Ismael Sibeko from IM Manchu in Balfour has won the Mpumalanga leg of a national poetry campaign to oppose racism and xenophobia.
Sibeko came out tops with his poem titled Arise South Africa Arise.
The runners-up were Filomena Castro from Witbank High and Singwane Bonisile from Shayaza Combined School in Nelspruit.
The secretariat for the National Forum Against Racism invited high school learners across the country to write poems about topics that included tolerance, diversity, “no to racism”, “we belong together”, standing up against xenophobia, and “arise South Africa arise”.
Provincial winners will compete in a national final later in the year.
Below are some of the entries:
1st Prize
Arise South Africa Arise by Ishmael Sibeko
Arise South Africa arise!
Vukani Mzansi Afrika Vukani!
Ixhesha lenxazululo ngoku;
When we were black and being;
Discriminated not being appreciated
In our color of darkness and dark valley;
When were were black,
Nxa umakhul’am notat’ omkhul’am;
Were protesting that my voice could be heard;
Our color of darkness;
Ibal lethu elimdaka nelinsundu,
Made our voices not to be heard by;
The deaf anymore;
Arise South Africa Arise!
Vukan’Mzansi Afrika Vukani!
Let us fight and protest against Racism;
But accomodate to ourselves as a nation,
The spirit of Ubuntu;
I am because you are,
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu;
South Africa the rainbow nation;
South Africa a country of diversity and unity;
Mzansi Afrika wena omabala nke,
Uyingwe!
Maye uyingwe emabalabala!
Arise South Africa Arise!
Vukani! Mzansi Afrika Vukani
1st Runner-up
Arise South Africa Arise by Filomena Castro
Arise South Africa for your heart beats like
The tones of drums;
And the rhythm of your soul;
Enlightens my purpose and goal;
Arise South Africa arise for the rhythm of your words;
Are like a thousand drums pounding and more
Than a thousand soldiers a sounding;
Arise South Africa Arise!
For your nation is sounding;
And not drowning because of its steady surroundings;
Arise and conquer and the unconquerable;
An African, but born so;
Arise from poverty and negativity;
Arise from rape for the civilisation’s sake
Arise from racism;
We can’t stay with this criticism;
Arise in love, acceptance and unity together;
And I say and I cry;
Arise Mzansi Arise;
Arise South Africa Arise!
Africa has risen!
2nd Runner-up
Standing up against Xenophobia by Singwane Bonisile
Xenophobia……Who are you?
Where do you come from?
Is, Xeno your name?
Phobia, your surname
Anyway I don’t care if you are?
black or white, pink or yellow,
green or blue, red or orange;
You will never scare us;
We are all humans, created,
In God’s image. Whether from
the South, East, West or North.
We are a creation.
Let us all enjoy being nurtured;
By our Mother Earth.
Scars are just lines depicting our history.
The skin only covers our lovely hearts.
Our minds are read from our different languages.
Our walk says it all, Our talk says it all, that,
That, we are brothers and sisters,
So, why do you call me Grigambo?
Kwerekwere? Kom ver? Outsider?
Come on, let us sail together.
Through a stormy sea, but need to swim
together. Just hold my hand and mine yours.
See, it’s only our blood that thickens us.
Come on, I am your brother,
You are my sister. Hold me tight,
Fear not my skin
3rd Place
The diversity of South Africa by Sophy Matseke
This will make me to remain;
Remain a black, free and proud South African;
South Africa, South Africa!
The country of non-racism;
Just how miraculous;
Miraculous was our transition to democracy;
While we came a long;
Long way to achieving the goals of equality;
And acceptance from back in the years;
Till late in the 90’s!
This to one’s ear could sound like superstition,
But it’s not;
It’s an unforgettable tragedy;
A tragedy that ended up like a fairy tale;
But unfortunate for the unprivileged ones;
This cannot be extracted from their memories;
But trying to fail;
Failing to keep the past in our memories;
South Africa is now a real diverse country;
South Africa is more than a cultural melting pot;
A big pot full of various,
Various and tasty flavours;
Rich cultural heritage sites;
Places of outstanding value to humanity;
That’s what it has;
They call it a rainbow nation;
Oh yes, it is indeed;
Friendly people in need and indeed;
That’s what it has;
A country with eleven official languages;
The most complex and diversified population;
Mixes in the world;
That’s what it has;
A rich mosaic of distinct minorities;
That’s what it has;
It has marvelous vintages;
The best wines produced from the Cape;
Whether speaking foreign talk or eating foreign food;
My country’s surface of the earth;
Will always have the strength and power;
Of producing our healthy traditional foods;
Oh yes, we will continue;
Continue eating papa ka morogo;
As we are used to telling stories around the fire;
As we are used to South Africa as a root of life and humanity;
It’s a mother to all its offspring;
My country’s diversity;
Will always make me to remain;
Remain a black, free and proud South African
Alive with Possibilities by Masungulo Mnisi
Goodmorning south Africa!
My home;
Your morning beach;
So sweet, so tender like divine kisses
delivered from above;
And hugs filled with love;
Your eyes look over us;
My brother and sister;
Who have come to call this place home;
Many come and go;
But you still treat them as your own;
I admire your strength;
And strong sense of hope;
Because you have been through a lot;
Yet you still have a smile on your face;
South Africa my home;
I am so proud to call you Mom;
Because whatever happens;
I know you will never forsake me;
Let the world know that you are
alive with possibilities!
I Say No To Racism by Mlungisi Nyalunga
Racism where do you come from?
Racism why are you here?
Racism who let you in?
I think you should be put in a bin;
You are no more having a direction;
In this new multiracial nation;
Why do you specialize in race?
Why don’t you specialize with grace?!
You discriminated our brothers and sisters
According to their race
What a disgrace!
You’ve been here for so long;
But now is time for you to asee that you were wrong;
And you are no more accepted;
Our brothers adn sisters missed many opportunities;
Because of you and now you are rejected;
You need to go where you came from;
’cause you are no more allowed in this new democracy;
You were defining white as gold and brown as black;
But now is the time to see that these colours are equally packed;
And the colour white was recognised;
But now you are forced to recognize both;
Racism you are no more allowed in this country;
Your citizenship is being destroyed;
And is no more allowed;