Matipaishe Mavunga is a Zimbabwean poetess who began writing at the age of 14. Her poetry often centres on themes of identity, faith and redemption. In 2024 the rising poet was recognized for her efforts at the Poetry Red Carpet Awards for ‘Most Promising Poet’. She is also a student at the University of Zimbabwe reading for a Bachelors in Social Work.

We roped in the wordsmith for an interview to gain more insight into her artistry and her motivations. *^{KM – Kudzai Mhangwa, MM – Matipaishe Mavhunga}

KM: Thank you for agreeing to speak to you. Please introduce yourself.

MM: Good day Kudzai, thank you for choosing me. Miss Matipaishe is young lady who strongly believes in the thought and action of transporting emotions from the heart putting them on paper or video with the aim of sharing love, faith and hope to society that no matter the challenges we face in life, no one is alone and together we can create a better place. Miss Matipaishe posts most of her work on her Instagram and LinkedIn accounts. She is also the communications officer for the Varsity Mental Health Champions club at the University of Zimbabwe which allows her to execute her passion as resembled in her concern for the mental well-being of young people as shown in her poetry work that she does not only aim to help change the world through writing but also through deed.

KM: When did you first discover your creative side?MM: The first time I discovered my creative side was when I started writing poetry in form 1 when I was 14. I can’t say that time I had fully discovered my creative side but I was trying to escape from public speaking. I tried sports and I couldn’t fit in so I tried public speaking but I didn’t like improv so that’s when I started poetry. I was the only form 1 and I was selected to represent the school. This phase was for me to leave the school premises but I had not fully understood the concept behind it. It wasn’t until ‘A’ level that I started studying English literature and I began to appreciate the beauty in literature and poetry. I was exposed to various books and various poets. This is what made me appreciate the creative side to it and also improve my own work.

KM: Arts in Zimbabwe are often ostracised. How did you feel like when you began to pursue your passion for poetry?

MM: To be honest I believe this is true, the arts in Zimbabwe is under appreciated maybe because people do not understand it; mostly with poetry. I started writing poetry at fourteen but begun getting opportunities at twenty-one. It was a journey filled with a lot of hiccups but thanks to prayer and social support, this motivated me and kept me going, keep writing and keep looking for opportunities. I believe the opportunities are there but limited. The harder you work, the opportunities will come to you. For example last year when I had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Bring It On’ talent show, I would always see the posters advertising the event but I would ignore it because I was not educated about it and I would let it slid until last year when another poet talked to me about it and I applied. I auditioned and I was successful. It’s a Christian talent show and they give you training on how you can present your work while being ethical and also give you the chance to network with other creative. Hard work and persistence can help you go far. 

KM: What have been the greatest highlights of your journey as a poet so far?

MM: I believe the greatest journey for me as a poet is patience. Growing up I wasn’t a patient person, I expected opportunities to come then and there, I expected things to happen then and there but like I mentioned I started writing poetry when I was 14 but opportunities started coming when I was 21. I saw having a conversation with my mentor on my 21^st birthday in which I told him that I was done with poetry then he told me, sometimes God is nurturing you. Sometimes you’re not ripe enough to go into the world, the work hasn’t matured enough. When I finally got the opportunity on my 21^st birthday I believe God answered a long prayer. I now learned to take it one step at a time without putting on too much pressure on myself. 

KM: Is there a general theme or message to your work?

MM: Yes! As a poet who believes in the power of words to share love, faith and hope in society. I believe we are now living in a world where things are changing with an increase in technology use and Westernization somehow, wrong has been normalised and right has been shunned. I feel we now live to please society and to fit in. For example, us women have been given a certain expectation on how to live and the ‘right’ body types. We are all expected to be the same but the question now comes, if we are all the same, who will be unique? I believe there is beauty in diversity. My work then comes in to say we should practise humanity. Yes we have been disappointed before but we should keep pushing our faith, it’s okay for us to be hopeful on life. That is the message I try to spread.

KM: As an artist what would your highest dream be?

MM: I feel like this is a difficult question but personally for me success would be making an impact on a lot of people. I don’t want people to just know me as Matipaishe the poet but I want to impact people’s lives so that they’re motivated and moved to action and change. For success is making an impact on different people and also spread my word to a number of people. I want my work to spread across both formal and informal sectors. I also want to speak on social ills that society somehow indoctrinates in us to live a way that is different from how we were raised. I want people to say “Her work impacted me.”

KM: What do you think of Zimbabwe as a landscape for creative?

MM: First thing I can say is that Zimbabwe as a landscape is filled with creatives, if you are put in a room of poets and spoken word artists and even photographers, journalists and dancers, there is so much diversity. In that diversity there is so much beauty in it which I love and appreciate. It’s not fully supported, when you start it’s like a lonely journey you’re on for a very long time. Then when you improve people will begin to notice you. People often work with you after they’ve seen what you’ve done. It’s very challenging when you work without a good support system.

KM: What improvements would you like to see?

MM: I would like to see more organisations making space for creative to start learning and being mentored for their talent in any style. If we can provide this on a professional level as opposed to a social level because some creatives may not the most professional but if those opportunities are provided then maybe we can go farther than we think. Even in schools, if schools hire teachers in non-academic fields to build on that. It’s more impactful if we can catch them young as Caitlin Young says. It’s harder to learn a new skill when you’re older but if people are given a skill at a younger age they can build on it. 

KM: Where can people view your work?

MM: My work is available online. Instagram(Matipaishe Mavunga (@_matipahh_) • Instagram photos and videos), TikTok (Matipaishe The Poet (@matipaishemavunga) | TikTok), Facebook ((5) Facebook) and LinkedIn((8) Matipaishe Mavunga | LinkedIn).

KM: What do you do besides your art?

MM: For my hobbies, I listen to music. It’s a bit therapeutic for me. I also like traveling and watching movies. Most importantly to spend time with family and friends.

KM: What are your final words for readers?

MM: My final words to the readers are, “Getting out of your comfort zone is the first step in discovering how far you can reach without limitation.” So go for that dream while you still can and write your story.

Mavhunga’s work can be found on her Instagram page (Matipaishe Mavunga (@_matipahh_) • Instagram photos and videos).