Ever since Lucy “Mpondokazi” Mbali began to understand the complexities of life, she has used poetry as the medium to preach her messages of hope to those in need.
Words, especially in the isiXhosa language, are the enablers she uses to uplift and encourage those who immerse themselves in her thought-provoking written artworks.
The 28-year-old’s poems caught the attention of the South African Traditional Music Awards (Satma) adjudicators, who shortlisted her for an accolade in their upcoming annual awards event.
Mbali, a BA Honours student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, who has been writing poetry and reciting some of her works at art festivals since 2016, landed a nomination in Satma’s “Best Indigenous Poet Artist and Group” category.
Ntombi Ya Motsonga, Nqobile Duma and Mudogwa are the other contenders in that category.
Other Satma award categories include; Best Traditional Music SABC Radio Presenter of the Year, Best African Jazz Artist/Group, Best Reggae Artist/Group and Best Praise Singer Artist/Group.
The Satma awards, presently in its 17th year of existence and has adopted the catchphrase of 'My Culture, Your Culture, One Nation’, is aimed at unifying ethnic and racial groups through traditional music and heritage.
Given the prestige associated with the awards, Mbali was excited when her nomination was confirmed on July 30 and is looking forward to the red carpet main event scheduled for October 1 in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
“Someone who is familiar with my work forwarded a motivation to the Satma organisers. I don't know who the person is.”
She recalled she was sleeping on the day the nominees were announced but received a Twitter screenshot from a friend.
“I was completely surprised.
“I regard this as one of my most outstanding achievements since I took up poetry in 2016,” said Mbali, who was born and raised in Bizana, Eastern Cape.”
Another high was when she received recognition at the Ulibo Poetry and Honors Awards earlier this year.
Ulibo Legacy Media, the organisers of the awards, recognised Mbali for her efforts in developing young artists and the life skills programmes she ran for Bizana youth.
Her high school teacher, Ms Makrwalana, caused her to fall “deeply in love” with the isiXhosa language.
“The manner in which she pronounced isiXhosa words inspired me.”
After completing her matric in 2014, she came to Durban the next year.
That’s after plans to enrol at the University of Zululand failed because she couldn’t afford the entrance fees.
She found part-time work in Durban and took on some short courses.
Her first poem was penned on April 4, 2016, and was inspired by the #Feesmustfall protest action.
“I saw a poster on a competition staged in Bizana. I entered and won the competition.”
The circumstances of young people triggered her desire to write poems.
“I decided I wanted to change their worldview through poetry. I was out of school and learning about the real world at the time.
I noticed young ladies lacked information and confidence due to the way we grew up. Men were abusing and killing women.
I wanted to provide encouragement through my poems, which have a Christian ethos.
I chose poems because I didn't like to debate.”
She explained that poems were something one had to think deeply about as they had various meanings.
“I describe my work as being motivational and sad at times. Poetry deals with the author first before others.
I only write in Xhosa. It's the language that I love and understand.”
But when she performs for an “English” audience, she does isiXhosa translations.
A NSFAS bursary enabled her studies at the UKZN in 2017, and she continued with her poetry and recitals.
Mbali rates the two occasions she performed for National Arts Festival audiences as outstanding occasions.
Once the Satma’s are over, Mbali has planned to launch her own album containing her poems that has been music of various genres infused into them.
“My next goal is to reach bigger audiences”
Mbali was confident about winning a Satma.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE