Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
MUTABARUKA
FOR THE past three weeks, poets have been seen and heard on CTV, the cable television arm of the Creative Productions Training Centre (CPTC), as the programme 'Lyrically Speaking' has been running on weekends.
Gary Neita, manager of programmes and production at CTV, said that 'Lyrically Speaking' forms part of a revolving four-hour block of programming which shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The fourth instalment of the 13-part series will be aired this weekend.
Each 30-minute programme is comprised of eight to 10 poets doing one poem each, and Neita said that some of the poets who have already gone are Sabriya Simon, Jean Wilson, Ras Rodd, DYCR, Roy Thomas and Sister Melva. Those to come include Cherry Natural, Gina Rey Forrest, Christine Neil-Wright and Jonah.
POWERFUL WORK
"It is some powerful work," Neita said. "Some were humorous, some thought-provoking. They pull your emotions left, right and centre. Some people stumbled, but it is not how you fall, it is how you get up."
All 13 episodes are hosted by Mutabaruka, for whom Neita has high praises. "Mutabaruka has dialogue with the audience during the programme and most of the time he does an item, mostly the closing item. He did an excellent job. The content is great, but the added element of Mutabaruka really gave it a lift. He cannot get enough credit," he said.
'Lyrically Speaking' was recorded some time ago and Neita gave some reasons for the delay in the programme reaching the screen. "One or two people, although they agreed to (do the programme), had second thoughts about being seen in the company of such stalwarts. We had to placate them and say your work stands on merit," he said. In addition, "Some we had to delete. Some were a little risqué and we consider ourselves a family channel."
Then there was a fire at CPTC which "really cramped our style. The material was still on the computers being worked on and most of that was a write-off. We had downloaded them into the computers and the graphics for the first shows had to match the remainder. We had to get back our graphic elements. It was a matter of going back to scratch or retrieving what was there. We finally managed to retrieve them, hence the delay."
LONG WAIT
Another factor for the long wait was that one of the island's two free-to-air television stations had been approached to carry 'Lyrically Speaking' and there had been a wait for a response. Eventually, Neita said, "we could not wait. If they are still interested it is up to them." He explained, however, that such a delay is not unusual, as "they look around for sponsorship. If they do not get a full complement of sponsors they may just need more to make it viable."
When the 13 episodes are finished, Neita says "we will be repeating it. It is good programming. We are very happy with it. If we move on to another set of poets we would love to work with Mutabaruka again, if he is available."
