POETRY has long existed both in the Western and Global South as a form of entertainment, education, awareness and sometimes even revolution.
Centuries later, wordsmiths are still honing their craft and sharing it with the world, but it’s not all of them who get the opportunity and exposure to the masses.
NewsDay Weekender Life & Style tracked down Matebeleland’s Sisifiso Sibanda, popularly known as “Fifie”, who is steadily emerging from the sidelines as one to pay attention to.
The 30-year-old says she fell in love with the stage back in high school when she was in Form 1.
“I began in form one at Sizane High School but I got sick for some time, and when I continued with my education, I transferred to George Silundika High School, where I joined public speaking and the drama club,” she said.
“After that, I attempted to pursue it full time as a career and tried to market myself, but it was difficult. I was 19 and not long after, I had a newborn.
“So what I would do was that I would take advantage of church gatherings and start chanting some poems so that I could gain confidence and get familiar with the stage and the crowds watching.”
Sibanda said she now performs at weddings, graduation parties, corporate events and so on.
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“I noticed that when I am at a wedding, that’s where I get most of my clients. People fall in love with my work as they sit in the audience and then they tell each other about me and they get in touch,” Sibanda said.
“Gigs breed more gigs, for example, I gave a performance in Famona at a widows’ memorial event for her late husband, and she happened to be related to the late rapper Cal_Vin’s mom.
“So Cal_Vin’s mom hired me to perform at his tombstone unveiling. That was one the biggest events where I got to share the stage with most Bulawayo artists. It was truly memorable and of sentimental value to me.”
Sibanda said it was at the same event where the late radio presenter Babongile Sikhonjwa spotted her and called her up on stage, shining the spotlight on her.
“He even invited me to the studio for an interview, but unfortunately, he passed away suddenly.
“Now I have role models that I look up to and even befriended on Facebook, including Gilbert Dube and Sithandazile Dube.
“I absolutely love their work and it inspires me to push harder.”
She lamented lack of support, however, from the local audience.
“As the Bible says, a prophet has no honour in his town. That is the biggest challenge that the people of Matabeleland do not support each other.
“In fact, one of my mentors told me that poetry has no money on this side because a person will ask you why they need a poet at their wedding when they already have an MC.
“Moreover, we have close relatives like uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings.
“If they are getting married and ask you to perform for free at their wedding, you cannot refuse.
“It’s culturally expected that you take part in the festivities as filmy. I appreciate that things are starting to look up. Although December has been quiet, April and August were good months.”
Fifie is not your usual African praise name poet, she stands out.
“My craft is unique in the
sense that it is based on the Christian faith.
“I preach the name of Jesus Christ in my poems; I evangelise the word of God whereas usually my fellow colleagues tend to have an African traditional or cultural theme.”
