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Poetry Tuesday with Siyabonga Gqobhoz’Imbawula Ngcai

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Siyabonga Gqoboz
Siyabonga Gqoboz

The PE Opera House Poetry Tuesdays are returning this month with a profile of Siyabonga Ngcai, better known as Gqobhoz’imbawula, who is an ambitious poet, story teller, song writer, performing artist, culture and language activist, and an Architectural Technologist by profession. Siyabonga was born and raised in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. Growing up he was drawn to fine arts, Traditional and Pantsula dancing, and later found himself attached to writing short stories and poems.

Gqobhoz’imbawula writes and performs his poetry in isiXhosa, addressing matters concerning physical and emotional abuse against women and children, African history, traditional and cultural backgrounds, and other pertinent stories involving people in our communities. He has shared his craft in countless events, poetry festivals and musical sessions along with national and international artists, such as England’s Lemn Sissay, Luka Lesson from Australia, Lebo Mashile from South Africa, Botswana’s TJ Dema, “Bra Willie” Keorapetse William Kgositsile (South Africa), Liyou Libseka from Ethopia, to name but a few.

Gqobhoz’imbawula has also represented the Eastern Cape in a Word’N’Sound Poetry and Live Music Series slam competition called Slam for Your Life in Grahamstown in 2014. He has also contributed his song entitled Ingoma from his album Ukholo lwemveli to the Current State of Poetry, SADC Love Poetry Mixtape which features amazing poets from different regions across the African continent. The mixtape was released on the 14th of February 2015 online for downloads on Bozza.mobi.

He will be performing at the PE Opera House on Tuesday 06 June at 18:00, entry is free.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.