Monday, January 29, 2007

REPORT BACK

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM - A ROUNDUP
The World Social Forum's first African foray, which ended on Thursday attracted approximately 100 000 participants. They came by plane and bus from all corners of the world in a spirit of solidarity, to, for the seventh time interrogate universal strategies of internationalizing their revolution. They were also brought together by their common resistance to what they called the globalisation of capitalism, exploitation of labourers and vulnerable groups. Another issue they tackled was the militarisation of the world post 9/11.
Socialists, brought together by a common belief that 'Another World is Possible' and distinguished delegates, among them former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, former UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson and Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai were locked in meetings, press conferences, spoiled to festivals, engaged in discussions, exchanges and music for the whole week. The festival started last Sunday.

The African episode, held at Moi International Sports Centre at Kasarani with socialist thinkers from all over the world was originally founded in Porto Alegre (Brazil) seven years ago.
Briefing the media Organising Committee member and Secretariat chairperson Odour Ongwen explained their reasons for bringing the event to Kenya. He explained that a decision to diversify the hosting of the WSF was taken in Brazil during the last meeting. Ongwen added that they also realised that it was the globalisation of capital that was making life very difficult for ordinary people all over the world, "We are here to globalise our struggles. There will be no solution to the problems of the poor without Africa being part of the solution. We are gathered here to show to the people of Africa that indeed another world is possible". He was quick to indicate that even though they are meeting in Kenya, they were in no way financed by the Kenyan government.

Ongwen diplomatically disputed the claim that the war in Somalia and the conflicts taking place in most of the countries bordering Kenya were one of the reasons for their decisions. Asked if the fifty Kenyan shillings (R50) charged for entrance was not deterring ordinary Kenyans from being part Brazilian committee member Moema Miranda argued that it was time for the socialist forces all over the world to start footing their own bill. "If cannot be able to do so someone will always step to do it" she warned. She added that they were fortunate that in Brazil they were dealing with a friendly government which is not the case with other countries where the meeting is held.

The committee's Professor Edward Oyugi disputed that the venue might also have anything to do with the impending parliamentary and presidential elections.

Miranda's point was supported by the organisers refusing multinational corporates a platform to use the event to capitalise. Food and drinks companies were denied stalls and visibility at the venue rather opting to afford small farmers and micro entrepreneurs the stage to benefit from the event. The imposed ban attracted much coverage in many Nairobian dailies.

However the South African delegation refused to entertain the reason that money was supposed to be the determining factor on who affords attend but rather opted to chant and march through the guarded gates with scores of Kenyans who had not paid anything. All security staff could do was stand back and watch. The following day they joined other groups in blockading the main road leading to the venue to force the Secretariat to consider opening the gates for everyone to enter.

Even though Ongwen told journalists that they had already spent $5million on staging the event and that only 46000 delegates have registered by Monday, by Tuesday it was already free for all, regardless of the mounting bills the Secretariat sensitised journalists about. A message was sent to Davos (Switzerland) where the World Economic Forum leaders were meeting that the world was getting tired of having most of the world's riches concentrated in the coffers of only eight countries. The occupation of Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia and many other Gulf States was denounced.

Representatives of social movements from all over the world had stories of hardship and resistance to share.

South African Salim Vally from the Palestinian Solidarity Network delivered a moving account of what he called the United States Military Complex which's 'main desire is to militarise the world and plunder the resources of Third World countries'. He questioned that if South Africa is as progressive as it claims to be, why would US President George Bush call president Thabo Mbeki his point man in Africa? He argued that 'what South Africa, through the ruling class and corporates' was doing in many African countries was 'to export global capitalism which renders the working class forever enslaved'.

Another interesting discussion was conducted by Malcolm Suber of the US People's Hurricane Relief Fund who questioned his government's late response to last year's Hurricane Katrina disaster. "The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is trained to respond to a disaster within 18 hours. It took them four days regardless of them having performed an evacuation exercise in 2004 code named Katrina which revealed that New Orleans was most likely to be eroded if a category five storm came. They responded so unwillingly because the South is predominantly black and they wanted to change the landscape", Suber, a self-confessed revolutionary communist said.

The meeting ended with a 20-kilometre march from Korongocho slums to Uhuru Park in the city center.

