When he’s not working hard on his studies or serving in his duties as the school’s President of the RCL, Emshukantambo Secondary grade 12 learner, Sifiso Mdluli is letting his poetry tell the story.
Mdluli found a unity passion in poetry while in Grade 8. these days The 19-year-old uses a mix of wordplay and rhyme to express his identity. Sifiso da poet, as he is commonly now started poetry while in poetry.
“It started from a classwork,” he recalled.
“We were learning about poetry. When I read some poems I realised I enjoyed them and could write some for myself. I presented the poem in class, people loved it and from there I saw that there many of us who enjoyed poetry. We got together and just started supporting one another.”
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Through his poetry, Sfiso said he has found a way to express his identity- he recites his poems in his native isiZulu language.
“We are unfortunately part of a generation that is losing its own culture so it was important for me to stick to my identity. Everyone who hears my poems immediately knows who I am – that I am Zulu and that I know my culture,” he said.
On the type of poems he writes, Mdluli said he uses a mixture of personal experience and fiction, with a primary focus on building the youth.
“In all my powers I speak to the youth – people my age, younger than me or slightly older,” he said.
“Sometimes a poem is from a personal experience and sometimes it is from.”
Despite his passion though, Mdluli admitted that forging a career in poetry is far easier said than done.
“Since I’ve started, one of the lessons I’ve learned is that it’s far harder to be successful through poetry than it looks. The industry isn’t easy – you aren’t as popular as a rapper or TV star. I think it’s important you do it (poetry) for the right reasons, not for fame. You have to know that you simply can’t please everyone,” he said.
Sfiso has taken a bit of a break on poetry this year as he focuses on acing his matric.
“You always have to aim high. Eventually, I want to be an international Zulu poet, going around the world and telling our stories through poetry. I’ve received a lot of support from family and friends,” he concluded.
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