By Kefiloe Kajane
Tlalane Mokhesi, a young poet from Mohale’s Hoek district, says her gift as a poet has helped her be recognised that her talent does indeed pass pertinent message on various social issues.
In an interview with theReporter this week, she explaining that her love for poetry started at school when her teachers chose her to do debates and public speaking.
She said though poetry chose her, she grew to love it because it allowed her as a young person to contribute in passing message on social issues like HIV/AIDS and other economic issues. She said because she wants her poetry to be informative, she mostly preferred to only focus on social issues.
However, she believes all poetry is important.
Mokhesi, who is also economics graduate from National University of Lesotho (NUL) and a coordinator of youth for Tax Justice in Lesotho, said she used her poetry also as a tool to simplify the message of tax justice.
“I hope through my poetry I will see the world changing for the better…My biggest career highlight so far has been having an opportunity to perform at the seventh Pan African conference on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows and also performing at the NULSTICE gala dinner. Being invited to perform at such places inspires me a lot as a poet.
“Also my biggest inspiration is my mentor Tumelo Monokoane who is no longer doing poetry but has inspired me so much to be the poet that I am today,” Mokhesi said.
She strongly encouraged other young people to always follow their dreams and their talents. She remarked that the most important thing was to start “because once you start, there will be no looking back.”
