‘I believe poetry is how my ancestors found me’—vangile gantsho in conversation with Makhosazana Xaba

vangile gantsho, south african women poet, red cotton, sangoma, African spirituality, African poet, impepho press founder

“So this question is part triggering and part … hmmm … how would I do things differently? Because high school was a terrible poetry experience for me. I really hated the exclusionary nature of the poetry we looked at and how prescriptively we were required to examine it. I also hated how the response to my writing made me feel. Like I wasn’t Stevie Smith or Alfred, Lord Tennyson enough. So I would like to find a way of asking questions rather than prescribing or describing anything, as a way of hopefully bringing the reader into the poem rather than possibly locking them out. ” (vangile gantsho)

Read more: Johannesburg Review of Books

Condolences to the Mbangeni family

Asphelelangahelelanga k’shot uJessica bethunana! Ngoxolo Ndlovukazi. Ngoxolo Gubevu 🙏🏾 Silapha nathi kungenxayakho. Tshosh’ubekhona. Sibulela siziimbongi. Sibulela singabafazi. Sithi buyela emalwandle Mnt’omdala, umsebenzi uyabonakala 🙏🏾🕯️💜

Silila nani booMbangeni. Sicela Amawenu anigcine athuthuzele nabantwana.

Ngothando,
Usapho lempepho press

Folklore Festival 2024, Friday, 30 Aug

Folklore Festival 2024 FRINGE JHB: SPOKEN WORD
with vangile gantsho & MoAfrika Wa Mokgthi

Join the inter-generational conversation on our creative platform #WeTheFolk for 30 days of Contemplating 30 years of Freedom in 3 Cities on 30 August 2024 at the NSA Theatre

Fri Aug 30, 19:00 – 23:30
NSA Theatre, Tyrwhitt Ave & Cradock Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Book: Quicket
Folklore community:

Godsell’s history book chapter

Sarah Godsell’s chapter on ‘“Both Sides of the Story”: The Epistemic Nature of Historical Knowledge as Understood by Pre-service History Teachers in a South African University’ appears in the open-access book Teachers and the Epistemology of History 

Abstract

Godsell draws on “Both sides of the story”, a concept outlined by Teeger (American Sociological Review, 80(6):1175–1200, 2015), to explore ways in which pre-service history teachers in a South African institution position themselves towards history epistemically, including positions on neutrality, and historical “truth.” Godsell draws on how pre-service teachers grapple with the “both sides of the story” concept—which Teeger has shown as a false narrative used to quell discomfort when teaching uncomfortable Apartheid history in South African schools. Godsell draws on her own students’ interaction with this concept, often defending it as an appropriate pedagogical choice to navigate painful history. Godsell argues for an understanding of epistemic stance that takes into account a range of issues about learning context: the students’, the country, and the history curriculum.

Source: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-58056-7_5

Sarah Godsell at Future Nation Schools

Sarah Godseel at Future Nation Schools

An honour beyond measure: Dr Sarah Godsell’s inspiring words filled our hearts at the Future Nation Schools’ Queen’s Day High Tea.

Sarah Godsell is a renowned South African poet, academic, and activist known for her profound insights and passionate advocacy for social justice. Born and raised in South Africa, Sarah’s journey has been marked by a commitment to using literature and academia as tools for empowerment and impactful change.

Watch how we celebrated the incredible mothers who light up our school community…

Video: Instagram

All African Women Poetry (AAWP) Festival wraps up, hosted successful four days Poetry & Play event, vangile gantsho was there!

vangile gantsho far left is a member of the small girl rising trio

Some of the scheduled guests, panelists and performers who attended the poetry festival were Moyosola Olowokure, Winnie Madoro, Nyangari Macharia, Claudia Owusu, Deborah Johnson, Effie Nkrumah, Titilope Sonuga, Maryam Bukar Hassan (Alhanislam), Mo’Africa Wa Mokgathi (born Muriel Mokgathi-Mvubu), vangile gantsho, Theresa Ankomah, Agness Panfred and Vivian Boeteng.

Source: AAWP festival

Video: vangile gantsho