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UFS publisher receives feather in her literary cap

20 February 2023 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Supplied

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.”

News Archive

“We have to be ashamed as South Africans in these xenophobic attacks” – Dr Khotso Mokhele

2015-04-17

In a show of solidarity, the staff, students, and graduates at the University of the Free State hosted various events to remember those victims of recent Xenophobia attacks in the country.

During the Autumn Graduation this week on the Bloemfontein Campus, a moment of silence was observed at the different ceremonies.

At the ceremonies, UFS Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, said these graduations are not only about the graduates’ success but also about keeping in mind those who are being killed in our own country because their countries could not uphold them.

“All of us as South Africans should show a displeasure at the xenophobic attacks that have taken place in the country. These acts are inhumane, and we have to be ashamed as South Africans.”

South Africa has been rocked these recent weeks by various flares of attacks on foreign nationals living in South Africa. Five people or more have died in these attacks.

The Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the UFS also started hosting conversations to create awareness and understanding among the Kovsie community about xenophobia and the subsequent hate crimes.

In spite of diverging opinions, different approaches, and the complexities at the heart of the issue, everyone at these discussions agreed that xenophobia needs to be addressed urgently, not only by government, but also by every South African citizen.

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