Vusumuzi Mpofu Our Newest Poetry Contributor

Back in September, I had the pleasure of competing in the Khayamandi Arts & Culture Festival (KACF) Poetry Slam. Hosted at the Amazink Restuarant in Khayamandi, Stellenbosch, I found myself competing against both English and Xhosa poets. Vusumuzi Mpofu was one of the English speaking poets.

Introduction to poetry

Born in Zimbabwe, and now living in Cape Town, South Africa, Vusumuzi found his passion for literature at school. At a talent show in 2014, Vusumuzi watched a fellow student perform a poem, and later heard one performed by Thandiswa Mazwai. Both encounters moved him towards picking up the pen for himself.Having recently completed his matric, Vusumuzi plans to further his education at Magnet Theatre studying Performing Arts.

Accomplishments and publications

Since his first encounter with poetry, Vusumuzi has gone on to join Cape Youth Poetry Hub for Expression and Rhythm (C.Y.P.H.E.R) under the Lingua Franca Movement. Vusumuzi is also a resident poet the REPETWAH collective. He is published in the English Alive Schools Anthology 2016 Collection, as well as the C.Y.P.H.E.R chapbook of 2016 “Imbewu Yesini”.

Vusumuzi’s dream...

In 2020, Vusumuzi hopes to publish his memoir which will be written in the form of poems. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I enjoyed watching him perform it live!Watch his performance of "My Family's Musical"! Share your thoughts in the comment section below :)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgypnnE3dEg