Langalakhe Mabena [email protected]
AWARD-WINNING poet Thaluso Da Poet is taking his latest album, Thula Sizwe, featuring Mswane we Mbabala, to communities through a series of intimate poetry sessions aimed at engaging audiences and promoting the art form beyond conventional performance spaces.
The initiative will see the poet visiting different communities to recite poems, interact with audiences and hold discussions, using poetry as a tool for expression, reflection and social engagement.
He kicked off the tour on October 10 at the Renaissance Hub in Nkulumane Hall, a platform established by the late Desire “Moyoxide” Moyo through Victory Siyanqoba Community Messengers to help protect young people from drug and substance abuse.
The inaugural session was also held in honour of Moyoxide, Thaluso’s mentor and former
Nkulumane Member of Parliament, whose work in the arts and community development left a lasting mark.
Thaluso said the event was deliberately designed to be intimate, accommodating about 40 people to create an environment where poetry lovers could engage meaningfully with the performances and discussions.
The poet also paid tribute to his late mentor by performing selections from Moyoxide’s posthumous album, Idabane.
Explaining the concept behind the tour, Thaluso said he wanted to take his music and poetry directly to communities rather than rely on conventional shows in the city centre.
“With this album, I wanted to reach the people in their communities, not just host an event somewhere in town and invite people to come. I wanted to engage more with them and tap into their lifestyle.
“I have since done my first show of the tour in Nkulumane. Soon, I will be visiting other local suburbs to preach the gospel and engage with theatre enthusiasts. I will be going to Gwanda, where
I was born and raised. I am also engaging different stakeholders to take the album to South Africa,” he said.
He said beginning the tour in Nkulumane was a deliberate decision, given the suburb’s significance in his artistic journey and the role Moyoxide played in nurturing his talent.
Thaluso recalled that Moyoxide took him under his wing and helped him find his feet in poetry, making the community an appropriate starting point for the project.
“I decided to start this tour in Nkulumane as a way of showing respect to my late mentor, Desire
‘Moyoxide’ Moyo. He is the man who took me under his wings, and I am proud to say my first stage performance was in Nkulumane. It is my home,” he said.
Beyond promoting Thula Sizwe, the tour is expected to strengthen the connection between poets and their audiences by creating spaces where people can appreciate poetry in a familiar community setting.
The planned visits to other local suburbs in Bulawayo, and Gwanda, will also give Thaluso an opportunity to reconnect with audiences while expanding the reach of his work.
“I am also engaging different stakeholders in South Africa so as to take this album there. I hope this will happen and it will open doors for more cross-border collaborations and performances,” said Thaluso.
