BARE - More Than Just The Blesser's Game

Jackie Phamotse held a book launch for her second book BARE - The Blesser's Game which I thought it would be interesting to attend. This is three months later after I have finished reading the book.

Usually one attends a book launch out of interest in the book while still deciding whether or not its worth the read. For me, I had finished it and I was interested in finding out what prompted Jackie to write the book and just how of Treasure's life which is the main character in the book.

The book launch was held at African Flavour bookstore in Braamfontein. This was my first ever book launch that I have ever attended in 2017. And I love how much Jackie put effort in ensuring that it’s not just a gathering of people who could potentially buy her book. When she stood up, to present Treasure’s story, she did more than just tell a story, she preached, for all women. The launch consisted of a panel discussion including the famous blessee Amanda Cele and Kenny Kunene alongside Serge the International Blesser who broke down the Blesser and Blessee phenomenal in SA for the audience.

From reading the book, I have to admit that ‘The Blesser’s Game’ isn’t what really drew me to read it even though it’s the one element that carries the story out. What stood out the most, and what Bare symbolises to me, is how women, over and over again, sacrifice everything and even themselves for a lifestyle they can’t maintain. For an apartment in Sandton, for some nice wheels and expensive shoes that are all short-lived.

And what angers me most about the book, is how men, over and over again, feel entitled to women because their wallets allow them to. This theme of: ‘Just because I can offer you the world, you then belong to me’. Some girls, like Treasure, get themselves in such situations, because sometimes the most dangerous thing to be, is a desperate dreamer and a beautiful girl in a world that hates you.

Too beautiful and attractive to men that you are too poor and naïve for you to not like back. Too beautiful and desperate to make it in life, to say no to a man with a few Rands, who has decided that the only way to help you is by sleeping with you. Even with that said, knowing how cruel men are, we need to be independent women now more than ever, who work extra hard at paving a way for their own dreams to prosper – it doesn’t guarantee that we will not suffer at the hands of powerful men who feel entitled to have us but atleast even then your success would be yours and disassociating yourself from them, wouldn’t mean losing yourself in the process.

At the launch, when Jackie stood up to speak, she did more than just talking, she preached, on behalf of women, the wishes she has for young woman and most importantly, about her dedication to women who ever find themselves in the mercy of men who don’t love them.

Bare isn’t just about the Blesser’s game, there is SO much to the book than exposing the blesser and blessee world for what it is. It is a plea, for women to love themselves, to choose themselves and pave their own path to success, for themselves because NO ONE can take that away from them.

Rumour has it that Jackie is already writing another book, I hope it’s the continuation of Treasure’s story, especially because of the way that Bare ends. I would love to read about Treasure taking her power back after her beloved lover strips her naked of everything at the end.