Moyoxide awakened by SA trip

Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday Life Correspondent

AWARD-WINNING poet Desire “Moyoxide” Moyo who recently graced the 60th birthday celebrations of South Africa’s renowned poet Mzwakhe Mbuli has said it was an awakening call to his career.

Having been in the game for two decades now, the self-proclaimed freedom poet managed to clinch his first award in his poet career at the 2019 RoilBAA awards in the Outstanding Spoken Award category.

For one to be successful they have to first believe in themselves, have faith in their abilities and without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.

Being in the company of South Africa’s celebrities was not only a blessing but an arousal to that he needs to up his game. Moyoxide, who had the chance to mingle with different arts practitioners of the neighbouring country like musician Mshoza and actor Masoja Msizi popularly known for his Uzalo soapie character as Nkunzi, says he feels its time he taps the regional market.

“I learnt a lot during my trip to South Africa recently where I saw how as artistes we can influence our followers to like our work without hesitation.

The arts industry in the neighbouring country is intact; from sculpture artistes to musicians and actors they have a way of interacting with each other time and again to ensure that all sectors are fruitful in their activities. It is my wish to see our industry follow suit,” says Moyoxide.

As a Zimbabwean representative to the event, Moyoxide left the crowd wooing for more after receiving a standing ovation with his poem which was a comparison of the Soweto life and Nkulumane life.

Moyoxide says he was inspired to recite the poem because a lot of South African successful artistes and their counterparts in the country are born and bred “ekasi”.

“If you look at the likes of Trevor Noah and Mzwakhe Mbuli they are internationally recognized and they come from ekasi and this is also the case within our country, look at Sandra Ndebele and Madlela Skhobokhobo, they all hail from ekasi. This motivated me to pen the poem as an appreciation of how life from the townships influences people to be go getters,” said Moyoxide.

Moyoxide said he is working on his album to be released in February next year.

“I have started working on my album which will be titled 40 and is an appreciation to the country as we will be turning 40 next year. As the adage goes, life begins at 40, my poetry album is set to be intriguing.

I thank my wife Mrs Moyoxide who is also an exceptional arts person and has led our children to follow our way of life and seem to be excelling wherever they participate,” said Moyoxide. —@mthabisi_mthire