Exodus off to a flying start

JERRY KA-LEWIS
Correspondent | Tuesday February 12, 2008 00:00

 

Five years after they started a poetry movement, aimed at representing the voice of Botswana's youth, Exodus Live Poetry is gathering momentum.

The outfit inaugurated this year's campaign at the Cafe Khwest, where it all started, albeit under more humbling circumstances to rave reviews. 'I think it is getting better.

More people showed up compared to last year. We are seeing more people come in to recite as well, which is a good sign,' said Exodus member Abimbola Cole.

According to founding member Malcolm Champane, the group sees Cafe Khwest as a litmus test to gauge how the year will proceed. Commenting on Tuesday night's huge turnout, Champane said he was hopeful 2008 would be hugely successful. For this reason, he said Exodus would be holding its annual auditions to pump fresh blood and insight into the fledgling group.

Cafe Khwest, Champane said, has proven to be the place where budding poets polish their skills and get over stage fright. As a sign of things to come, a majority of the restaurants patrons were impressed with the blending of good food, fun and poetry. 'This is my first time here. I will make it a point that I come here whenever they are performing. It is not always that you get to have drinks and food with friends, while at the same time you are being entertained by intelligent people,' said an American patron.

Asked why the cafe agreed to have Tuesday night poetry sessions, restaurant manager Ewe Khama said apart from the hope of attracting a different demographic, Exodus' profile works hand in hand with the idea of a quest. 'The idea behind the name Cafe Khwest is for people to define their own direction. I think this is what Exodus Live Poetry is about also,' added Khama. He further stated that although Cafe Khwest was initially reluctant to host the event, it has proven to be a hit with the restaurant's patrons.

Charting the way forward for 2008, Joshua Machao, a member who has made a name for himself as a poet of great repute, said the group hopes to build on last year's momentum. 'But in terms of organisation, we have to get some of our housekeeping in order, make sure that as a group we are focused and in tune with what the needs of the people are and getting our poetry to a larger audience,' said Machao. He indicated that the group's main plan this year is to carry on from where Barolong Seboni's Black Spirit Movement left off, a platform for Botswana's emerging voices.

He stated that this could be accomplished by bringing new and dynamic poets on board, releasing an anthology of Exodus' poetry and taking the show around the country.

After a successful five-year run as the most progressive platform through which the youth of Botswana can express their opinions, Exodus Live Poetry has come full circle. The Tuesday night sessions start at 8 pm every fortnight.

Auditions for new members will be held on February 16-17 at the Moving Space Theatre at Maru-a-Pula School. E-mail: exoduslivepoetry@yahoo.com.