Give Penny a word, she gives you a poem

Her love for writing has taken her far, and now Penny Ngwenya (30) can possibly land herself an award. She is better known as Penny Thabile Lacoste and is one of the finalists for the Sunrise Women Awards to take place in Nelspruit on Saturday, August 27.

“I am really hoping I can bring home the gold and I am so excited to be nominated for these awards. I was nominated by a member of the public and had to send a short biography of myself. I then learnt that I was a finalist, which was rather shocking but I am really blessed to have this opportunity,” Penny said.

From being a radio DJ to an actress, poetry captured her heart and soul and besides her children, this is what she lives for.

“I love performing and dancing, and being on radio was a much bigger platform for me. I did the breakfast show on eMalahleni FM since they started until 2014. I have found a nine to five job, it provides for me and my children, as I am a single mom. But literature will always be my ‘first love’,” she added.

Born in Nhlazatshe, she came to spread her wings here in eMalahleni and atteneded Greendale High School.

“My one teacher really pushed me a lot. She helped me in the right direction and made me fall more in love with poetry and literature. The love and passion just grew. While studying Financial Information Studies at the University of Johannesburg, I did drama part time and attended classes. This is where I met many poets and scriptwriters whose influence on my life is just unexplainable,” Penny added with pride.

Penny Thabile Lacoste (30) is a young poet who is looking forward to making a big name for herself.

She said that she would love to perform around the world, to get her work known and ‘out there’, but she is not about to give up anytime soon.

“I think I fell in love with poetry because it can express your feelings at that specific moment. There are no comments from anyone about your thoughts and you can have an open mind while writing. No rules to abide by and no one telling you that your writing is wrong,” she explained.

She also writes for people who approach her, she has written for Women’s Day, Valentines Day as well as World AIDS Day.

“Sometimes you can put pieces of poetry together to make a single piece, other times it is not that simple. I also want to write a book to leave a legacy behind for everyone who knew me, as well as for my children,” Penny further stated.

Not only has she written numerous poems, but she also wrote a song and released a single ‘Proud Women.’

“I like performing and I am a performing poet. I don’t write and hide, I write and recite,” were her words.

Penny added that she used to do contemporary dance and that she started her poetry in high school, but she really started blossoming in university.

She has also done performances with a lot of local poets like Mastermind, Black Rose, Princess Jah Lady, to only name a few. She recently did a collaboration performance of female poets at a local venue, organised by DJ Punky, celebrating women across all races.

“I am more passionate about writing and focusing on factors that affect the new generation and how we view things in this day and age. As well as the challenges we come across, especially females, through these testing times. I believe that poetry is one amongst other forms or ways to expand our process of thinking, knowledge and grooming each other in terms of motivation, confidence and believing in oneself and the ability to be creative as a person,” were her last words.