‘Tales Of The Rainbow’

There’s something about the title, ‘Tales of the Rainbow’, that is mysteriously gratifying. Does it possibly reflect on life after independence? Or does it reverberate over Namibia’s story after the storm that was once colonisation?

These are some of the questions that I mull as I read through this collection of poetry. Rainbows are normally associated with something good, liberating or genuine. And Julia Amukoshi does a fantastic job in bringing diverse aspects to the anthology – reality at its worst, love and mundanity, among others, while simultaneously using simplistic English to capture her readers.

She uses various rhythmic poetry styles, including size poetry where stanzas are rearranged with the intention of creating an impact, which is both visually exciting and effective.

The poems are rich in terms of relatedness and connectedness, but perhaps they could have been more intellectually stimulating – especially for those who love to think beyond the norm.

Readers are able to get a sense of her personality, which is proudly displayed on each page; her passion and compassion for her country, her appreciation for the people who have affected her life – ‘Letter To Heaven’, ‘To Soldiers In Combat’, ‘Letter To My Unknown Man’ and ‘Special Friend’; and her unequivocal appreciation of Christianity.

According to the well-written biography at the back of the book, Amukoshi was exposed to teachers of international calibre and the subject English made a huge difference in her life during her school career. As a former representative of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Poetry Festival, Amukoshi’s first ever collection in published form makes a lovely addition to the reading list.

“Life has lived longer and has existed before all of us. Our task is to learn from it, cherish it, let it thresh us during our threshing seasons, and let it stretch us to be the very best that we can be, with what we have, where we are, and with whom we are,” she writes.

Expect to see songs of praise, dedication to the fallen heroes of Namibia, and the use of nature to interpret the realities that infuse our modern-day life.

– ‘Tales of a Rainbow’ is available at The Book Den for N$120.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.