Mamohlakola Letuka
INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED South African poet, Ntsiki Mazwai, will next Saturday feature as the star attraction at the ‘Front Porch’ initiative in Khubetsoana, Maseru which is aimed at showcasing poetry in the country.
The event is the brainchild of Petsoa Majoeng Arts & Entertainment (PMAE) and it will held at Rockview Beer Garden in Khubetsoana.
Ntsiki Mazwai is the younger sister to prominent songstress, Thandiswa, who burst onto the South African music scene with the Kwaito super group, Bongo Muffin.
Ntsiki is also a renowned performer in her own right who combines her poetry and music to spread powerful messages about African and female empowerment.
She made her presence felt on the South African cultural landscape beginning in the underground music movement in pubs and restaurants in Johannesburg in 2002.
She was thrust into the mainstream by the success of her song uRongo-a soulful mix of poetry and house music in 2005. Her, self-titled, spoken word album was nominated for the South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Urban Pop Album in 2008.
The outspoken Ntsiki is no stranger to controversy and has been involved in several highly publicised spats with fellow prominent South Africans including opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema.
Last July, the two exchanged harsh words on Twitter with Ntsiki threatening to walk away from the party allegedly because it had become about its leader. Malema shot back saying he did not need her endorsement.
Before that she had a war of words with television personality, Bonang Matheba, who had apparently told her to focus on her music and “try and look pretty”.
Ntsiki did not take this lying down and responded with an equally vicious barb, saying she did not think Bonang was pretty herself but simply “wears lots of makeup”.
She also took a dig at investigative journalist and author, Jacques Pauw’s explosive new book about President Jacob Zuma, titled The President’s Keepers which she described as “white arrogance”.
PMAE founder, Nthare Makoae, told this publication that they decided to bring in Ntsiki due to her unquestionable talent.
He said that she was the ideal artiste to inspire local acts since Front Porch is about empowering poets.
Front Porch is a follow up to PMAE’s earlier Golden Mic initiative which was about developing poetry by giving artistes a platform to showcase their talent.
“Golden Mic was about bringing together poets and creating a poetry society,” Makoae said, adding, “Front Porch is a new project which will further empower poets”.
He said they would empower local poets through various initiatives including enabling them to share the stage with international poets.