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Nthabiseng JahRose Jafta, South Africa

The Poems

It’s in our names

A child bearing gifts as I trot the earth
To unknot life’s mysteries
Every branch in the family tree has a name.

Ke theoha kgulong la Matselane le Mpho
I am a native to Mother of Journeys
and Father of Gifts.

I suckled on a mammoth of Inheritance
Named – Lefa Father to a Builder – Agang
I left the same milk for Gratitude – Kelebohile.

A delighted Rainbow Child
Bringing forth Words – Lentsoe my Sun shine
In Union with –Bonngoe a Sister to Change – Phetoho.

The chapter is now wrapped by Revelations
of Wealth – Tshenolo ya Lehumo
The lineage paused here.

Bitso lebe ke seromo
We live to follow our names
Mine is Nthabiseng – Rejoice with me.

* * *

Mabasootho | Brown days 

Hello soil child your father’s
Herds are in the kraal
We will learn from you

Appàrels of the brown ones
Thethana the original Tutu skirt
Tightly holding the waist
Breasts like mountains pointing with pride

Mother-wildflower
Called mmae-Shweshwe
With her shweshwe fabrics
Her colours sewn on her Queens’s cloth
Crowned with Seanamarena
Bohadi’s celebratory blanket

Aunt chants Bafokeng ba ha Makgetha
Granny joins with her grandchildren, Bakwena
Passing gratitude to the ancestry before us
Praising the God of yesterdays
Inspiring the days when
Respect was soul food
Love brewed in the hearts of men
Botho in abundance of the stars

Hello soil child
Your father’s Herds are in the kraal
You became a true cultural shepherd
We will learn from you
Mother of the brown ones
Mmabasootho

Hello soil child your father’s
Herds are in the kraal
We will learn from you

Appàrels of the brown ones
Thethana the original Tutu skirt
Tightly holding the waist
Breasts like mountains pointing with pride

Mother-wildflower
Called mmae-Shweshwe
With her shweshwe fabrics
Her colours sewn on her Queens’s cloth
Crowned with Seanamarena
Bohadi’s celebratory blanket

Aunt chants Bafokeng ba ha Makgetha
Granny joins with her grandchildren, Bakwena
Passing gratitude to the ancestry before us
Praising the God of yesterdays
Inspiring the days when
Respect was soul food
Love brewed in the hearts of men
Botho in abundance of the stars

Hello soil child
Your father’s Herds are in the kraal
You became a true cultural shepherd
We will learn from you
Mother of the brown ones
Mmabasootho

*

Mabasootho | (Brown Days)
Sesotho Language largely spoken in South Africa

Ekare kea bona mohlang oo
mohla monene
Mekgabo ea ba sootho o e pepesitse
Thethana theka le e dutse
Matswele seka dithaba a eme pepeneneng

Mmae shweshwe ka seshweshwe a se tenne
mebala e metle hakaalo
Seanamarena yona kobo ea bohadi

A se otle seboko mmangwane a feleheditswe ke Nkgono oa tsona
Ditloholo le ditloholwana, a boka ba pele baseng ba fetile
Le ho leboha Tlatlamatjholo, mohlodi oa mahodimo le mafatshe

Thlompho e be dijo tsa moya
Lerato le bele pelong tsa bohle
Botho e be matletsetletse

Hela ngwana mobu kajeno o entse taba
Mehlape ya ntate e ka sakeng
O bile modisa oa nnete,
hoba setso, bonono le botjhaba
Re tla ithuta ho tswa ho wena
Mmabasootho

The Poet

Nthabiseng JahRose Jafta is an International Performing Poet, Singer, Content developer and Creative Strategist born in the Free State, South Africa. She writes in her home language Sesotho and English, her poems are translated into Spanish, Danish, Mandarin and Braille She has published 30 publications ranging from Literary journals, Poetry anthologies, Compilations, Novels, Audio books and Children books. She is presently a candidate for a Masters in Creative Writing at Rhodes University. JahRose is the deputy president of NWASA (National Writers Association of South Africa) She is a founder of Poetic Blues Virtual/ Festival: An international platform from poets and musicians. See www.poeticblues.co.za