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20 February 2023 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Supplied
Nthabiseng (JahRose) Jafta, a Publishing Coordinator at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the Silver Medal Award and other accolades at the Eurasian Literary Festival held in Egypt. She says writing is a way of life for her and she writes anywhere and anytime.

Nthabiseng (JahRose) Jafta, a Publishing Coordinator at African Languages Press in the Library and Information Services at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the Silver Medal Award and other accolades at the Eurasian Literary Festival held in Egypt. Jafta, an MA scholar (Creative Writing) at Rhodes University, describes herself as an international performing poet, artpreneur, teacher, festival curator, content developer, and creative strategist born in the Free State.

Being an introvert, she says her love for writing gives her a voice. “I can echo my thoughts and colour my grey sky,” she explains poetically. She feels writing is as natural to her as breathing. She is comfortable writing anywhere and anytime. “There’s no physical area needed. We type on WhatsApp in the taxi. We catch brainwaves whenever they appear.” Jafta's creative juices seem to be overflowing, as she confessed to even getting an idea while contemplating her love for writing. “Life throws you prompts from all spheres, but you have to be present to recognise its call. And sometimes the piece decides if it wants to be happy, erotic, or sad.”
 
Her literacy cap serves Jafta's career as a publisher and her creative writing when time allows. “I read and write. Publish what I read or write. I also happen to recite, read, and sing what I write. It’s all in alignment.” This Deputy President of the National Writers Association of South Africa and founder of the Poetic Blues Virtual Festival writes in her mother tongue, Sesotho, and English. She also has additional experience in the poetry industry, as she was previously the Curator of the Macufe Poetry Festival. She also attended the International Writing Centre at Beijing Normal University part time. Her poems have also been translated into Mandarin and published in Chinese literary magazines.

Jafta says besides the growing catalogue of more than 40 publications, she also has an upcoming multilingual poetry compilation featuring Spanish, Danish, Mandarin, Arabic, KiSwahili, IsiZulu, and Sesotho translations from English. This poet believes poetry is a gift that feeds lyrics to melodies. “And that song carries us to humanity's highs and lows. Prose is how we navigate that gift daily. They are rainbows on melting clouds, events plants rejoice on their rhythmic drops.”

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Odeion School of Music prepares for Europe
2012-05-09

 

Travelling to Europe in July will be, from the left: Lebogang Ledwaba (21); Maja van Dyk (19); Kgaugelo Mpyane (22); Neo Phambuka; and Heinrich Lategan (18)
Photo: Hannes Pieterse
9 May 2012

Ten young musicians from the Odeion School of Music (OSM) will travel to Europe later this year after being selected as members of the 2012 Miagi Youth Symphony Orchestra.

These talented musicians will play at venues in Germany and Austria in July 2012. As part of the Miagi Youth Symphony Orchestra, they will share the stage with some of the best youth orchestras from around the world. On the orchestra’s itinerary is a performance at the Young Euro Classic Festival in Germany where they are scheduled to perform at the opening concert. The Young Euro Classic is the world’s premier festival for symphonic youth orchestras. Before their trip to Europe, the Miagi Youth Orchestra will play at a farewell concert at the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg.

The Miagi Youth Orchestra operates under the auspices of a non-profit organisation MIAGI (Music Is A Great Investment). The organisation covers all costs of the European tour.

Ms Ingrid Hedlund, Creative Manager of Miagi, says 88 young musicians have been selected for the 2012 events and tour of Europe. She finds the level of talent of the students studying at the Odeion School of Music very high. That is why so many students from the OSM were selected to play in the orchestra.

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