MULTI-AWARD-WINNING poet Obert Dube has bemoaned the gap and imbalance between poetry and other disciplines alleging that arts promoters and events organisers take poetry lightly — like a hobby.
“Poetry has been taken like a hobby, not a professional talent and event organisers as well as promoters do not engage poets to perform at most functions and events where artistes will also be performing,” he told NewsDay Life & Style.
“Whenever there is a gala, you rarely see a poet, if there is, there will be only one, but 10 musical bands. Even when poets alone organise events people don’t attend. Poetry is appreciated, but not respected.”
The Victoria Falls-based poet, who has been into poetry for a decade, said poetry remained the voice of the voiceless and a promoter of culture despite being taken lightly.
Dube is basking in the glory after bagging two South African awards. He was honoured as the Best Poet and Best Male Artist at the Amaqhawanentaba FM Music awards held at Victory Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“It is an honour that my work is being recognised, it gives me energy to do more,” he noted.
Dube recorded his first poetry album Uhambo lwami (My Journey) in 2014 which won the Outstanding Poet Award at National Arts Merit Award in 2015.
He has also recorded other poetry albums including Half Time, Iqiniso, Ngile Stress and Mental Therapy, among others.
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Among the awards under his belt are Outstanding Poet at Roil Bulawayo Arts, Outstanding Africa Poet at Amaqhawanentaba Music FM Awards and Outstanding Africa Poet Award at United Africa for Economic Empowerment, among others.
Dube has travelled and performed his poems in countries like Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini and Zambia.
