At 20 years old, Lenah Mashiya has written her first anthology of poetry, My Journey in Black and White. After hearing her recite some her poetry at the SA Book Fair, we caught up with her about her life, her poetry and her inspiration.
How did you get into the world of poetry?
I was introduced to poetry during my primary school years. We were given an assignment that required us to write about an experience that frightened us. I enjoyed every moment of that assignment! We then had to recite the material in front of the entire grade and, for me, poetry soon became a regular way of dealing with the world and its circumstances.
Many people might say that, at only 20 years old, you’re quite young to be delving into poetry. Are you surprised by this opinion?
I am surprised by the stereotype, because poetry works so well for me. For me, poetry is an escape from the somewhat systematic world we live in, so I don’t think that there’s a specific age to be inspired by the use of words. I advise everyone to give it a try. A collection of rhyming words doesn’t make good poetry; it is the emotion that accompanies the words that makes good poetry.
What inspires you to keep writing?
I am inspired by the different phases in life that we go through, the way different people view life and the reasons behind it. Most of the poetry I’ve written is very personal because, as I mentioned earlier, I use poetry as an escape. It is a way of breaking free from the emotional state that certain situations can put you in. I can be very vulnerable, but I still feel like I could conquer the world with my words.
Where do you draw inspiration for your poems from?
I draw inspiration from everyone! I enjoy looking at the world from different perspectives. I watch people and their situations and I often use that as inspiration for my writing. I regularly wake up in the middle of the night with an idea of how to describe an incidence or an emotion and I make a note of it.
Your style of poetry is really accessible and relates to young women the world over – do you write with an audience in mind?
No, I usually don’t have an audience in mind when I produce my material. I often write what my heart feels. If I’m requested to write about a specific topic, then I do research, like watching videos closely related to that topic. I need to draw on real emotions that capture the rawness of a theme or idea. I hope that what I write will inspire or touch others. I think as women, we go through the same stages differently, and listening to other people deal with their problems creates ease, or provides reassurance, in our own lives.
Who are some of your favourite poets and some of your favourite poems?
My favourite poet, by far, is Maya Angelou. I know she’s such an obvious person to admire, but I fell in love with her work because she didn’t hiding behind the idea of a ‘perfect world’. I love the poem titled ‘ phenomenal woman’, it’s a reminder of how far women have come and that we need to start believing that we are all phenomenal. Other poets that I enjoy listening to are Jefferson Bethke, Janet Yks, and finally, Ezekiel Azonwu. All three embrace the works of God through their poetry, it is amazing.
Is writing poetry something you could pursue full time?
I couldn’t focus on poetry alone. I am one of those people who wants to experience many different things before I die. I think we are all talented in many ways, so my quest is to attempt to combine all my strengths to create something huge and extraordinary. I want to break away from the norms created by society, things like ‘if you’re creative, then you should only focus on the arts’ or ‘if you’re good with numbers and science, then that’s all you should devote your life to’. Life is a playground that we should all take advantage of, not irresponsibly of course, but I think we should all take calculated risks and enjoy being different.
You’ve done readings of your poetry. Do you think this is a better way to enjoy poetry; having it read to you instead of reading it yourself?
Yes, I think when poetry is recited by the person who wrote it, it means something different. It is just as good when you personalise it, but I enjoy being the audience to other poets, instead of reading their work to myself.
When you read your poems, you almost rap them. Is there a musical element to poetry reading in your opinion?
Yes, there is a musical aspect to it. The only difference between poetry and rapping is that rapping is poetry with a beat. However, I am not really interested in actually rapping my work because there is pressure that follows; when you rap and you create music, you have to remain ‘socially relevant’ and that is a big problem for me. I also don’t want people to get lost in the melody; I want people to listen to my words. There are different ways of holding listeners’ attention. I take pride in the way I present my work.
What can we expect from you next?
I have a couple of things going on at the moment. I am working on my next book. I was advised by my mentor, Dr Mbada, the founder of the Lerato Dancing Pencil Writing Club, to continue using the creative side of my brain to write novels. I am also working on what will hopefully be a big project called First Class Lady. It is an organisation that focuses on the encouragement and well-being of young girls and it is currently active at the Tshwane University of Technology. I don’t want it to be like other projects that blend into the rest of the world, or the kind that only focuses on underprivileged individuals. A big walkathon, in aid of First Class Lady, is scheduled to take place next year to celebrate women and to make it extra special, we’re inviting young men as well to enjoy a soulful ‘traditional South African Braai’ after the event. I have other business interests that will surface in due time, but I want to keep it a mystery for a little while.
To purchase Lenah’s book My Journey in Black and White(R150), contact her on Facebook by sending her an inbox message and she will arrange to have one sent to you. Her Facebook name is Lenah Redirile Nooi-Nooi Mashiya.
Click here to read some of Lenah’s poems.
