Publisher's Synopsis
"In Bra Frooks ... Asvat uses witty, humorous, sarcastic and satiric language to expose the contradictions, emotional terrains and tensions in both Apartheid and post-Apartheid South Africa. He uses the lingo, voice and logic of the man and woman in the street to expose the absurdity of political repression and social control and the mediocrity and hypocrisy of political and religious dogmatism. The tenacity and resilience of people in the face of repression and suppression is exhibited by their ability to see the humorous side of every situation, laughing at the short-sightedness of their oppressors as well as having a good laugh at themselves. This playfulness and wittiness of slang language comes in handy, especially where Asvat uses narrative, monologue, dialogue/dramatic techniques ..." Mphutlane Wa Bofelo, Bluesology And Bofelosophy Yes, Farouk Asvat is back, with a brand new collection of old and new slang poems in broken afrikaans, tsotsi taal, kaapse skollie, and durbanite tunes. All the original poems in streetwise lingo, including some new ones, have now been collected into one anthology: Bra Frooks ...All Farouk Asvat's English poems, including translations of the slang and Afrikaans poems into English by the poet himself, are now available on amazon kindle in the following anthologies: The Time Of Our Lives A Celebration Of Flames The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs_______________________________________ja, farouk asvat is terug, met 'n brand new bundel van ou en nuwe sleng poësie in tsotsitaal, kaapse kombuis, en ook 'n paar verse in broken afrikaans, met bekende gedigtes soos: Die Kamma-Intellectuals A Poor Man's Prayer King Of The Guerillas Bra Frooks En Die John Vorster Span Ou China En Die Amper-Intellectual Fietas (reprise)maar nou tune hy ook soos 'n durbanite in nuwe gedigtes soos: Over The Wall An' All en Hoe Ko' Ek By Die Hel?en brand new gedigtes soos: Sauvignon, Blanc, Sir? en I'm Suffering!"... swart Afrikaanse digters van die tagtigs - onthou iemand nog vir Farouk Asvat ... ?" PIERRE de VOS, LitNet SêNet (webvoet @litnet.co.za)"Maa' Die Manne Waver Nog: Jonger Swart Afrikaanse Skrywers;" HEIN WILLEMSE, Race and Literature []"The wide tonal range extends from sensual and delicate insights into the nature of passion to the satiric and humorous use of slang."[] citation"Farouk Asvat ... writes about love and suffering, about individualism, snobbishness, pretence and pride, about human and environmental beauty and about opposing oppression, and who deploys metaphysical, lyrical and colloquial language, slang and standard diction, all with equal strength and ease." Cosmo Pieterse, Culture In Another South Africa"Since he has been in the line of fire as both a victim of Apartheid and as a political voice in the struggle for liberation, his evocation of the contemporary South African battlefield and his testimony of the humiliation, isolation, deprivation, degradation and murder, the collective weapons of Apartheid, are chillingly authentic." Herbert Steyn, English Olympiad, King Edward VII School."The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: ... like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time, and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless." Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog "... one of the most prolific - and controversial - South African poets " Jon Qwelane, editor Sunday Star"It bears testimony to the resilience and courage of the oppressed in South Africa ... His poetry is devastatingly forthright and hard-hitting." Tyrone August, The Star"Asvat's poems ... with many depths, clever twists and juxtapositions, are exciting, true, and thought-provoking." Wendy Vogt & Alan James, Upstream
