Minenhle Mthembu is a vibrant poet whose take on childhood stories, influenced by his grandmother, showcases the beauty and richness of African language. Being inspired to write at the age of 17 after watching poet Mxolisi Mtshali perform at UKZN, he recited his first poem at an assembly at Nqabakazulu High School in KwaMashu. Receiving positive feedback from his peers motivated him to continue writing. Mthembu aims to inspire youth around his township by visiting schools and hosting motivational talks with the pupils. His goal is to see the youth of KwaMashu embrace the culture of reading and writing. Mthembu has performed at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival alongside poets like Lebo Mashile, Bongani Mavuso (Ukhozi FM) and many well established South African writers. He also performed at a poetry festival in 2010 at the Bat Centre in Durban, showcasing his unique vernacular style of poetry. In 2013, Mthembu won an award for the best male poet at the 2013 Original Material Awards.
In the poem below Mthembu tells how love can build a person’s confidence and that honesty and trust are the most important factors of any relationship. The poem, along with his other works, is written in IsiZulu.
“Dear Sthandwa sami seminyaka”
Ngibhala lencwadi kugobhoza izinyembezi kaziphezi, ngimbethe ingubo yenduduzo ngiziba izinhlungu kodwa imicabango idudula ingubo iyilahle emsamo ngisale ngigodola ngikhumbule wena.
Inhliziyo isho ukuphuma ngezimbambo ifuna umniniyo. Ngihlale phansi ngibambe uhlangothi ngishushuzele inhliziyo njengengane ngiyithembise uthando olungase luqhamuke maduze, ngiyiculele imilolozelo kuze kufike ubuthongo
Okunye kufike wena ngobuthongo, uzongikhumbuza ngobuhle bobudlelwane ebesinabo, ngibone izithombe zakho umamatheka ubiza igama lami uphindelela, ngenjabulo ngisondele kuwe uye ngokuya ufiphala ngizame ukuk'bamba uphelele emoyeni nenkungu, ngikumemeze ngizwe iphimbo lami liziphindaphinda kunanele imihosha, kubaleke amajuba ezihlahleni kucace khona ukuthi usuwemukile.
Inhliziyo ingivuse kuqala ngiphaphame kwelobuthongo ngiqamele phezu kwedamu lezinyembezi, bathi okungapheli kuyahlola umbuzo wami likuphi iphutha emihloleni uma umhlola kuyinjabulo yam'.
Ngithe angibhale nansi incwani hleze inhliziyo ikhawule ukubalisa, yamukele isimo sizwa sinjalo iphinde yazi ukuthi uthando alupheli kodwa kushintsha imithombo, ingajezisi uthando ngokuhluleka kwethu ngoba ithina esihlulekile kodwa uthando lusaphila ukuthi nje lubaleke lasishiya thina, kuzomele ngijwayeze nenqondo upheze ukucabanga ngawe ukuze kusheshe kudlule ngoba kubuhlungu, nempilo ayiqhubeka nayo.
Izihlobo abangani nabazali bazobuza bebuzile, sibatshele iqiniso ukuze bengabi nethemba leze kanti izitha zona zizojabula nalokho sikwamukele.
Okumele sikwenze manje ukuvumela isimo sizile okwesikhashana bese siphinde siphile, yeka ubuhle bento ebesinayo, yebo abantu bazothi sihlulekile bakhohlwe ukuthi akulona lodwa uthando uluphilisa ubudlelwane kodwa nezinhloso nendlela yokwenza idlala inxenye. Thina siyazi la esixega khona sesiyolungisa la esiya khona ngoba ngeke kusalungiseka la, ayidlelwa la ehlatshwe khona.
Ngibona izifundo ongufundise zona, ebengeke ngizifunde ndawo. Usale kahle imina isithandwa sakho seminyaka.