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Musawenkosi Moyo
RENOWNED Victoria Falls-based poet Obert Dube is leveraging his influence, showing that he is more than a poet by giving back to the community.
He has donated stationery, including books, pens, pencils, and sanitary pads for girls, to schools across the country. Dube became largely popular in 2020 after composing a poem titled “Africa” for Africa Day.
Despite the numerous awards he has won from across the continent, the artist still looks back at the community that he said supported him and made him who he is today.
“Who I am today is thanks to the people in the community who have always supported me. By doing this, I am giving back to them and showing my appreciation,” said Dube.
Dube said that he was inspired to do social causes because of his childhood, where he grew up orphaned and in a poor family in the rural areas. He said he understands the struggles that children from poor families go through.
“I do these things because, just like these children, I grew up in a poor family. I was once a school dropout because of lack of fees and stationery. I know how painful it is to go to school without a uniform, fees, or stationery and watch other children write. I know the pain of being at home watching others go to school and understand the pain of being looked down upon by your peers and community for being a school dropout,” he said.
Dube said he started donating stationery and sanitary pads after the Covid-19 pandemic. He has visited schools across Matabeleland and Midlands, including Chidobe Primary and Secondary Schools, Chisuma Primary School, Sizinda, Mlamuli, and Lupane Secondary Schools, among many others.
“I started paying fees for orphaned and vulnerable children when I started doing commercial poetry, which was around 2017. This year alone, I have paid fees for 137 children,” he said.
He said by doing this, he hopes to achieve zero school dropouts and calls on other artists to give back to the community.
“Giving back to the community is a collective responsibility where everyone should partake and expect nothing in return,” he said.
Online Reporter