Catching up with Mohaletsi’s Queen of Sepedi poetry
Karabo Tebele
The paper caught up with renowned Mohlaletsi-born poet and dancer Kagisho Kgetsi Mathabatha.
The 32-year-old participated in a question and answer interview where she speaks about the love for poems written and performed in Sepedi, impact of Covid-19, working music group Team Delela and expanding Bapedi culture through poetry.
Her village in Malaeneng at Mohlaletsi beamed with pride when she scooped Best Poet category at Mzansi Arts Media Awards (Mama) 2021 held in Polokwane, Limpopo.
Q: When did Kagisho and poetry comes from?
I was groomed by a group called Mohlaletsi Community project which is LEMAMO, the group started in 2000 and I joined in 2003.
We were doing drama, poetry, singing, and doing traditional dance, that is where I developed love for poetry.
In the group, you were doing drama, acting, get you singing and this is where I have realised that I am good in poetry and knew that Kagisho has power to recites in poetry.
Q: How should young people advancing in poetry using home language especially in Sepedi?
It is important to use my language which is Sepedi to do my poems because other cultures uses own languages to produce poems and why shouldn’t I use my language?
It doesn’t mean I am not fluent in other languages but where will my language be because if I do a poem in other language, people will only recognise me doing poems in any language and you see my culture will die.
I want Sepedi culture through poems to be well-known, understandable and to grow is for me to use Sepedi so that whoever follows and understand me, they must know that I am Sepedi speaking person.
For current and upcoming young people, I so wish for them to know and understand that using Sepedi as home language is not an embarrassment but shows character and confidence that will always takes us far.
Q: Let us talk about more about the award you have won?
Ohh the award, I won it through people’s votes, it was hard because during Covid-19, people were retrenched and I needed their votes, and they pulled up for me.
It made me happy because it showed they love the work I do ,I make sure to pull up my socks as I represent them as Bapedi people and entire South Africans who voted for me.
This was not the first award because I won my first in 2007 for arts, so it has been a journey but being recognised is something else because it shows that people love what I do and I appreciate the support I got.
Q: How was it working with musical duo Team Delela?
I have worked with Team Delela on the music video Mmotoro o motala and against we had Bopedi track together, which we had a music video as well.
Team Delela backed me so well with love and support because they have put me on the spot because I got the recognition from people who did not know me.
It was through them (Team Delela) that is where I managed to have power to believe in myself and ability to put my brand to greater heights.
Q: Impact of Covid-19 especially as an artist in the arts sector?
Covid-19 affected people’s lives especially us as artists because we rely on events and the virus made it difficult for us.
The only thing we could do was to create short videos, post on social media where our followers can see we are still working.
It was a best feeling seeing that people still recognize and love what we do and at least now there are events but Covid-19 still lives among us and I am scared we might get infected that will return to lockdown, it’s a mess!!
Q: What is the vision for you and poetry in the future?
I want to see myself representing Bapedi nation on an international space and being featured by other well-known artists because many people will recognise Sepedi through me.
I want to be known as an Icon of Bapedi culture and I would love to see young people to follow me on what I do.
I want Bapedi culture to be known because our King is recognised similar with the Zulu Monarch. It is sad that most of our cultural practices are vanishing and we must try use old practices to preserve our state of culture.
Our readers and followers can reach and engage with Kagisho Mathabatha on the following social media platform:
Facebook: Kagisho LadyKay Kgetsa
