By Shekinah Zvoma

From the dimmed lights to the filled seats and the diverse voices rising from the stage, “Word Kalcha” was not just a night of performances but a night of revelations, an excavation of each poet’s innermost thoughts. There was an anticipatory warmth in the room – a feeling that something honest and unscripted was about to be shared, with the usual barriers between speaker and listener feeling softer than at an ordinary poetry reading.

What made the event different?

Rather than showcasing only finished poems, the evening invited the poets to reveal themselves through their creations. By encouraging vulnerability, fear was transformed into fuel, as each poet exposed their emotions and feelings, trusting the audience with the raw material of creation instead of keeping it hidden.

The event, Poet Spotlights, kicked off with a collection of vibrant open mic speakers, unfolding like a collage of lived experiences – six poets, six voices, each carving a different path throughout the night. Tackling diverse topics like love, sex, life, and religion, the six voices created a kind of mosaic – proof that no matter the subject, there’s always someone who’s lived it and someone who needs to hear it.

The guest speakers were nothing short of extraordinary, with performances that left the audience in a deep introspective state. The first performer, Hey Hey Preacher, delivered poems that felt like conversations he had once overheard and was now retelling – moments that had taught him something, unsettled him, or lingered long enough to demand being spoken aloud. He provided no background, didn’t describe the meaning, and didn’t translate the lessons, and there was surely no need to. Those listening understood. It felt like a testimony, a sharing – the kind of offering where the message sits quietly between the lines, allowing those who know to understand intuitively.

As Sonkomose took the stage, she walked to the front, ululating, and captivated the audience with her powerful vocals, setting the stage for a show-stopping performance that would leave a lasting impression. Clad in beaded earrings and exuding a steady gaze, she stepped forward with unwavering confidence. Although most of the room couldn’t follow every word, it didn’t matter, as the cadence, repetition, and authority in her tone spoke louder than language. It wasn’t about understanding; it was about feeling, and in that room, the language she spoke found a rhythm that resonated in every chest.

Thuthukani Ndlovu was the evening’s last performer. He stood with the posture of someone who had come not just to perform, but to reflect. His poems traversed various themes, from the erosion of African culture to the intimate and invisible terrain of mental health. Another poem turned inward, describing the slow weight of grief that follows the loss of a loved one. His voice didn’t rise; it resonated. In a night full of declarations, his gift was stillness and the courage to speak.

Closing Reflections

As the night came to a close, the space held a gentle weight, the kind that lingers after something honest has been shared. Across languages, styles, and stages of confidence, every poet had peeled something back, and each had given voice to what often remains unspoken. In his final words, the host, Morset Billie, captured the essence of being a poet, highlighting the opportunity to “…express for others what may be difficult to articulate.” This evening proved to do just that – not merely a showcase, but a gathering of truths, and by the end, everyone felt a deep sense of connection with each performer.

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