From poets like Ingoapele Madingoane, Nontsizi Mgqwetho, Don Materra, Lefifi Tladi and countless others, poetry was the potent weapon that exposed, questioned, decried, denounced and resisted oppression.
At the 2012 Joi Book Fair we had the opportunity to reflect on how our poetry now in the 21st century still has a role to play in protest. The discussion was between poets Mandi Poefficient Vundla and Prince Shapiro Tyalimpi.
Queen of the Word N Sound Open Mic (2012)
Mandi is a writer, poet, dreamer and an ambitious fierce brave woman who will fight for everything she believes in. She began writing poems plays and has since never looked back. Mandi’s commitment to poetry has seen her share a performance platform with Myesha Jenkins, Natalia Molebatsi, Lebo Mashile, Phillippa Yaa De Villiers, Napo Masheane, Afurakan, Kabomo, Likwid tongue, Antonio David Lyons,Tumelo Khoza, has performed with Pops Mohamed and has opened for Canadian poet Ian Kamau.
Her larger than life attitude propels her in all that she is, all that she does and everywhere she goes. (bio from the Word N Sound website)
author of “Am I Not Black Enough”
Born Zolani Tyalimpi, in Jo’burg City, Prince Shapiro grew up in the Eastern Cape, where he learned poetry from his grandmother. An instrumentalist and lyrist, his performances have been screened on SABC TV and M-net. He writes and recites verse mainly in Xhosa. His poetry appears in the documentary called debt of dictators. He performed for festivals such as Arts Alive, Revel-in, Rustles Valley, Playtimes and many more. He is a member of Sounds of Edutainment and a radio presenter at Alex FM.