A Dream of Azania	Books	This is a simple, readable and revolutionary story that requires urgent attention from Africans everywhere and at every social level.
A Dream of Azania by Ntokozo Mthembu could be the reminder that Southern African society has needed to hear.
The book resonates with the urgent message of how landless African/Black people have been dispossessed of their homelands. After painstaking and accurate analyses of how the majority has turned out to be merely existing below the towering and wealthy minority. There are solutions offered and there are also challenges that are facing African people at all levels of the labor and Capitalist market. Mthembu writes from his own academic and personal experience as a Black African scholar who has seen and searched for the reasons why his own society has been deprived of taking advantage of all possibilities for socio-economic growth. A society without proper roots and a dubious level of ownership of their ancestral land is under serious threat. The book is a well balanced assessment of the labor, landlessness and pauperization of Africans who have been shifted around their homeland for political and economic gain. After reading the book, one is left with a sense that the Land and Worker question in SA needs to be addressed immediately.
This kind of book will not go down well with the puppet masters within our diverse and severly unequal society. There are those who would like to hide the simple truth revealed in it. Without a doubt the heartless and heedless captains of industrial capitalism will try to keep their slave-labor as far away from such knowledge as possible. A Dream of Azania is not an easy read, while the angry voice of the author is distinctive, the book also relied heavily on research conducted via all the possible methods, from surveys, one on one interviews, other publications and the all available research methods.
Passages such as this one: “Despite the commitment of unemployed people to respect the laws of the city in order to survive, their treatment remains racially motivated. This was confirmed by Ms Mazibuko, who has been trading in the market for more than six years, and who said that the traders were being victimized for trying to earn an honest living”, would draw the attention of all who are interested in knowing the real inspirations of this book: To Free the mind of the oppressed.
As one of our fallen Phoenixes once noted: “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.”
And as the book points out in the final chapter, there is a way out of colonialism and Modern Day Slavery.
By: Menzi Maseko aka Ras Nabiy
Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:08	Intwasahlobo e-South African	Poetry	Lathwasa ihlobo izihlobo zezihlobo zabukhumbula ubuhlobo bazoOkungekona ukuzalana okuwubuntu,Izitha zajika inzondo yaba wuthando zasibongelaNgempumelelo yethuOkaMadiba waphuma waphinde wawubona lomhlabaophuphuma injabulo ngoba yena edele ubukhosi bakubo,waba ngumhlatshelo e-South AfricaLathwasa ihlobo izihlahla zakhohlwa yizimbali,Zaqhakaza injabulo ngoba zibona inkululeko eheleza ezweni,Imifula yathokoza ngoba isiyazi ukuthi lamanzi agelezayo kuyoaseyophakela izinhlanga zakuleli ngokufanayo,Akekho oyothola acwebile bese omunye ekhalela kwadungekile,Izintaba zafisa ukucula u-Nkosi Sikelela kuwe umhlaba wonke,ngoba zingasafuthiwe yimvelo kuphela sekukhona nenjabuloeziyimumethe phakathi kwazoLathwasa ihlobo amathwasa amnyama, namhlophe, aseNdiya naphakathi akwazi ukuthwasela lokhu okufiswa yiwo,ezigogweni ezikhethwe yiwoOwesifazane wawabona amandla akhe angaphezu kwalawa asexhibeni,Lathwasa ihlobo amaqhawe alwela lelizwe amanye alifelaakuthola ukuhlonishwa okuwafanele,Amathuna andindizela ngoba esebona sengathi enze iphutha ngaleya mizimba ayigwinyile ingasayibonanga imiphumela yemeisebenzi yayo,Isibhakabhaka sathela imvula ukuzogeza amanxeba nezinyembezi zeminyaka yobandlululoLathwasa ihlobo thin'uqobo salubandlulula ubandlululoLwqoqa amaqoqo emithwalo yalo, inzondo, nomona lwemuka,Thin'uqobo sazibumbela ngabasibambele umthetho sisekelo wezwe lethu,Izizwe zabubona ubuhle bezwe lethu, zathi leyomhlaba, lelegolide alize kulo wakithi umhlabathi.Lathwasa ihlobo sawukhumbula umehluko phakathi kwethu nezilwane,Okungukuthi thina singaphila