“I began to write out of a sense of wonder about life, a tremendously vivid response to being alive.” – Nadine Gordimer

The words of Nadine Gordimer resonate deeply with my practice. I write to immerse myself in life, to archive, document, and dream of black women lineages. This wonder about life propels my writing. I believe literature can awaken us, contributing to the ongoing work of rebuilding and reimagining a better society. Writing is my contribution to this essential project.

 My work spans across various genres, with poetry as my entry point into literature. I published my debut collection, "Surviving Loss" (Impepho Press, 2018), while studying for my BA in Creative Writing at the University of South Africa. This collection was later adapted into a theatre production at the South African State Theatre's incubator program.

I write and perform my work, drawing on my background as a trained performer. My poems are vivid and musical, shaped by voice and performance. The stage allows me to place my thoughts in a narrative, making my poems an extension of a script. On the page, the voice guides pauses, line cuts, and stanzas, shaping the poem based on how it feels and sounds on my body.

I have developed and performed other productions, including Rusty Knife (2018) and A Body Makes Fire (2022). My practice is rooted in community and manifests through collaborations across various art disciplines. These include a short film with UK-based filmmaker Jane Cheadle, a song composition by Dutch musician Corrie Van Binsberge, a performance piece by South African actor Mosie Momaregane, and a dance production choreographed by Victoria Lefler for The Infinite Dream festival at the University of Iowa. I have shared my work both in South Africa and internationally, in numerous countries including eSwatini, Sweden, United States of America, Nigeria, Lesotho, Australia, Mozambique, and the Netherlands.

I write from a black-queer-feminist perspective, driven by resistance, protest, and a need to heal myself and my audience. My work documents beauty and joy amidst survival. Writing has been my refuge from domestic abuse and violence, offering me a space to escape and articulate my experiences. It has shaped my life and provided a safe haven. My curiosity about freedom, peace, and healing drives me to explore language and its possibilities, envisioning multiple futures.

Through my organization, Lwazilubanzi Project (meaning "knowledge is abundance" in isiZulu), we lead creative writing workshops in public schools in townships and rural areas. I encourage my students to explore and discover their own approaches to poetry. I’ve taught in schools, prisons, children’s orphanages, and churches. In 2023, I joined the SprinNG Writing Fellowship as an online mentor to young poets in South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana. I am passionate about creating spaces that nurture creativity.

Writing, for me, isn't solely a craft; it's a means of empowerment. It has granted me sanctuary, a space where my voice resonates, where healing begins, and where diverse narratives converge to celebrate the essence of our humanity.