BUA! POETRY: AN ANTHOLOGY BY NWU STUDENTS

Jomari Langenhoven

@___joma.ri__

 

On Friday 4 October, the BUA! Poetry anthology was launched and performed at the Conservatory Organ Hall on the North-West University (NWU) otchefstroom Campus. This intimate event was a celebration of the many talented creative writers across all three of the NWU campuses.

 

The atmosphere for the evening was set with jazz music played by the DJ before the poets took to the stage. The MC, Atang Swartbooi, did a phenomenal job in keeping the crowd engaged, riled up and energetic.

 

The anthology brings together 33 North-West University students’ creative writing. The bundle is diverse and multilingual including poems written in English, Setswana, Sesotho, Sepitori, isiZulu and Afrikaans. The themes of the poems include loneliness, relationships and the search for identity.

 

The project was completed with the help and leadership of Dr Pieter Odendaal. Odendaal explained that 50 poets submitted their poems, after which only the work of 33 was selected. He described these poets as the “cream of the crop” of the creative writers at the NWU.

 

Dr Pieter Odendaal explained, “The application process took place in two phases. It started as a project of the Creative Writing final year students. These final year students were part of the first round of the application process. Thereafter we realised that we needed more material for the anthology, we opened up the entries again. The second round of the application process was outsourced to people working in the field of Creative Writing at other universities. This was done in order for the project to qualify as a research project or research output, that is recognised by the Department of Higher Education.”

 

Odendaal added, “Last year we hosted BUA! Poetry slam competitions on all three NWU campuses to give poets a platform and these poetry slam competitions also contributed to the start of this project. The poems of some of the poets who participated in these competitions are now published in this anthology.”

 

When asked about the success of the event Odendaal commented, “I think the event was very successful and I am very grateful. The crowd was on fire and reacted very positively to the poems. It is always fun when poetry receives the recognition it deserves, because audiences are not always so receptive of it. I am especially happy for the poets who debuted their poetry in this anthology, as this is a very important milestone for them. I think the crowd supported them greatly and that all of these languages coming together is something that should be celebrated.”

 

Lente Treurnich, a NWU student who performed her published poem at the event, remarked, “It was a great honour to work with someone like Dr Pieter Odendaal. His insights as a lecturer helped me to grow as a writer. The things I have learnt from him is something I will always hold dear to my heart.”

 

Odendaal closed the event by captivating the audience by reading two of his own poems. These poems were a true testimony to his mastery of creative writing and the art of poetry.

 

Treurnich commented, “The highlight of my night was when Dr Odendaal performed his own poems. It was enjoyable and inspiring to see a pro in action. I think the night was very successful.”

 

The event was a beautiful celebration of poetry, creative writers, language and diversity.

 

If anyone is interested in reading the anthology or acquiring a copy, they can contact Dr Pieter Odendaal via his email provided on the NWU-website.

 

Edited by Mhlengi Khumalo