ndawonye,Ngisho amabala, amasiko, inkolo nezinkolelo zingahluka,Thina singaphila ndawonye,Izilwane ngeke zikwazi ngoba amabubesi uma ebona izinyamazaneabona ukuthi azolala eshaye esentwala,Ikati ngeke ulibone lihamba nensimba, noma thina singawuboni umehluko otheniLathwasa ihlobo umhlabathi sawupha uhlamvu wasibuyisela izikhwebu,wathi masidle kade sasilambile,Ilanga lathi seliyozilahla kunina latshela inyanga ukuthi kube yiyo ezosikhanyisela ebusuku kade sasisebumnyameni,Umdali esihlalweni sobukhosi wathokoza nge- South Africa,E-South Africa lathwasa ihlobo. By Musa Nhlumayo (Nowadays Poet)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 12:34	Whisperings of a Gandhi Follower - Dasarath Bundhoo	Books	There are many unsung heroes and heroines who in their own way assisted towards the liberation of South Africa. Nevertheless, icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, John Dube and INkosi Albert Luthuli continue to have a powerful influence in our fledgling democracy.
The book titled “Whisperings of a Gandhi follower”- the book highlights the impact of the life that Mahatma Gandhi had on Dasarath Bundhoo. Told through the rich, epic eyes of an ordinary leather worker- who also displays a powerful and enduring bond to his wife and family and the entire South African populace- merging a rich tapestry from humble beginnings to his achievements as a leader passionately engulfed with the love and admiration for the realisation of worker’s rights.
The journey starts in Plessislaer, in Pietermaritzburg- Bundhoo was well placed in a city that made world history as it is where Mahatma Gandhi was exposed to racial discrimination as he was forcibly thrown out of a first-class compartment in the local train; which then gave rise to his social activism. The book describes anecdotes from his life experiences and also showcases the author’s life pre and post the apartheid era. The book also seeks to unpack the ideologies of visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior of- Vasudeva Kutumba Kam or Ubuntu set against the backdrop of love, peace and the desire to elevate people’s lives to ideals more lofty and the realisation of justice and democracy for all.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 November 2009 12:19	Read more...
True African Spirituality Lies in the Home	Ras Naby Philosophy	“Education intensifies natural gifts and ability, but mere education, unless founded on a historical and cultural framework, will bear no fruits. This is why you should at all times reinforce your learning with the cultural heritage of your forefathers. A cultural heritage you should revive.” The Second Book of Samuel Chapter 18 – Haile Selassie I.
His Imperial Majesty’s work is not yet done. There is a great number of Africa’s children all over the world who can only dream of quality education, an education that ‘intensifies natural gifts and ability…’; furthermore, the African governments we have chosen and even those that have been cunningly imposed upon us are a laughing stock to the rest of the civilized world.
Last Updated on Monday, 13 July 2009 08:18	Read more...
Prism of Light - Mewa Ramgobin (IQula Publishing)	Books	“What is it that compels them to disown, by their deeds, the spirit not only of Ernest Galo, Steve Biko and Ahmed Timol but also of all those who gave up their lives so that we could enjoy a democratic culture, today?” (Page 23, accounting on Ernest Galo’s life and the impact the university politics and the students had)
South Africa’s political history is best described by people who were party to setting the wheels in motion and heralding the freedom of the masses. Prisms of Light is the ideal book to take you into the mind and the rich, political and intrinsic life story of Mewa Ramgobin who played a pivotal role in South African politics.
Titled Prisms of Light- Within my memory- the book is a recollection of events and the people who helped shape the prosperity of South Africa. It highlights the history during the time of bold resistance against apartheid and the ignored stories of the different people whose arrival, long before, began the phenomenon of our human mix active against racism in South Africa.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 November 2009 12:22	Read more...
