She

by

Matthew Mokoena

She was a strong,
black,
loveless woman.
She said,
"He doesn't love me no more.
He doesn't hold me down or beat me against the concrete floor, doesn't hit me with concrete thoughts as he slams the bedroom door.
He doesn't deliver fists as gifts that fit my tits nor feeds the kids with love from lips, nor takes my hints not to brake my ribs, he's got skills but kills my emotions when he breathes from gills, HE doesn't love me no more."

She was the type who bragged to friends
about his jealousy, his strength and the power in his hands.
Yet the same hands transformed into fists, fists that tore her body into bits, bits that disfigured her body kits.
His hands transformed into fists that beat, bruised, abused and used her face as a comfort zone.
His hands... landed on her ribcage,
but she wasn't on the same page.
So his rage landed on her ribcage,
told her her friends, "This is love,"
but her friends weren't on the same page.
"Dump the bastard he's got rage,
like an animal he belongs inside of a cage."
"No, no, no," she said.
"He's my man and...
without him I'd go mad and..
he didn't get love from an early age."
Her excuses made him and exclusive explosive in her existence, but her persistence will ensure that woman like her face exstinction.

You see, if beating a woman was a test,
this man had passed it with distinction.

Every night neighbors had front row seats, if they missed it today, tomorrow the movie repeats.
This piece depicts,
how on a daily basis a womans life depletes, how the cycle of her life becomes complete.

See, she grew up in a society where heart attacks were a result of a very fat attack caused by ignorance of bioslim.
A society where woman believed a knife should be used for cutting, buttering and terminating unborn life.
I prayed that this type of woman would never be my wife, but had Eve aborted...
maybe, just maybe,
the Cain's in us wouldn't have survived.
He doesn't love her no more...

Finding out more about the poet was a little bit of a challenge, but I am a bit of a bloodhound and too stubborn to give up easily, so here goes :


Kunalati Matthew Mokoena was born and raised in the East rand & relocated from Tembisa to Spruitview in the late 80's. He attended Germiston High where he ultimately fell in love with Word. He completed his B-Tech in Finance and Accounting at T.U.T. where he was a member of the T.U.T Drama Society from 2004-2006. He has performed at many events, including the NASDEV cultural festival held in conjunction with Macufe and

the in 2004.

He was an official member of the T.U.T Street Poets Society from 2006-2007 and was the organisations chairperson in 2007.
A co-founder and former member of a band/a group/a movement known as

Matthew is currently involved with www.spokenmind.net "...is a home for the unique minds of poets, graphic artists, musicians and cinematographers.Through the special strategic collaborations and partnerships it has formed with other sharp role players, the Spoken Mind is also determined, through social responsibility projects, to change the lives of the millions of citizens of our beautiful country."

“Our word, your word, changing lives for the good.”

"I am by the Word, for the Word, In the Name of the Word."

Shosholoza

I thought that, with all the fuss and excitement we have seen over the last couple of days with regards to the Springboks and The Rugby World cup, I would post the song Shosholoza since it appears to be quite strongly associated with the Springbok team.

The song gained further popularity after South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and is a favourite at sport events in South Africa.

The following information is largely taken from the entry in Wikipedia :

Shosholoza is a Ndebele folk song that originated in Zimbabwe but was popularized in South Africa. The song was sung by all-male migrant workers that travelled by steam train from their homes in Zimbabwe to work in South Africa's diamond and gold mines. The sound "sho sho" uses onomatopoeia and is reminiscent of the sound made by a steam train. Stimela is the Zulu word for steam train. Zulu workers on the mines later took up the song to generate rhythm during group tasks and to alleviate boredom and stress. The original author of the song is unknown.
The song is so popular in South African culture that it is often referred to as South Africa's second national anthem.

Shosholoza
Shosholoza
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' South Africa
Shosholoza
Shosholoza
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' South Africa
Wen' uyabaleka
Wen' uyabaleka
Ku lezontaba
Stimela siphum' South Africa

The lyrics, roughly translated, mean :

Go forward
Go forward
on those mountains
Steam train from South Africa
Go forward
Go forward
on those mountains
Steam train from South Africa
You are running away
You are running away
on those mountains
Steam train from South Africa

Personally my favourite version of the song is the version by Dan Moyane, however, I cannot find an audio file of it on the internet.I am not a sports fan, I don't even know how you play rugby, so I cannot really appreciate the video (especially the 2 shots of dead animals), however, this is a very nice version of
Shosholoza & Nkosi Sikelel'i Afrika
(click above to listen)Here is a link to the Peter Gabriel version of the song (click on the image) :

The Knifemakers' Guild of Southern Africa Annual Show, September 2011

Hello Folks, it is that time of the year again and Tall Stories will be exhibiting at :

The Knifemakers' Guild of Southern Africa Annual Show

The Show Venue and Dates :

Friday 2, and Saturday 3 September 2011.

Mosaïek Lifestyle Centre, Communio Exhibition Hall,
Danielle Street, Fairlands, Gauteng.
GPS co-ordinates, X: 27d56.1069m, Y: 26d08.7500m

Conveniently situated next to the N1 in Roodepoort to the
west of the city of Johannesburg, the premises are easily
accessible from the 14th Avenue off ramp, and offer secure
parking with access control.

The Exhibitors :

At the Guild Show, approximately 45 knifemakers exhibit, plus allied crafts and materials and equipment suppliers. All types of knives are usually on display, from miniatures to swords, folders to hunters, art daggers to kitchen utilities. Materials range from hi-tech steels to own forged damascus, mammoth ivory to micarta, and horn, bone and unique African hardwoods. South African knifemakers have developed a well deserved reputation for quality at international shows all over the world.

The exhibition runs over two days but is preceded by a 'preview' which is held on the Friday before the public exhibition on Saturday. This preview is intended to honor our most loyal supporters and offer the opportunity of inspecting or acquiring items from the current year's offerings, in a more leisurely and less crowded atmosphere. The attendance is by invitation to real enthusiasts. Welcome drinks and snacks are served and a bar service is available. Competition results are announced and the winning knives may be seen and handled, providing a good indication of current achievements and guide to the location of some of the noteworthy items around the hall. This preview invitation will normally be extended to all foreign visitors.

The above information is taken from the guild's website : http://www.kgsa.co.za/

Do come us and visit us there, we shall be selling various different books related to collecting knives.