Quaz | February 7th, 2019 | poet profile | No Comments
Muriel Mokgathi-Mvubu known as MoAfrika ‘a Mokgathi is a Mamelodi born, South African based multifaceted artist. She is a Writer, Poet, Performer, theatre Actress, translator, cultural activist, teaching artist, Arts codes adjudicator, Bandleader, Curator, award-winning Radio Presenter/Producer (Unisa Radio) and a serial civic leader amongst many in her talent hat.
MoAfrika started her artistic journey in 1999, professionally in 2005. Her uncle GoMoMo (Godfrey Modiba Mokgathi) and grandfather Ngwaoko Mokgathi played an indispensable role in her style of writing, using code-mixing and code-switching of English and Sepedi, which has become her signature style.
20 Years later in 2019 her fusion of poetry and music, Jazz / soul and Kiba vocals and rhymes has ushered her to headline an impressive list of literary events and festivals in South Africa, China and Sweden, including the FIFA World cup build up gala dinner in Beijing (2008), Indigenous Music Festival (2010) ,Night of the poets (2013/2015) ,Melville Poetry festival (2012), Vavasati international women festival(2013/2015/2018), Polokwane Literary fair (2015/2018), Constitutional Hill Human Rights Festival (2018) Naked word Festival (2018) and the Ordsprak International Poetry festival Sweden (2018).
Some of her works have been featured on community and online publications, national sub Saharan Radio stations like SAFM, Kaya FM, Ubuntu Radio and Channel Afrika and Tv shows like and Trendz (Dstv channel 404). Recordings include Tribe Soul’s EP (2011), (Ndosa Kusa) Nduduzo Makhathini’s album sketches of tomorrow (2014), Gabi Motuba’s Tefiti Goddess of creation (2018).
MoAfrika is a Co-founder of Hear My Voice an NGO that uses poetry as catalyst to address social issues (Uncensored). She seats on the Airco (Association of independent Record Companies) as a non-executive and board member advocating for indies in the country. She is a director of (Jazz Camp for Female Instrumentalist) JCFI-Mamelodi, teaching young women to read and write music, Poetry, Drama, Dance and fine arts the show business.
MoAfrika is currently working on both her Poetry and short stories book
“My tongue is a rainbow” and a music and poetry album “From Mamelodi to Mali “.
NB: To be
referred to as MoAfrika ‘a Mokgathi
in all Media/Marketing material
