Serote, Keep feeding wisdom and truth to the nation
On April 24, the University of Johannesburg conferred an honorary doctorate to one of this country’s literary giants, most particularly in poetry, but this also gives his readers a moment to pause and look at his contributions in transforming their thinking and shaping this country.
Like all artists, their role is not only to become a mirror that reflects what is taking place in society, but also it is cautioning citizens about injustices and corruption and ultimately provide solutions to these societies.
Mongane Wally Serote did not only do that, but documented this country’s history effectively through his poems and novel.
He did this without being revolutionary.
As someone whose writings cautions and uplifts a black person, this does not come as a surprise because the literary voice became loud and resolute in the 1970s.
These were the times of Black Consciousness Movement. The slogans of the day were “Black is beautiful” and “Blackman you are on your own”.
This was a period where a black person’s pride was at stake. He was not seen as a human creature that is why his dignity was trampled over by the Nationalist Party government.
This too can be traced in the writings of his contemporaries like Mafika Gwala, Oswald Mtshali and Sipho Sepamla.
There are many poems Serote penned. like his recent Scatter the Ashes and Go that was inspired by the song of the Afro-fusion band Stimela, but many people who read and studied his works in the late 1970s and early 1980s would always quote or recite his two poems City Johannesburg and Alexandra.
In City Johannesburg he laments about the Pass Laws and Group Areas Acts that drove a black person away from the city life. Each time an African bumped into a police his stomach immediately filled with butterflies because he would be asked for his “dompas”.
These lines speak for themselves, “My hand pulses to my back trousers pocket, or into my inner jacket pocket, for my life. Joburg City. My hand like a starved snake tears my pockets, while my stomach groans a friendly to hunger”.
In this poem Serote paints a very painful picture about the manner in which a black man was treated long before a new political dispensation ushered in.
Although things were bad, he had his “mother”. Her tender love and the comfort she gave and still gives him could not be compared to anything.
In his other poem Alexandra the poet personifies this township to a woman.
He says “Were it possible to say, Mother I have seen more beautiful mothers , A most loving mother, And tell her there I will go, Alexandra, I would have long gone from you”.
He declares his unconditional love for Alexandra because this is the place he first attended his primary education and his destiny is still inextricably intertwined with this township.
That is why he further says, “You throb inside my silences ... I have gone from you many times, I come back. Alexandra, I love you”.
Serote is forever driven by passion and patriotism.
This makes his writings stand the test of time because whenever he pens something he is agitated or propelled by something bigger than money.
Congratulations on your honorary doctorate from the University of Johannesburg.
The nation deeps its head for you Morena! Keep on feeding and conscientising this nation with the food of wisdom and truth through the mouth of your pen!
Nkosi is a freelance journalist
His writings stand the test of time because he is propelled by something bigger