In her 20s, Mumsy Themba draws inspiration from the tranquil landscape of her home village of Tsamaya near Francistown. An economics major, Themba is a poet who blends passion with pragmatism.
In an interview, Themba shared that her poetry merges personal and collective narratives, driven by a deep love for storytelling and social advocacy.ย
โMy journey has intertwined art and academia, allowing me to carve a unique path as a spoken word poet,โ she says. Her work is also rooted in the vibrancy of Setswana culture and enriched by collaborations that bring her words to life through dance, music, and choral harmonies.
Thembaโs goal is to create pieces that remind us of our shared humanity in a beautifully chaotic world. Whether writing verses for corporate clients or exploring personal themes, she strives to celebrate the stories that bind us all together.ย
She credits her passion for poetry to her parents, especially her father, a historian and linguist who introduced her to storytelling and taught her the importance of using her voice for good.ย
Themba also notes that conversations with her father about socio-economic issues and the responsibility of having a platform instilled in her the value of thoughtful and impactful expression. She adds that her mother, a constant source of love and empathy, inspired her as well.
โGrowing up watching my mother connect deeply with people, I wanted my poetry to be a space where readers could find the same comfort and understanding,โ she explains. โWriting then became my way to honor experiencesโboth my own and those of othersโcreating poems that remind us we are never truly alone in our struggles and triumphs.โ
Thembaโs poetic style has evolved into a rich blend of narrative, cultural heritage, and rhythmic depth. She frequently weaves Setswana proverbs and sayings into her poems, grounding them in the wisdom of her roots. Her favorite saying, ina lebe seromo, often appears in her work.ย
Over the years, her style and themes have grown from simple, introspective pieces to more refined and impactful works that address complex issues like public health, human rights, and identity. Her poetry now serves as both an art form and a voice for advocacy, mirroring her academic and professional growth.
Through collaborations with other creatives in Botswana and abroad, Thembaโs storytelling has gained new layers, pulsing with the sounds and movements of her heritage.ย
She has hosted multiple poetry shows and worked with artists from traditional dance groups like Mafitlhakgosi, choral singers, brass bands, and contemporary musicians such as Dato Seiko and Han-C. Collaborations with The Mophato Dance Theatre and Sebaga Rabantheng have also enriched her work. These experiences have been transformative, revealing that poetry can be more than words; it can be a full-body experience engaging sight, sound, and movement. Themba says this openness to innovation has added new textures to her storytelling.
โMy upcoming poetry collection delves deeply into personal stories, exploring themes of love, hope, loss, and friendship. It is an ode to the human experience and a celebration of the arts,โ she explains.
A distinctive aspect of her work is her focus on the power of names. She believes names carry history, identity, and stories that resonate throughout her poems, symbolising connection and legacy. Her new collection captures her journey and honors the experiences of those around her, intertwining their stories with her own to create a tapestry of shared humanity. โWhere I lacked, I found inspiration in the lives and trials of friends, family, and community, allowing their voices to guide my pen,โ she says.
