After a seven-year stay in Malawi, local poet Yahaya Ali has returned home with published works in The Time Traveller of Maravi a collection of poems by Sambalikagwa Mvona and Hoffman Aipira.
Ali said he has returned home to market his works for the country to recognise his talent. The poet said he felt that establishing his works in Zimbabwe would help him achieve his goals.
In his poems, Poverty and Mandela which he claims to “hold dear”, he describes his personal life experiences as well as of those around him.
He expresses his adoration for freedom fighter and former South Africa president Nelson Mandela.
“My experiences inspire me and Mandela is one of my inspirations because through him I learnt to never lose hope. You do not have to give up on your dream,” Ali said.
On his thoughts on the Mandela week currently being marked in South Africa, Ali found it only befitting to dedicate his works to him.
“Each year is like a blessing. It is almost like compensation for the years he spent in prison fighting for peace,” Ali said. Ali described poetry as all-rounded and said it was targeted for all genders and for anyone willing to read.
He said: “My teachers prompted me (to write poetry) in primary school and since then I have not looked back.”
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Ali said he was now concentrating on selling his works and writing various articles for publication later.
