“The origin of Laura is the Laurel tree; a symbol of honour and victory in ancient Rome. I would like to interpret my name as “winner” which is what I truly believe I am!” self assured Laura Byaruhanga shares her thoughts in the face of the forthcoming Lantern Meet of Poet’s recital “What Shall We Name This Child”.
Peter Kagayi, the President of the group says, in their recital taking place this weekend at the National theatre, What Shall We Name This Child material took deliberate effort to develop. We took off eight months of writing schedules to think about identity, and at the end collected what we thought best. We formed a psychogenic script because it is futuristic, contemporary and traditional.”
What gives the recital those attributes is the merging of poetry with drama. “It reinvents the first man and woman, and has taken so much time because it is the equivalent of telling two stories in one,” he says.
People’s personalities come alive on stage because for many poets, a recital is liberation.
Kagayi believes it unlocks chains binding us to the prescribed way of life, and all things that stifle creativity and expression.
The theme
Identity, a theme underlying their now 11th recital, delves back into their origins and self-definition. Paul Kunsa, a Muganda with a Musoga mother, detracts himself from the profession of Kunsa, a ruthless executioner in traditional Buganda Kingdom.
“It relates to the popular saying Olya nga eyasimatusse Kunsa” he says. Loosely translated to mean one eats as though they survived death by Kunsa, especially when they were pardoned by the Kabaka (King).
“African traditional societies were awash with ritual naming ceremonies. The recital is therefore a platform to “speak about things we feel most affect us, not just as a people, but also as young writers growing up in a community without the opportunity to speak! It’s reason why Poetry became an instant hit,” a confident Kagayi speaks with such velocity.
The Lantern Meet of Poets shall sway you into an expressive word journey today, at National Theatre, 7pm.
FRENCH VERSION
Peter Kagayi, Président du groupe, en leur récital qui aura lieu ceweek-end au National theatre, dit matériel ce qui doit nous nomcet enfant a eu un effort délibéré pour développer. Nous décollede huit mois de la rédaction des annexes à réfléchir à l’identité etcollecté à la fin ce que nous avons pensé que le meilleurs. Nous avons créé un script psychogène parce que c’est futuriste,contemporain et traditionnel. »
Ce qui donne le considérant ces attributs, c’est la fusion de lapoésie avec le drame. « Il réinvente le premier homme et lafemme et a pris beaucoup de temps parce que c’est l’équivalentde raconter deux histoires en une, » dit-il.
Le thème
“Les sociétés traditionnelles africaines ont été inondé avec rituelnommage des cérémonies. Le récital est donc une plateforme de“parlons de choses que nous nous sentons plus nous touchent,non seulement en tant que peuple, mais aussi comme jeunesécrivains grandit dans une communauté sans avoir la possibilitéde parler ! C’est la raison pour laquelle la poésie est devenue unsuccès instantané,”un certain Kagayi parle d’une telle vitesse.