Nguye Onguye Poetry	Sihlanganyele esontweni, ngithe mangik’bhekaNgakubona ungewedwa uqobo noqothoUNkulunkulu ube nawe.Ubekanye nawe.Ubumbathile, nama lithe libalela ilanga yena wasephenduka ingubo ek’shisile.Ukuthi ukhohliwe Nguye.Ubekhona ek’qaleni, namanje, nangomuso esenguThixo ongaphendukiyoUthe ekhona, mina, mina nawae, sonke nje.Sak’shitsha uk’thembeka nok’mazi eNguyeKwathi lo ongaphambili, ngemva, eceleni kwami,Okhuluma kushintshisane imibuzo nezimpenduloKwanguye openduka UnguyeUsam’khumbula unguye …. wasemhlabeni?Hhayi nini, izolo lokhu?Ngaphandle kokuk’bhalela incwadi, noma I-SMSUthe wak’buka amehlo akhe agcwala uthandoUthe masek’tshena, kwavele kwamathado anentandoUkuthi angazi ukuthi ngingabalisa ngithini ngayeUmehluko phakathi koNguye oNguye, nonguye…. lo wakho,ofuna ukuba uNguye oNguyeUthuthi unguye, lo wakho ufuna ukuba uNguye oNguye.Uzothi ak’thande, manje, nangokuKodwa ngomso uzothi aqhele, aqhelelane naweAqalise ajonge, akhangele abanyeAbazobe benakho koke lokhu onakho naweUmehluko kuzothi uk’khula, iminyaka, nemali.... Mhlambe bazothi babe bancene kunaweNguye oNguyeNguye namhlanje, Nguye manje, Nguye nak’sasa , ingaphakathi nangaphandleThandaza Kuye, hlala Kuye, kholwa Nguye,Sonke siNguye akukho okunyeUsuke wasithatha isikhathi wacabangaWacabanga umphefumulo usahlangahlangen nenyama, amatshe, imvelo yonke nje...Sengisho inyanga nelanga.Ukudalile wak’phefumelela, wathi esek’kkhulisa, ehlumisa ik’sasa elihle wabe ek’ndlalelaUsucabanga ukuthi angakuyekelela nje... kunguye wase mhlabeni ongezok’buyisela?Phela unguye wasem’hlabeni ongabe,intombi yakho, indoda yakho, umfazi wakho.Angeke ak’thembise, aqinisekise injabulu yakho nothando lwaphakadeNgoba akasiye uNguye oNguyeuNguye ozothi akuphelelise ingaphakathi, nangaphadle.Nguye uJesu, Nguye uThixo, Nguye uMvelinqangi, NguyeAkekho omunyeNguye oNguyeBy: Maskrull Sithole (Poetry of Nowadayz) Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 12:37	Delivered	Poetry	Saved!By the bellor it could have been the sound of seven trumpsThe ghost jumpsand claims the soul body.Mind is too short to recordthe journey at light speed...to subconscious through clearand conscious spaceto learn about Word and Trustand that there's a covenantbetween Word and Lifelike Heaven sent Emmanuelused Word to build an everlasting templemore resilient than metal or marbleTested in the fireflesh burnt away by precious toil and incineration of troubleThrough word-mad journeys we travelwith dreamsto interpretlife's riddles to computelove knots to untanglestruggling and struggling and strugglinguntil we are delivered...By: Ras Naby
Book Reviews	Books	Dinner with Mugabe – Heidi Holland (Penguin)“I don’t make enemies. Others make me an enemy of theirs… We compromise a lot, but with principles, no. You don’t, you don’t, you don’t sacrifice principles.”Robert Mugabe, exclusive interview.If you thought you knew anything about Robert Mugabe, forget it. You need to read this excellent book by Heidi Holland to get a little bit of insight into this very complex man.Titled a psychobiography, because Holland worked with a psychologist to analyze the journey of the brilliant young Robert Mugabe from freedom fighter and brave liberation leader to irrational tyrant.This compelling portrait of Robert Mugabe, through the eyes of those who know him and who are or were close to him, gives us a glimpse, not only of the contradictions in the life of the man who once led a country that was called “Africa’s Breadbasket” that today lies in ruins.For me personally is a sad tale, repeated throughout our continent – a tale of colonialism and of those who embraced it and hated themselves for it; who are still happy to take money from the world powers, their “masters”- but hate themselves and then turn on their so called benefactors; who have never learned to stand up for themselves, always feel inferior and enforce power through violence and intimidation. It is a story of the Old Africa. KLAfter Tears – Niq Mhlongo (Kwela Books)Bafana Kuzwayo is from Chi in Soweto. He is living his mother and uncle’s dream of studying law at UCT in Cape Town, but on the way home (on the train), he realizes he cannot disappoint them and tell them that he has failed. His Uncle, who is a bit of a Tstoti himself already calls him Advo (short for Advocate) and boasts about his smart nephew to everyone who will listen. His mother is so proud of her educated son and when he tells he the only reason he doesn’t have his degree is because he owed money, Mama, decides to sell the house – to pay his study debts so that his degree can be issued. After all, Advo would soon be earning plenty of money…A fast paced, achingly funny and eina tale of a young man in Soweto who really tries to do good and how life seems to conspire against him. KLFrom the writer of the acclaimed Dog eat Dog.
