Popular poet Xolile ‘Zion’ Vilakazi recently hosted the second annual Poems SHE Wrote event in Ladysmith, attracting women and the youth seeking opportunities in the arts sector.
Vilakazi, a Durban University of Technology DUT) alumna, graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Library and Information Studies (LIS) in 2022. She holds a National Diploma in LIS as well. The Poems SHE Wrote event is under the Poems SHE Wrote Poetry Development, a non-profit organisation promoting creativity, prioritising female creatives, their stories, and their voice.
“We celebrate female creatives’ voices. We give women an opportunity to be listened to and for them to make a living from their craft. Having a female-dominated line-up means that women can tell their own stories without any distortions,” she said.
Vilakazi further explained that there is a need to increase women representation in the arts sector.
“We collaborate and include men but we keep women as the majority creatives. This is a contribution to the much-needed bridging of the gender gap in the arts,” she expanded.
Vilakazi said choosing to host the event in her hometown-Ladysmith-was a recognition of the rich artistic talent in the area. The town is also home to multiple-Grammy award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
“It is a pity that not many platforms are available in Ladysmith to showcase the rich talent that exists. That’s why artists born and bred in the town end up moving to cities where they hope to ‘make it big’.
“Poems SHE Wrote was conceptualised in Durban but I decided to move its base to Ladysmith to involve the community there. Ladysmith youth yearns for such platforms,” she explained.
Vilakazi said Poems SHE Wrote had impressive social impact. The organisation was intentional about employing women, especially mothers, and the youth for majority of the tasks during the event. Although the event was only hosted once a year, it warms her heart knowing there are people who earn some money when it is taking place.
“Performing arts creates employment, not only for artists. Media production people and other service providers are sub-contracted as well. We prefer to work with small-scale service providers with the hope to grow with them in the arts business,” explained Vilakazi.
“I work with people I was with at DUT as well. They provide various services. It is important to mention that the university contributed greatly by providing a space (venue) for poets to occupy for poetry sessions. This is the DUT pour-a-tree society, which I was also part of from 2009. The DUT pour-a-tree society is where I learnt to work with other artists, coordinate poetry events as well as host them,” said Vilakazi.Apart from hosting the event annually, Vilakazi says the organisation creates a space of mentorship for up and coming creatives to learn about the entertainment industry and its complexities.
“We have seen artists die every year leaving behind nothing for the young artists. Here, I share what I have learnt in poetry as a small industry and help those who come after me to do better in it, as well as help them avoid mistakes that might derail them in their poetry journey,” she said.
The event was sponsored by the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture under a programme called Mzansi Golden Economy.
Photography: Tshayile Media
Sphelele Ngubane
