By Neo Kolane
Poet, author, editor, translator, publisher and artist, Sekhobo Moshe who was born and bred at Ha- Motloheloa near Mazenod but plies his trade in Bloemfontein, South Africa speaks life into poetry.
The 29-year old Moshe has already made a mark again on the poetry scene by winning first prize in the 2019/2020 National AVBOB Poetry competition that was held on August 6 in Pretoria.
Funeral undertakers, AVBOB, understood all too keenly the need for words of weight when people feel their world has fallen apart, and the need for comfort in times of crisis.
And so all South Africans of all ages were invited to enter poems in all 11 official languages, with the themes of Love, Hope, Death and Birth to guide them.
Moshe scooped the award out of other 15000 contestants and was among the 11 winners in different language categories.
This is the third award he is receiving, after the one he won at the Macufe Word Fest 2017, and another where he represented Sesotho poetry at the Grahamstown International Art’s festival.
Moshe told theReporter that he started writing in 2012 after completing his high school at Masianokeng.
“In 2013 I arrived at Motheo Tvet College and that’s when I got a powerful production house called Dr Wee production and met with other artists; I would say that’s the time I began to enrich my talent.
Growing up, Moshe looked up to legendary rhymesters and elegists Maya Angelou and Mzwakhe Mbuli.
Moshe is considered Lesotho’s answer to American motivational speaker Richard Williams, known by his stage name Prince Ea, who is also a filmmaker, speaker and creator.
Speaking ecstatically, Moshe revealed that his wish is to see people loving Sesotho, speaking it fluently and being patriotic about it.
He however also advised everyone who wants to further their talents not to lose hope because he is willing to help through his arts development centre and publishing house called Yaka Nalane Creatives.
Since he started reciting poems, he has shared the stage with many performers like Lesika wa ha Dipholo, Nthabiseng JahRose Jafta, Lady Bird and Hape Mokhele to mention a few.
He also performed at the University of Johannesburg Arts festival, the Multilingual Mokete Festival at University of the Free State.
He is an in-house poet at SABC’s Lesedi FM SABC as well, and published a book titled ‘Keledi tsa ho se mamele’.