REPORT BACK

Anti Privatisation Forum's Trevor Ngwane celebrating another victory at the WSF

A CAPITALIST AMONGST US
Kenyan small enterpreuners made a killing during the 7th installment of the World Social Forum held at Moi Sports Centre in Nairobi. Stalls operated by locals were set up everywhere as delegates from different parts of the world descended on the city to be part of the annual socialist movements exchange.
Their roaring business was boosted by the organisers decision to ban multi-national companies from setting up stalls and selling their products inside and outside the event venue. Some delegates even refused to buy anything that did not come fresh from a farm but a fresh produce saying their money will not end with the owners of the land.
However local enterpreneurs responded to such generosity with serious inflation of their prices which, while it ensured income for their businesses, tended to exclude local Kenyans from remote areas who couldn't afford the exorbitant prices they were charging for their food, curios, clothes, shuttle service, accommodation, water and any other service.
The visible corporate that benefitted tremendously is Celtel, a local cellular provider which from the first day had decided to sell new starter packs to most of the 100 000 delegates who are not on an international roaming service. A single starter pack went for 250KenyanShillings (R25) while a 340 ml of bottled water, which reportedly costs far less on any given day was going for 50KSh (R5). Surprisingly at a local Nakumatt supermarket one litre of bottled water costs 38KSh.
Asked how they come up with the prices a woman enterpreneur who wanted to sell a litre of bottled water for US$1 (R6,89) denied that their prices were adjusted for the five days only, even though a plate of lunch was selling for between 400 and 550KSh. At a B&B in Kiambu the same buffet costs 200KShm, supplemented by free soft drinks.
Kenyans came out in droves, selling everything from beads, clothes, fruits, traditional dishes, artwork and anything they enterprise on.
On Wednesday Anti Privatisation Forum's Trevor Ngwane led a spirited invasion on one of the 'elite' food stalls, allegedly owned by a Security Minister, demanding that Kenyan children who have been led in for free be given free food as well. It became a rampage as tens of children vandalised the stall, much to ululations from the South African instigators. "You can't run a five star set-up in this venue whereby everything is expensive. We closed it down, either they bring enough food to give to this children or they are capitalists and must not be part of us", Ngwane said, drawing a river of tears from a woman who hugged him fondly.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

At the Centre for the Book in Cape Town are; Back row, Mphuhlane wa Bofelo, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya, Vonani Bila, Goodenough Mashego. Front row, Ike Mboneni wa Muila, Makhosazana Xaba and Michelle McGrane

TIMBILA TO GRACE PRESTIGIOUS BOOK FAIR

Limpopo Arts Culture Association’s Ms Alett Franks said during the launch of Timbila 2005 anthology at the Polokwane's Library Gardens last year that it wouldn’t be such a bad idea if every parliamentary session in Cape Town was started with a poetry reading.

Hers could have been quite heroic words to utter in the context of a nation so obsessed with political sloganeering that they tend to neglect the medium that sensitized many people to the evils of the apartheid regime. But a similar statement was uttered by another poet two years ago that we needed to get rid of the morning devotion sessions in schools because all they did was to attempt to Calvinise young children who grow up without a scope of the different religions in the world. The poet suggested that the morning devotion time should rather be allocated to a poetry reading.

Timbila Poetry Project founder and editor Vonani Bila took the argument further in Timbila 2005 after Franks echoed the first telling statement. Bila writes in the editorial of the thickest volume ever, "Visit the hotel and guest house in the neighborhood and tell them that the Bible alone in each room is not sufficient literature. Let them place Timbila in every room"

The organization started in 2000 from humble beginnings has grown in so few years and moved from strength to strength. In its short existence it has published almost 16 books and anthologies of poetry.

On the night of the launch it was interesting how different scholars and poets interpreted the works of other poets. The event was started with a moving rendition from the author of Talks with the Sun, Mpho Ramaano whose indictive poem 'A Bleeding Nation' had the audience eating out of his impoverished village palm. Ramaano was brave enough to rock the boat to the point whereby the good people started looking for Jonah amongst them. "my president is busy/ loitering on American golf courses/ no one can address my hunger/ nor could anyone heed my anger/ his honourable zuma can’t feed the poor/ he is in multi-billion corruption saga"

The next batch of poets celebrated even those who were not around to attend the launch but whose works appear in the thickest Timbila edition ever with.

