A poetry book titled ‘Poko Boswa, Poetry my heritage: Living the arts’, by Gorata Mighty Ntshwabi, a Motswana female writer has been launched. The poetry book aims to empower children from an early age to be devoted to the work of arts and explore their talents.

The author, who is a member of Women in Arts (WIA) - an NGO with a mandate to empower women in Arts says she was motivated to write this book because of the way people casually take the Arts industry as an area of entertainment.

The poetry book is composed of inspirational messages from socio-economic, gender, culture and religious perspectives. Amongst other things, the poems proffer advice and guidance to the young and old generations.

One of the poems that stands out is one entitled, ‘Teenage Pregnancy’. The poem speaks of how teenage pregnancy can ruin a girl’s life as it comes with several challenges. In clear cut terms, the poem sensitises girls on how teenage pregnancy can become a setback in a girl’s life.

Speaking on her achievement, Ntshwabi said “this is a male dominated area especially literary writing, and with this book I need to empower more women to come out and explore their talents. Also the mindset of Arts being entertainment and leisure shall be erased and thus the Arts can be viewed as a profession where one can make a living out of”.

Ntshwabi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences majored in Psychology and Sociology from Vista University Welkom Campus in the Republic of South Africa, now known as Central University of Technology Free State. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education, Languages and Literature single major in Setswana from the University of Botswana. Apart from writing, Ntshwabi is a stage performer (poetess and actress), public and motivational speaker, a mentor, a gender advocate, a teacher and a visual artist.

“I encourage all to live Arts, preserve poetry both through writing as well as orally and pass it to the young generation and through this we can all nurture the Art industry,” concluded the author.

Copies of Poko Boswa, Poetry my heritage; Living the Arts can be purchased from Mothowamodimo publishers, Lindy Maretele(sub-editor), Book Centre and Kaysee Book Sellers.