Verbal Emancipation

Blessed, I was lucky enough to be invited to Verbal Emancipation, a multi-talent showcase event where Maru A Pula high school students shared poems, raps,songs and drama pieces centered around the theme, "What Is It To Be Human?". It was a chance for MaP students who might otherwise be too scared to take to the stage to showcase some of their hidden talents and original pieces - as well as an opportunity to learn from outside performers (be they budding stars, professionals or amateurs). There was a great energy in Maitisong with the audience (mostly MaP students with a few parents)very excited and ready to be entertained. The performers were energetic and keen to put on a show. I am young enough to remember the thrill of watching my peers have their moment in the spotlight, and old enough to know that there is more to creativity and self expression than having "swag". High-school is very much about rebellion and fitting in, finding yourself and letting go. We can't help but compare note on experiences and emotions and try to gauge where we belong in our social landscape. I am thrilled that the students took to poetry, rap, singing and other creative forms of expressing themselves. My only gripe is that a lot of the material seemed to be inspired by 'the Bronx' more than Botswana. I know we are bombarded by music videos and TV shows and albums and interviews by people a thousand kilometres away and it's difficult to ignore. I implore local rappers, singers and poets to reach higher and reach out to our youth so that we may develop a truly local culture of spoken and musical self-expression. A lot of the poetry and spoken words events hosted in Gaborone are during weekdays and exclude a younger audience who have school commitments. We need to bridge the age gap and inspire one another within our immediate environment, only then will we make art true to ourselves. Congratulations to the Maru a Pula team on hosting a well attended, mind stimulating event. Hope to see more where that came from!