In an unprecedented and unheard of move within South African publishing circles the one that was launched on the night was by far the thickest cook of Onion Skin poetry. Actually, it’s all 336 pages of raw emotion, insightful interviews, literary reviews and essays.

It was accepted that it was not a mean feat for a funding dependent organization founded in 2000 as "a journal of new poetry which seeks to encourage writing in South Africa in the languages appropriate to our needs".

Timbila 2005 drifts a lot from its four earlier predecessors. Most notably, Timbila 2000 had 33 contributors with an inspiring piece from now Limpopo Province spokesperson Saul Molobi. He wrote passionately about African renaissance and cultural aesthetics. In the essay Molobi argued that, "I would propose that progressive cultural workers have to continue to be inspired by the struggles of the ordinary masses of people. Their work has to mirror the current contradictions facing people during this phase of transition in South Africa, and should creatively chart the way forward".

Such an example of including probing and thought provoking thinkers continued with the three other installments, with 46 poets pitching for the christening of Timbila 2001.

2002 and 2003 editions, briefly punctuated by a celebration of the Eastern Cape’s premier Grahamstown Arts Festival set the scene for individual indigenous voices to utilize the four-year-old platform. The 59 writers who trusted the initiative with products of their madness and musings were complemented by a book that also contained interviews of Mbongeni Khumalo, Don Mattera and essays from Swedish based poet and painter Lefifi Tladi and Prof Es’kia Mphahlele. Timbila 2003 had 66 poets who most of them went on to have their own books published by the organization and its friends. Among those who now have poetry books out are Makhosazana Xaba (these hands), M.M. Marhanele (Marhambu ya Nhloko), Myesha Jenkins (Breaking the Surface), Vonani Bila (In the name of Amandla and Magicstan Fires), Linda ka Ndlovu (Impiselo), Mzwandile Matiwana (I lost a poem- Deep South Publishing), Mpho Ramaano (Talks with the Sun), Enock Dlayani Shishenge (Nsati wa Gayisa), Phomelelo Mamampi Machika (Peu tša Tokologo), Bruce Mikhomazi Ngobeni (Ndzeko wa Rixaka), Prof John Ruganda (Whispers of a Whirlwind), Tebogo wa Maahlamela (Moswarataukamariri) and Goodenough Mashego (Journey With Me).

Timbila 2005 is a celebration of all the years of unadulterated literary exchanges in far flung places like Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Kippies jazz pub and social forums and writing residences around the world. It is contained in a thick volume filled with the pain, deception, love, betrayal and loneliness of the past five glorious years of free speech.

Limpopo University’s Dr Esther Ramani stole the show when she performed works from Myesha Jenkins’ book Breaking the Surface. Her rendition could have made even the author to blush.

In the stellar issue there are two poems in Dutch written by Wim Pesoon. Also making a fruitful contribution is University of Limpopo’s Dramatist-in-Residence's Prof Ruganda, Sudan’s University of Juba’s Taban lo Liyong (Corpse Lovers and Corpse Haters), Mxolisi Nyezwa (Song Trials), Kgafela oa Magogodi and Alan Kolski Howitz.

This is in an anthology that has seen seasoned wordsmiths Sandile Ngidi, Vuyisile Msila, Liesl Jobson and Michael Roy making their contributions. However Timbila 2005 is a serious literary book that includes essays, commentaries and critical reviews. It is a testament of how post liberation poetry has managed to remain in transition without being stuck in the political doldrums that saw many poets losing their themes with the dawning of liberation.

Five years later the initiative is still going strong with another anthology that celebrates ten years of free speech entitled Burning Shacks and Floods being in the pipeline.

LACA provided a teaser of things to come in this country’s poetry terrain when it immediately volunteered to buy a copy of every book the organization has ever published. Their efforts were only beaten by the University of Limpopo. LACA’s Malose had people excited when he announced that his organization has "1000 members, that was at the time of the closing of the stock exchange". And probably Timbila can also claim the same, if not more. And about the legislature opening with a poetry session? Maybe next time.

Timbila Poetry Project is one of the independent voices that will grace the Cape Town Book Fair from June 17-20. It will be exhibiting all its published titles and taking part in discussions and around the betterment of South African literature. Its participation is funded by the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) and hopes to fly the flag of alternative publishing high and be counted amongst the serious contributors to the South African Literary landscape. For Timbila and a few, Aluta Continua!







