Samanthole Arts Foundation

DEATH DOSES - 3 Days like this are  a system of hell you need more  than a poem for cure  treasures of recorded feeling like that I have been through  agony is old  as the creation of feeling I say days like this  are a system of hell  my heart cannot dance here  hear the very air stick its poison finger  in the inner regions of the heart being, as I am,  from every where I have been I say, later for similar possibilities  As we take moment of silence today to pay tribute to dear brother Joe, we are reminded of the poignant words of Keorapetse Kgositsile in his poem "Death Doses - 3." In these lines, Kgositsile captures the profound pain and anguish that accompanies the loss of a loved one, expressing the sentiment that days like this feel like a system of hell. As we navigate through our grief, we find solace in the treasures of recorded feeling, drawing strength from the memories and experiences we shared with brother Joe. Though agony may be as old as the creation of feeli

In the hallowed halls of black artistic history, the name of Ingoapele Madingoane resonates as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to transcend oppression and ignite the flames of liberation. As I pay homage to the trailblazers who came before me, Madingoane's legacy stands as a towering beacon of courage, creativity, and unyielding resistance. The Poet Laureate of Soweto, Ingoapele Madingoane was born in Sophiatown in 1948. He was a sociopolitical activist, brilliant writer and politically conscious Poet. Ingoapele Madingoane was also an artist and youth of 1976 who deserves greater recognition. Madingoane was a member of Mhloti and Mdali, and the poet who wrote the anthemic Africa My Beginning. The poem in its form and rendition drew on traditional praise or heroic poetry and it was banned soon after its publication in 1979. Soweto Poet Laureate Ingoapele Madingoane in his early years.  Dubbed The Poet Laureate of Soweto, Madingoane's words reverberated wi

Today in celebration of the Black Artists Who Came Before Me, I look at the legend whose work I interacted with over the years, Maishe Maponya (1951 - 2021) was born in Alexandra Township and his family was later forcefully relocated to Diepkloof, Soweto in the early 1960s. Maponya was an incredible poet, playwright, actor, director, lecturer and human rights activist. Maishe Maponya, playwright, actor, director, lecturer, and human rights activist. Pic Credit: Internet  In the annals of black artistic excellence, Maishe Maponya stands as a beacon of inspiration and innovation. As I reflect on the shoulders of giants upon which I stand, Maponya's contributions loom large, shaping the trajectory of black creativity for generations to come. Born in South Africa during a time of profound societal upheaval, Maponya's journey as an artist was imbued with resilience and defiance. In the face of adversity, he wielded his craft as a tool for liberation, challenging the st