and author for working together and launching a superb work of art.

The established publisher and poet, Vonani Bila, said the poet's collection was an important addition to poetry currently being written by young female poets from rural South Africa.

“It mirrors her adventurous journey as a determined woman who is committed to narrating and singing out loud the pain and anguish of women, but equally celebrating the unrequited love,”' Bila said. “Hers is poetry about how love and its absence define the human existence. Her persistent quest to question sexuality and love shows the poet's maturity in handling difficult issues using an accessible poetic diction. I recommend this slim collection to all readers and lovers of poetry.”

Vhakololo Press' Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho said: “In Prudence's poems, I see the unique voice of an astute chronicler whose mind knows no rest but spends her time questioning life and rebuilding that life through poetry. We pride us on her publication.”

This heart only beats for you is available at R100 from Vhakololo Press and Guyo Books in Louis Trichardt.

Entertainment - Date: 28 October 2017

Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He is passionate about current news and international affairs.

He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017.

He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

Email: [email protected]