Subtitle: A collection of new Namibian poems Editor: K. J. Molapong, C. Warner, V. Winterfeldt Publisher: Basler Afrika Bibliographien Basel, 2005 Soft-cover, 13x12 cm, 114 pages, some bw-photos and illustrations In search of questions-Namibia's new generation of poets asks its own questions. Acknowledging the achievements of independence and liberation, poetry today claims the right to question the direction in which post-apartheid society moves. Unfulfilled promises of social justice provoke reactions from many of the well-known Namibian community poets. Of relevance to today's generations are not yesterday's answers but today's questions. "Words mean, words say and words make arrows" - these are poetic expressions from Christi Warner, a poet born in Windhoek. She believes that words have a certain power to influence - for better or worse. Christi first explored the power of words back in 1987, at age 14 in school, when she battled to understand the importance of her existence and the need to trust her dreams. Over the years she made her choice to become a poet and write the truth about herself and her environment. As she sees it to-day, poetry can play a big role both in socio-economic development and self-discovery. Thus, her poetry has a social focus and most of the time women, children and youth are the subject matter. Through the years she explored different methods of bringing her poetry to the public, first reading it to friends and class mates. Later, in 1992 she began employing the element of performance poetry (recitals) through a poetry group named 'Ama Poets'. The group existed under the wing of the Bricks Community Project, an NGO based in Katutura. She believes that her strength in writing about socio-economic issues grew because of her link with Bricks. Christi is a founding member of the 'Kitso poets', a group cultivating performance poetry, an element she considers important because it removes the barriers of illiteracy, an element crucial in a society where illiteracy still remains high. Already since 1993 she learned to share her skills in creative writing with children. In workshops she encourages them to put their feelings on paper rather than storing everything inside. In 2000, Christi was instrumental in facilitating a workshop in creative writing organized by the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek, in conjunction with Poets against war. Violence and Nuclear Weapons (PAWN). The event lead to Poetically speaking, a many-faceted anthology, which was published by Gamsberg Macmillan. Together with Christi, more than a dozen Namibian poets contributed their works. New on her list is exploring the combination of music with poetry. "I am working on my CD where I mix R&R, Jazz, African and HipHop sounds with hungry, silent, powerful and emotional words." An ordinary sunny day, working day for me I passed this house. Just an ordinary square with an ordinary fence - made of ordinary wire With a keen desire to help me see this... Old woman, sitting staring at the distance further down the street... Where she left her mind 6 months now: less ordinary if you think I turned, and said hello! First time in 6 months First time in 6 months she found my eyes I rescued her from the distance just for a second though The longest second I've ever been bestowed with And in this little time I saw something more. I felt something more... I am convinced 'cause my jaw almost touched the dusty road Less ordinary - if you think An ordinary sunny day, working day for me But I couldn't pass this house. I had a keen desire to step behind the fence made of ordinary wire to say more than hello to this... Old woman, sitting staring at the distance Hoping that maybe she'd help me see what was further down the street... I found the gate, my behind found an empty drum My hand shamelessly found her shoulder - an ordinary gesture Again she found my eyes and this time I had a smile but not as old as hers not as warm as hers "He's coming home," she said. "They say the heroes have all come home. Not all true, because he's still coming. The 21st of March has not yet reached him." She seemed convinced 'cause her eyes danced with hope She spoke of how the war was raw and how he had to leave with the heroes in search of peace I knew the salt had left my eyes when her hand tried to soak it up Then and there I knew too that my 14 years of peace in this land of the brave had not yet begun for this old woman sitting staring at the distance further down the street. Her hero had not yet returned. But "he's coming home," she said. An ordinary sunny day, no working day for me I passed this house. Just an ordinary square with an ordinary fence - made of ordinary wire which helped me see the reality of this... Old woman, sitting staring at the distance further down the street... 14 years now: Still waiting for her war to end in this land with no war Henning Melber: In honour of Carl Schlettwein Acknowledgements Volker Winterfeldt: In search of questions - an introduction The Poems: Christi Warner Less ordinary When a woman cries Her wish This is a letter from Mother Earth Keep the fire burning Rusten Amor Basson The forgotten child I wish I could go to Zimbabwe Kavevangua Kahengua Woman breastfeeding Finger biting Son of the soil Birthday for a refugee When developments Initiatives initiatives Andre du Pisani Beyond memory Tobias Ronald Kustaa The hand Confusion Thoughts Libertidajod Shallow poem David /Nanub Drink or The drinker Black poverty The fear Western water Lost generations Cathy Karuuombe They are leaving Luna Ramphaga The land Gister Richard Masule Sibanga My name is Life in the city Keamogetsij Molapong In search of questions What it is Even though we know Cry of a falling man Empty shells Christiane Schulte: From Workers'Compound to KCAC The art students and their drawings |