Moroka Moreri, that formiddable Setswana poet from Molepolole, has released his first poetry album. The great lyricist of our time has named the album Nkokowe. It is a fifteen track recording of some of his finest poems. I have written before that:“Moroka Moreri is simply a poet of our time ÔÇô a man to whom we can turn when we need the lyrical sophistication of Setswana. He has both the academic rigour to analyse and explain what Setswana poetry is all about as well as an arresting presence on stage. He possesses the rare skill of those great poets of old who have gone before him as well as the technical knowledge of a modern poet to tease out the lexical niceties of poetry.”Moreri has published four poetry books: Motlhaolosa, Tshokele, Thotse and Khuduela. He has also contributed poems to other publications such as Kutlwano, Mokgosi Newspaper and Echo newspapers and many others. Not only that, Moroka is possibly the most famous poet living in Botswana today. He has recited poetry in numerous events, more than anybody could remember. He was there when the current president was inaugurated belting out his lyricism. He is currently leaving a most admirable legacy in Botswana schools through the development of young poets. The addition of an album to Moreri’s works is a testament to his creativity and development. In this album he brings together some of the finest in the Botswana’s musical landscape. The great voice of his long time friend from Molepolole College of Education, Mmereki Marakakgoro, appears in two very memorable songs, Tautona and Honey. It is the finest guitars of John Selolwane, Hugh Masekela’s long-time guitarist, which will keep the album on replay in many radios. Moroka also called on the services of the great saxophonist, Lister Boleseng. Lister is extraordinary in this recording. Poetry-wise, performatively, Track 2 is probably the best. Instrumentally, arrangement-wise and vocally the finest track is Track 12, Nkemo (Nkemo, Nkemo mpulela, ke senka Ramasunyana). Lyrically, my favourite track remains Lesutlha, Track 10. I encourage Batswana to buy this well produced and well mastered album and enjoy it for themselves. No writing can do it justice. I leave you with my favourite poem from the album: Lesutlha.
LESUTLHA
Dumela ramerodi senkgabokwana
O letse o anywetse tsa kae diphiri
A re tseye sefadi re go kwatabolotse melomo?
Su! Le ditlhale di tsurutla fela ganong
Matlhong go tsogile kgaruru-kgolo rankgwane
Thoko tsa gago di lwela bonno seboswa
Ntlha e ka bo e le borokhu re di go kgomorolola
E sita kang le di ka wa melaka e tlaa tsamoga
Kgokgotsong e ka re o seja-megetlo raleswe!
Tulele e ntse bomoto boo kirisi terekereng
A seno sereto ke boko ya segwagwa senkgi?
Dipholora tsa gago di taologa semahunelo a motsekedi
Ba joko ya merafe ba tlhokile go go dira mmepe
Ka wena ba supa Cairo ka merodi ya gago
Ditlhakatlhake ba di supa ‘ropeng tsa gago
Dinoka kgolo bo Nnaele ba di kaya mpeng tsa gago
A namane e tona ya makwapa tlhware makokoma
Hafokorone o ka iponna legagana a ikhutsa ‘naong tsa gago
Terekere o bata fela go tlogela motlhala Jon Tere
Katakata o rethefatsa lefatshe o swaila le mesetlho
O namile a swela eng kgosi ya Mazulu ruri
Ka ka wena a ne a tlaa fenya dira ka ponyo
Monko wa gago ka one a hepa dira sebohola jwa nakedi
A hepa dira bobe a di phatlalatsa le naga
Kgaa! O utlwiwa ka bodupa tsopa la nakedi
Le sefofu ga o se gake, ka se go tshwara ka nko
O amogelesega sentle thakeng tsa bophoko
Wena ‘sutlha la mmamagotsane semela dipala
Ntlha dintsi di go ratile bobe wa ga mma
Di kokoana ntlwaneng ya nyana yoo kgafela
Sejo segolo e le kgakgathiba kgakgala nkong
E re di swetsa di fetise ka maladu a tsamogang dinthong
Itsose mokoduwe, o iphorole o lese go iphorokisa
Tsaya kobo ya segwagwa, o e apare o gwante
Ka swai o swaile makwapa o nne borethe
Metsi a bopa motho go phala kapari ya tlhotlhwa
