A few years ago, Mpho Mavhungu had her grandmother as her only audience to listen to her poetry recitals. Today, her audience is growing steadily as she makes her way up in this industry.
The 28-year-old woman from Tshisahulu Siawoadza, outside Thohoyandou, who is a Grade 12 learner at Lwamondo High School, says she used to spend all her free time composing and reciting her poems to her grandmother, Ms Lutendo Suzan Mavhungu, who also became her mentor and motivator.
So far, she has composed more than 10 poems, including Muvenda, Zwivhuya Zwanga and Surviving a Difficult Life. Most of them are written in Tshivenda and are about love, sexual abuse and memories.
On 24 September this year, she got her big break when she was invited to perform before hundreds of people who attended a heritage festival, hosted by Thavhani Mall in the mall's parking lot. Wearing her trademark traditional shedo, she left her audience begging for more. "My plans and dreams are starting to come true. I felt very inspired after the performance, and I am looking forward to big poetry festivals where I will be billed with the big names in the industry," she said.
Mavhungu's splendid performance at the festival also opened other doors for her as Phalaphala FM booked her for an interview, where she got to recite more of her poems on air. "I have my grandmother to thank for everything I have achieved thus far. She is my Tshivenda lecturer and taught me the Vhavenda culture. The shedo I wear at recitals was also inspired by her. She encouraged me to wear it and be proud of it. I am not bothered by the stares I get from some people, and I encourage the youth to wear it too as it is an important part of our culture," she said.
Only one thing she still desperately wants, and that is to get her poems published. "I would like a published poet and publisher to take me under his or her wing and mentor me. My dream is to get my poems published, but I lack the finances to do it. I'm hoping that someone out there can lend me a helping hand," Mavhungu said.
Anyone who might be able to help Mavhungu get her book of poems published can contact her on 066 599 4334.