Poet addresses social issues

MOKOPANE – THE importance of education on substance abuse is just one of the issues the youth needs to be aware of.

This was according to Thomas Masingi (24), a poet from Mokopane, who said he felt the responsibility of delivering messages on social issues fell on everyone.

He said his poetry was influenced by his surroundings and the challenges that the local people faced. “I started writing poems when I was still in primary school; I used it as a way of escaping the challenges I saw around me. It was only in writing where I could voice my opinion and talk about the things that I could not address with my friends because I feared their reaction on sensitive issues such as rape and crime,” Masingi explained.

Masingi said he performed all over the province and used the platform to tackle issues faced by the youth such as unemployment and the value of education. “I believe in the power of my art so I am confident that what I do helps other people to see their lives in a different perspective. I want them to relate to certain experiences so that they can know that they are not the only ones facing hardships and that all situations can be bettered,” he said.

Masingi holds a BA Arts degree from the University of Limpopo and said he enjoyed working with people. He said his goal was to tell stories that would inspire his peers to focus on issues that would empower them.

He said a recent achievement for him was founding a group called the Artistic Youth Expression. “It a company that serves as a platform to local artists in poetry and rap music. We support and groom their skills so that they can deliver their best.” He said he hoped to branch out to other communities.