04 Mar 2020

Gumare-based, poet Odirilwe Monjwa alias Small says he will drop a CD of poems this year, based on the six different languages spoken in Ngamiland District.

In an interview recently, 36-year-old Small said the CD dubbed Ke goletse ganong jaaka jarokata is a composition of the works he has created.

The languages used include, Seherero, Sesarwa, Seyei, Sekgalagadi, Sezereku and Sembukushu in an effort to cater for ethnic groups found in the district.

 Monjwa is not new in the poetry circles as he had performed in national and international poetry gigs.

He participated in President’s Day Competitions and Namibia as well  as the US.

He said the compilation was at an advanced stage as his intention was to release the CD before the end of the year.

Ke goletse ganong jaaka jarokata targets young people as the most vulnerable group to social ills.

Through his poems, he wants to spread messages in different languages, which encourages positive lifestyle noting that, his poems were geared to impact on lives.

Monjwa said young people loved luxurious lifestyles despite being unemployed hence some engage in destructive activities capable of ruining their future such as passion killings and murder.

He chose to use local languages as the district was rich in culture and most ethnic groups uphold their tradition and he also hailed the community for the support. 

Monjwa, who had been exposed to the international comuunity, believes that those interactions

would be beneficial as his audience could have something tangible to appreciate.

The youthful Monjwa said being amongst the groups that were honoured to perform at an America gig was an eye opener for him, noting that it was then, that he realised that he could make money out poetry.

He also intends to produce a book in future.

Apart from poetry, he is also a motivator, mentor and counsellor.

Other than its therapeutic benefits, poetry, he said imparts a broad range of emotional and intellectual benefits that are useful to personal growth be it self-improvement, emotional or psychological coping and healing and developing relationships.

Monjwa looks up to South African artiste, Mzwakhe Mbuli, who played an essential role in the musical culture of South Africa.

He revealed that during his school days, he used to listen to Mbuli’s poems and that where his love for poetry started.

Presently, he had been performing in community activities across the country noting that through his sterling work, he was invited to perform in Kasane last year during Independence Day celebrations something, which he said was an indication that people loved his work.

He appealed to young people to utilise their talents to earn a living noting that they should appreciate that not all would be employed. Monjwa advised them to also take advantage of government available programmes. ENDs