KWANONQABA NEWS - A KwaNonqaba resident and aspiring poet, Unathi Mphikiswa-Goli, was recently crowned the winner in the isiXhosa category of the Avbob Poetry Competition.
Her winning poem, written in her home language, isiXhosa, was inspired by the death of her grandmother and the grief that followed.
“During that time, I missed her deeply, and the only thing that gave me comfort was the good memories she left me,” says Mphikiswa-Goli.
Her love of literature inspired her to enter the competition. “I wanted to showcase my writing skills and help preserve my language,” she says.
“Poetry, for me, is an outlet for my emotions, mostly the sad ones.”
Mphikiswa-Goli began writing poetry while still in high school. At the time, she admits, her poems focused mainly on ‘silly relationship heartbreaks’.
The recent Avbob Poetry Competition marks the first time Mphikiswa-Goli has won an award for her poetry. However, she came close the previous year when she placed second in the competition.
Here is Mphikiswa-Goli’s moving poem that secured her win:
“Iinkumbulo”
Kula malanga ndiphila engqondweni yam,
Apho iinkumbulo zeemini zethu zinkcenkceza okwamanzi omthombo.
Ziyigcina ibetha ngesingqi soxolo intliziyo yam,
Zibeka umcumo ebusweni bam.
Ndiphila nje ngenxa yenkumbulo esazenzayo,
Ezincasa okwencindi yobusi.
Ziluncuthu elalibonwe ngamazangwa,
Zilichiza kule ntliziyo yam yophukileyo.
Zinambithekisa obu bomi bam,
Obusele bukrakra okwencindi yekhala,
Eyachithekela kwesithebe sam,
Mhla kwafika ukufa kwandixutha wena.
Inkumbulo zethu ziyandiphilisa.
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