ZandileMqadi: Poet-Zoe Maphala

Poet- Zoe Maphala stays in Johannesburg

Great poetry has the power to start a fire in a person's life. It can alter the way we see ourselves. It can change the way we see the world. You may never have read a poem in your life, and yet you can pick up a volume of Maya Angelou say, “Still I rise” and suddenly find yourself blown into a world full of awe, dread, wonder, marvel, deep sorrow, and joy- all at the same time.

Poetry at its best calls forth our deep being. It dares us to break free from the safe strategies of the cautious mind. It is a magical art, and always has been -- a making of language spells designed to open our eyes, open our doors and welcome us into a bigger world, one of possibilities we may never have dared to dream of.

This is why poetry can be dangerous as well as necessary. Because we may never be the same again after reading or hearing a poem that happens to speak to our own life directly. I know that when I meet my own life in a great poem, I feel opened, clarified, confirmed somehow in what I sensed was true but had no words for. Anything that can do this is surely necessary for the fullness of a human life.

Poetry reaches with its sounds and rhythms down below the realm of the conscious mind to awaken and nourish the imagination.

2. What prompted you to begin writing poetry?

What prompted me, started with a need to share the discoveries that I got from living a contemplative life. As a child I was an avid reader and would contemplate on all I devoured in books. It progressed to being fascinated by the beauty of words and their ability to describe certain experiences that one would generally struggle to share. Beyond a prompt, I can say it was a calling.

3. How does a poem begin for you, with an idea, a form or an image?

Strangely enough it begins with a desire to share a message. All the poems I have written erupt from a personal experience, good or bad. If I have had the pleasure of learning some great lesson or going through an exhilarating-life-changing experience, I pen it. I believe we have been put on earth to be of service to each other and what may seemingly be happening TO me might not be FOR me. We are vessels.

4. A lot of Work is in strict form. How do you choose to perform your poetry?

The secret lies being relevant and effective in my performances. I am a Slam Poet and that means I am an urban poet that conveys my poetry in contemporary jargon that all can understand. I see no wisdom in speaking in a “Shakespearean language” aka Sonnet that doth requireth for modern day mortals to translate the tongue instead of enjoying the art that comes with modern English. I do however enjoy all forms of poetry as the art lies in the form that the artist chose to write in i.e Japanese Haiku, Canto, Ballad Eclogue etc. However I am more drawn to Slam Poetry as it speaks directly to urban audience.

5. Are there any forms you haven't tried but would like to?

Most definitely, I was in what we call a ‘private School’ where I discovered and fell in love with English poetry. Now I am looking at reciting poetry in South African vernacular languages. This is to try and preserve our African languages and also share the diversity that South Africa has.

6. What conditions help with you writing process?

As an artist the conditions are never outside of me, they are in my mind. If there is a bubbling idea in my head, it does not matter whether I am in the middle of the red see, in a meeting or climbing a mountain, I just utilise that moment to pen. I once wrote a poem entitled, “Sleep Thief of a Poem”. This poem started in my dream and woke me up at 2am, as soon as I was up, I penned it. The other poem was born on a napkin at a restaurant. If there is a message to be shared, it defies all circumstance and bursts out of me.

7. Where do you write?

Instagram my work is on @Poetic_Purpose, however
I perform a lot of my poetry and blog minimally. I enjoy the performing at weddings, conventions, corporate events, Schools, Poetry sessions, awards and my most memorable one was at the State of the Province address by our Prime Minister Mr. David Makhura. I am currently working on my book and CD and anticipating the day I share the anthology.

8. What do you see as the role of humour in Poetry?

I have a great sense of humour and I especially enjoy poetry that has satire. Poetry must share all aspects of the poet in their work and if humour is one of them, then you will stay winning with me.

9. Where can readers find you?

Tumblr: tumblr.com/ZoeKunoichi

Facebook: Zoe Kunoichi Maphala

Twitter: @ZoeKunoichi

Instagram: @Poetic_Purpose @ZoeKunoichi