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Bolsheviks Progress Ndlovu

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
PLUMTREE-based poet, Bolsheviks Progress Ndlovu has published his second poetry book titled Ngakhulela komalume.
Ndlovu said his childhood experience inspired him to write the book of 52 Ndebele poems.
“The book has 52 poems with different themes. In the title poem Ngakhulela komalume, I narrated my childhood experiences as I grew up in my uncle’s house.
“An uncle can raise you, but the experience is different than the one you have when you are growing up under the care of your parents. There are certain privileges that you will never have and you can encounter hardships,” he said.

Some of the poems in the book pay tribute to revolutionary icons such as the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and poet Ndabezinhle Sigogo, also late. He commends them for their great work.

Ndlovu added: “The life I was exposed to when I was growing up was full of hardships, but the experience gave me a nudge in the right direction. I was always adamant that I had to work hard and elevate myself in society.”

He said his poetry seeks to bring encouragement to other youths going through the same experience as his.
“They should learn from the current situation and strive to be better people. To be a better someone in the future does not mean you should have a rosy childhood,” he said.

Ndlovu said some of the poems criticised immoral behaviour among youths.
“I also wrote poems like Ebhawa and Etshwaleni which seek to rebuke some of the immoral traits that we see in society today like young people flocking to nightclubs and bars.

“I was inspired by some of the happenings in Plumtree to write some of my poems such as moral degradation,” said Ndlovu.
In 2012 Ndlovu published his first poetry book Semiyedwa Umanyathela which talks about the importance of safeguarding and cherishing the nation’s revolutionary gains.

He said he started writing poetry in 1997.
“At first I was just performing poetry only, but I later realised that books were an important way of preserving information. Now that I am documenting my poems, they will then serve generations that will come.

“I view poetry as a unique way of sending a message across to people. The melody in poetry makes them an interesting way of communicating,” said Ndlovu.