What happens when you combine poetry with music and dance? A musical, right? Well, not quite. On 27 September 2025, at Molapo Crossing’s in-house theatre, Keabetswe Molotsi launched her debut and much-anticipated poetry collection Lessons and Letters. The event was not a conventional book launch—it was an avant-garde performance. Interpretive dance, live music, and spokenContinue reading “Lessons and Letters, the book launch”
Category Archives: Spoken Word
The Symphony of Creation: A Visual Poem
I know it has been a while since I last posted on this website… Let’s just say circumstance has not been so generous in affording me time for this labour of love. That being said, I would like to share with you a spoken word piece I did a month ago in collaboration with TheContinue reading “The Symphony of Creation: A Visual Poem”
There ain’t no black in the Union Jack
To the worldThey call themselves The United Kingdom To their brown subjects They called themselvesGreat BritainOnce the savages ousted the crownThe Queen said ‘Child, Become a part of the Commonwealth’Though there was not much Common in our wealth Other than our rich imperial historyAnd the trauma in a tongue We share, named after One kingdomContinue reading “There ain’t no black in the Union Jack”
100 times
A few weeks ago, my great grandmother turned one hundred years old. Imagine! The world was a very different place. In commemoration of this momentous occasion, I was asked to write a poem for her to be shared on her birthday. Here’s a live recording of it, but I have included the transcript below forContinue reading “100 times”
The Roads in Town
Sparrows dance acrossA neglected roadChickens cross its potholesThe pavementIf that is a pavementIs an overgrowthOf weeds and shrubsBrushing feet and rimsWhat was a gutterIs now a bushveldCreeping where tarIs erodingDrivers complain“Why don’t the robots work?”In a fury they drive over themThey collect the scrapsMight as well sell them backTo none other than the governmentFor aContinue reading “The Roads in Town”
Some Real Negritude
there ain-t nothing that-s black about meother than my clay-coloured-skinmy roots in southern africaand my distinct articulationsback home they call me a coconut coz i be white in ways i read and write i show no negritudeby which they meanhip hop bantu talk and strugglesince my mother is a lekgowa*and my education ‘private-and-prestigious’ my nameContinue reading “Some Real Negritude”
The Story Goes On
Happy Easter Everyone! I wrote this poem in October last year for an event called the Gospel Experience Germany. The goal was to share the Gospel of Christ to Germans at large but with a pan-African twist. I say ‘twist’ in the sense that the artists were predominantly Africans from different parts of the continent,Continue reading “The Story Goes On”
The Battle of Belief
Some people say The fear of God is the fear of death. Some people say God’s will is the fear of consequence.When blind ambition erupts in our face,What is left but a faceless dream,As it slips through the seams of Opportunity and convenienceIs the best life the right life,Or is the right life the poorContinue reading “The Battle of Belief”
Intro: Dream Chaser
We were born into this world unequal, And although some might have more, We all have dreams. Dreams allow us to overcome, These inequalities, So we should always remain faithful to them. But this isn’t easy Easy is giving up (instrumental break) Giving up your dreams unto the night, Sleeping on your promise like itContinue reading “Intro: Dream Chaser”
Samuel Rubadiri 