HAKAHANA 9789991642420

hakahana
100,00 NAD each

HAKAHANA

A poetry collection by Hugh Ellis

ISBN 9789991642420

University of Namibia Press Edition 2018

*First published by Wordweaver Publishers in 2012

Hugh Ellis presents a varied collection of poetry in English (and occasionally other Namibian languages) relating to the themes of southern African life, including politics, feminism, the struggle against racism, creativity, belonging and identity, and new beginnings. The poems take inspiration from early-to-mid 20th century poets like W.H. Auden, Dylan Thomas and Langston Hughes, as well as South African 'struggle' poets such as Mongane Wally Serote, and 'Afrofuturist' novelists like Octavia Butler.

Hugh Ellis obtained a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and an MA in journalism from Rhodes University. He worked as a journalist before taking up a post as lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. He began writing poetry and performing at Spoken Word events in 1998, during his second year at university.

‘The poems overall demonstrate a cleverness with language and especially rhyme and metaphor, and the reader is left paging forward to see what subtle twisting of language the poet will next employ to make his point. The collection as a whole is very easily readable, as well as thought provoking.’
Alexander Brewis,
Lecturer, Namibia University of Technology

‘Heart wrenching and hopeful at the same time, Hakahana is a collection to take along a journey, to read at home on a lazy Sunday, or any other place, at any other time.’
Sheena Magenya, Gender activist