29 Nov 2022

Young poets from Ngamiland schools on Monday faced-off at the Maun international Arts Festival and Interschool Poetry Championship.

 Wame Kelagamang from Maun Senior Secondary School was crowned a champion.

Tsodilo Junior Secondary School Naomi Zak came second while another Maun senior pupil, Orefile Santudu finished in third position.

This poetry championships were part of the Maun International Arts Festival activities that had been running since last week, organised by Poetavango collective to celebrate creative artists and showcase talents from visual arts, dance, comedy, music and creative writers.

A total of 24 young poets turned up.

The spoken word protégée’s brought their A game as they captured the Arrive Alive theme beautifully.

The poets evoked emotions of sadness with their unique interpretations of how road carnage stole breadwinners and left many as orphans.

Poetavango chairperson, Legodile Seganabeng, said the collective had been bringing seasoned painters, singers, poets across the country and they did not want to leave young ones behind in their endeavors.

‘’It is our responsibility to support young ones in all aspects hence we incorporated young poets in order to prepare the future now.’’

He acknowledged that with the exams running, some schools could not turn up but he appreciated those who managed to show up adding that next year they would address their itinerary so that it did not tamper with exams.

Moreover he said this poetry session gave young ones exposure and mileage and also boosted their confidence. He reminded the young poets to always put down this experience on their CVs and indicate that they were part of Maun International arts Festival.

For her part, principal education officer of North West District, Popagano Mokobi, said arts should be treated with paramount attention because children of this generation were doing exceptionally well in the area of creative arts.

She said government had adopted Outcome Based Education (OBE) in Maun and Moeng College so as to introduce practical subjects and industry learning at an early stage adding that more subjects would be introduced next year in other secondary schools.

“OBE is advocating for learners to choose their own pathways in recognising that learners are different with different passions.’’

She thanked teachers for mentoring learners so that they followed their passions in creative. Motor Vehicle accident Fund (MVA) Maun Branch manager, Cecil Mosojane said it was imperative to teach children about road safety.

“Poetry was one tool that could be used to send road awareness messages.”

He said it was disheartening to see many lives lost through road carnage of which some of these accidents could be avoided had the motorists obeyed rules.

Mosojane said as MVA Fund they were passionate about projects that raised awareness which was why they supported the Interschool poetry competitions.

The champion walked away with P1 000, second and third P750 and P500 respectively. ENDS