Influential struggle poet Mzwakhe Mbuli honoured with lifetime achievement award

Also known as the ‘People’s Poet’, Mbuli received an award from KaMavuso Verse Entertainment on Saturday for three decades of tireless work as struggle fighter, entertainer, and poet.

Also a renowned mbaqanga singer, Mbuli was born in Sophiatown in 1958 but forced to relocate to Soweto when the apartheid government destroyed this town so as to relocate the black population under Group Areas Act.

“I’m so thankful and my heart is filled with joy today,” Mbuli said as he accepted his award, according to the Daily Sun.

“Little did I know that I was such an example and inspiration to so many people. I don’t have enough words to thank the people who planned this. I’m so humbled.

“When my house in Soweto was bombed by the apartheid government and I was beaten up and sent to prison I felt weak, but former president Nelson Mandela wrote me a very encouraging letter saying I should continue writing educational poems.”

Mbuli at the event also read his well-known poems ‘People Choose’, ‘Voice of Reason’, and ‘Ukufa Akufi’, with fellow poet Bongani Mavuso singing his praises, saying: “Mbuli is a hero, especially to poets. We salute him for paving the way. We grew up listening to his poems and saw it as important to thank him while he’s alive.”

– TEAMtalk Media