Juby Peacock, former Miss Botswana, is set to launch her highly anticipated anthology of poems titled Chronicles of a Peacock on October 4th in Gaborone.
The collection, which has been a decade in the making, is an intimate and heartfelt journey through themes of love, identity, belonging, Pan Africanism, and personal growth.
In a recent interview, Peacock described her anthology as a labor of love, explaining that her goal is to inspire healing and restoration in others. “This anthology is a culmination of my poetic journey so far, and I’ve grown in some aspects,” she said. “I’ve pushed myself to delve into themes of love and marriage, as well as Pan Africanism, which have been hard to express but necessary to explore the truth.”
Chronicles of a Peacock features 50 poems, many of which span her artistic evolution over the past ten years. The anthology also includes a pictorial depiction of Peacock’s life, offering readers a rare glimpse into her personal and creative experiences. From her days as Miss Botswana in 2004, where she represented the nation in China to her time with Poetavango, a local poetry collective, Peacock’s journey is vividly captured in both words and images.
Peacock revealed that one of her most personal poems, Home, dedicated to her mother, was the easiest to write. “It poured out easily because I was sharing a story about someone who I’ve always admired and been close to,” she said. In contrast, poems about love, marriage, and Pan Africanism posed greater challenges. She reflected on her struggle to reconcile her religious beliefs with not being married yet, ultimately finding solace in connecting the themes to her relationship with God.
One of her more poignant pieces, I Am Coming Home, delves into the struggles faced by Zimbabweans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Peacock expressed the pain of feeling helpless during that period, but she remains hopeful for the country’s future.
The anthology also touches on her early beginnings in poetry, crediting her late uncle as the one who introduced her to the art form. Peacock shared how she discovered her voice after performing regularly around 2010, while actively working in social work and growing as an activist.
The official launch of Chronicles of a Peacock will take place at Stanbic Acceler8 in Gaborone, with tickets priced at P150 and the anthology available for purchase at P350.
Peacock extended an open invitation to the public, saying, “Everyone is invited, and I’m excited to share this journey with you all.”
Peacock also hinted at a follow-up event in Maun later in the year and teased upcoming creative projects. “I promise there’s more on the horizon that people will love,” she said, encouraging fans to follow her on social media for future announcements.
As she prepares for the launch, Peacock emphasized her hope that her creative endevours as a whole will help others find healing and restoration. “There’s a lot of bad in the world, but through art, I’ve found healing myself, and I want to share that with the world,” she concluded.
The anthology promises to offer a rich, introspective look into Peacock’s artistic soul. With the dates set, the former queen ready for the launch next month.
