PREVIEW: ‘ARTitude Problems’ gets real with spoken word poetry

When one hears stories of poverty, drug abuse and daily struggle, you expect it to come from an older and more experienced source.

But sometimes the best storytellers are those who live in the here and now; who are experiencing the tough times first-hand, regardless of their age, background or culture.

This is most certainly the case for 22-year-old Siphelele Zulu or ARTitude Problems as he is called when on stage; a young man who tells everyday stories through the art of Spoken Word Poetry.

Siphelele has been honing his gift for telling the real-life stories of the struggles and everyday battles of those living in poverty-stricken rural areas since 2010.

“I speak of problems mainly faced by the youth, and I tell my stories in a form of motivating them to aspire for better than what their current environment has to offer.”

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Siphelele claimed that by growing up in an underprivileged area, he had first-hand experience of what most young people endured as a result of their limiting surroundings.

When asked what he hoped to achieve through his poetry, he said he wanted to help young adults become better individuals, despite what they were going through or where they came from.

He drew his inspiration from the fact that most residents from rural areas hardly ever received recognition when they did well in their communities, but through his work he could give praise to those who deserved it, and encouragement to those who needed it.

“I initially started writing and performing poetry as a means to express myself, but it later become a platform for me to tell stories of those not only dwelling in the bad, but of those who dedicated themselves to doing good. I also hope my stories can offer others a solution to their problems, or even comfort where necessary,” he said.

Siphelele admitted to always having had a passion for creative writing, although the road leading to where he was today was not an easy one to follow.

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