Friday, December 15, 2006

TIMBILA POETRY PROJECT PHOTO GALLERY



CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF PROBING SOCIAL COMMENTARIES

Limpopo Province's pioneering book and poetry publishing initiative Timbila Poetry Project has outdone itself. In an unprecedented and unheard of move within South African publishing circles it is this year launching a thick volume of Onion Skin poetry. Actually, it's all 336 pages of raw emotion, insightful interviews, literary reviews and essays. Not a mean feat for a funding dependent organization founded in 2000 by publisher Vonani Bila as "a journal of new poetry which seeks to encourage writing in South Africa in the languages appropriate to our needs".
Timbila 2005 drifts a lot from its four earlier predecessors. Most notably, Timbila 2000 had 33 contributors with an inspiring piece from now Limpopo Province spokesperson Saul Molobi. He wrote passionately about African renaissance and cultural aesthetics. In the essay Molobi argued that, "I would propose that progressive cultural workers have to continue to be inspired by the struggles of the ordinary masses of people. Their work has to mirror the current contradictions facing people during this phase of transition in South Africa, and should creatively chart the way forward".

Such an example of including probing and thought provoking thinkers continued with the three other installments, with 46 poets pitching for the christening of Timbila 2001.

2002 and 2003, briefly punctuated by a celebration of the Grahamstown Arts Festival set the scene for individual indigenous voices to utilize the four year old platform. The 59 writers who trusted the initiative with products of their madness and musings were complemented by a book that also contained interviews of Mbongeni Khumalo, Don Mattera and essays from Swedish based Lefifi Tladi and Prof Es'kia Mphahlele. 2003 had 66 poets who most of them went on to have their own books published by the organization and its friends.

Among those who now have poetry books out are Makhosazana Xaba (these hands), M.M. Marhanele (Marhambu ya Nhloko), Goodenough Mashego (Journey With Me), Myesha Jenkins (Breaking the Surface), Vonani wa ka Bila (In the name of Amandla), Linda ka Ndlovu (Impiselo), Mzwandile Matiwana (I lost a poem- Deep South), Mpho Ramaano (Talks with the Sun), Enock Dlayani Shishenge (Nsati wa Gayisa), Phomelelo Mamampi Machika (Peu tsa Tokologo), Bruce Mikhomazi Ngobeni (Ndzeko wa Rixaka) and Tebogo wa Maahlamela (Moswaratau ka mariri).

Timbila 2005 is a celebration of all the years of unadulterated literary exchanges in far flung places like Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Kippies and social forums and writing residences around the world. It is contained in a thick volume filled with the pain, deception, love, betrayal and loneliness of the past five glorious years of free speech. It is filled with the usual suspects and fresh voices that are carrying the mantle of indigenous language poetry seriously into the next battleline. The following poets made installments in indigenous languages, Bila, Mikhomazi Ngobeni, Dlayani Shishenge, M.M. Marhanele (Xitsonga), Prince Shapiro Tyalipi (Isixhosa), Nthabeleni Phalanndwa (Tshivenda) and Phomemelo Machika (Sepedi).

There are two poems in Dutch written by Wim Pesoon. Also making a fruitful contribution is Sunday World editor Abdul Milazi together with University of Limpopo's Dramatist in Residence Prof John Ruganda, Sudan's University of Juba's Taban lo Liyong and author of Corpse Lovers and Corpse Haters; Mxolisi Nyezwa and author of Song Trials; Kgafela oa Magogodi and Alan Kolski Horwitz.

This is in an anthology that has seen seasoned wordsmiths Sandile Ngidi, Vuyisile Msila and Michael Roy making their contributions. However Timbila 2005 is a serious literary book that includes essays, commentaries and critical reviews. It is a testament of how post liberation poetry has managed to remain in transition without being stuck in the political doldrums that saw many of poets losing their themes with the dawning of liberation.

Five years later the initiative is still going strong with another anthology that celebrates ten years of free speech entitled Burning Shacks and Floods being in the pipeline. It will take over where Timbila 2005 will leave the struggle, but for now it is what is on the table and in a four course meal dinner - it's first things first. It retails at R150 and will be launched at Polokwane Library Gardens on December 7th, 2005.
-ends-

Enquiries: Makosha Dimo
(015) 291 2088
Vonani Bila
072 21296 496

posted by goodenough mashego

http://www.bilapublishers.co.za