A Diepsloot-based poet, author and creative writer, Nthabiseng Maponya said growing up reading novels and poems at school triggered her love of poetry.
In February last year, the 25-year-old poet published a collection of 60 poems in her book The Discovery.
Maponya said she believed that poetry was her calling. “I started doing poetry at a very tender age when I was a mere 12 years old and the love for it grew enormously in time. My love for poetry and other creative writing was triggered by the kind of novels I used to read and my daily imaginations… I would write whatever it is that I’m imagining and express my thoughts.
“My calling in poetry also manifested itself whenever I would narrate about what transpired in my daily life and experiences. And to date I have written approximately 100 poems, with 60 of them published as a collection in my book called The Discovery. I have also written a novel and a number of plays for a local theatre. I’m inspired by people like Linnita Hosten, the founder of Excellence Brainery and author of The College Strategy and The Pursuit of Black Excellence For teens,” she said.
Maponya has a dream to open an art centre where disadvantaged young aspiring poets can nurture and polish their creative writing skills.
“My short term goal is to grow my brand and imprint my craft, and share my skills with those that aspire to become creative writers. My long-term goal is to establish an art house where all the mentioned skills will be learned professionally.”
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