Last Updated on Saturday, 18 October 2008 06:55	Thina Sizingane Zabafana Namantombazane	Poetry	Thina sizingane zabafana namantombazaneAsizalwa ngamadoda nabafazi. Thina siyimiphumelaYamatshitshi agxeke umkhosi womhlanga athi,Ikhona impilo emtholampilo sazalwa-ke thina bothina.Thina siyimiphumela yezenzo zabafana ezingelusiwe ngobaBengazange balubhade ekwaluseni. Sazalwa-ke,Sazalelwa ezandleni zabantu omiqondo yabo ingalusiweKodwa njalo thina kumele selusiwe. Bheka labafanaNamantombazane bayafunga bayagomela bathi thinaAsisoze saba ngamadoda nabafazi, sengathi bonaBake baqala. Thina siyizingane zabafana namantombazane.Thina siyimiphumela yomasigcozi. Thina Siyimiphumela yemidlalo “ayabhakwa amagwinyaEwotela - isamgqe” sizelwe emdlalweni kodwaSibhekwe ukuba sibe ngamadoda nabafazi empilweni.Labafana namantombazane bakhuluma ngathi,Ingathi kukhona abangakuveza ngathi kanti, ogogoAbangathi, ngathi, kodwa ogogo uma bethi, ngathi.Laba bathi abathule bayasivuna. Ogogo bathule bathiDu! Ngoba bayazi abavunanga thina bavuna bona, Bona bazala thina, thina siyizingane zabafana Namantombazane. Labafana namantombazane bazalelwa emathafeniBawashiya amathafa bathatha indlela ebheke Ehlathini, bafika ehlathini bazala thina basebeyafa.Selokhu sazalwa siphethe ocelemba sigenca lelihlathi,Sekuqala ukukhanya la, bayavuka kwabafileyo bathiKithi thina asizosaba ngamadoda nabafazi thina.Siyisizukulwane esilahlekile. Basizalise okwamachwaneEzinyoka basizale maqede baphela emehlweni bengasifundisileUkuthi kuzingelwa kanjani nokuthi itshe lentaba lilahlwaKanjani kodwa thina sikwenze isiko ukuthi lapho Silahle khona itshe lentaba sigqibe kodwa bona bathiKithi thina asisoze saba ngamadoda nabafazi. Basizalele Ebubini thina satshala izimbali kulobubi sebuy’bubi Obubukekayo kodwa bona bathi kithi asisoze saba ngamadodaNabafazi. Wathi kimi ugogo awufani noyihlo nonyokoOkusho ukuthi thina singamadoda nabafazi nakubaSizingane zabafana namantombazane. By : Mxolisi Mtshali Last Updated on Saturday, 07 February 2009 05:46	The Black Continent Poetry	The Black of this Continent on a discovery missionThe grey-cloud visionSearching to find peaceful placesin the traces of my African locks