North West Praise Singer for President at #SONA22
In keeping with the character of Parliament as an African Parliament that promotes the centuries-old cultural traditions of our nation, an Imbongi will usher the President into the Chamber with a poem.
The selected Imbongi for this State of the Nationa Address is Mr Mosimanegape Jeremiah Jasone, and he will recite his poem in SeTswana. The 31-year-old Jason is from Manthe village, in Taung, in the North West Province.
Languages for poetry are considered rotationally to give all South African languages a fair and equal opportunity. The selection process involves recommendations made by the provincial legislatures, after which a determination is made.
Expressing his excitement before the event, Mr Jasone said he cannot wait to sing the praises of the President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, before he delivers his address. “I feel humbled by being selected to praise Mr Ramaphosa, who is not just my president, but my wonderful hero. Mr Ramaphosa is rich in things to praise him on.
He will always be distinguished from his predecessors by exercising fearless leadership at the difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic, which killed the economy and the people,” said Mr Jasone.
Whenever President Ramaphosa appeared before the South African nation to address it on the government’s plans for the economy and to save lives, Mr Jasone said, President Ramaphosa turned the despair into hope.
Mr Jasone was born in Manthe Village in Taung in the North West Province on 24 December 1990. He was educated at Moshosho Primary
School in Taung, Kebinelang Middle School and Walter Letsie
High School.
His passion for poetry began in 2002, when he was 12 years old and still at Moshosho Primary School. He started performing praise singing in 2009 when he was at high school, and he earned recognition in the community for his work. His first career highlight came when he praised Chief Charles Nyoko Motihabane in Mante Village in Taung in 2011, during an arts and culture programme to mark 16 December, National Day of Reconciliation.
Mr Jeremia participated in reading competitions in Taung, Mafikeng and Klerksdorp, where he won two awards, and also took part in a talent contest on the English and SeTswana languages programme, streamed on SABC channel 2.
In May 2017, he participated in Mma Ausi at Pudimoe Community Hall and took part in a debate in Cape Town for Funda mzantsi Championships in a seTswana debate, book review and spelling competition. He was the poet and motivational speaker at Koonyaditse Oshebeng in June 2018.
In May 2021, Mr Jasone was nominated in the Mama Awards as the best poet. In June 2021 he performed a poem at Lonkgabeng Village where he got a Royalty Funds Award. He is involved in the Taung Imatlafatse Book Club and performs poetry at funerals, weddings, traditional schools and at many other ceremonies.