Poetry from the depths of the heart

Poet Namatsi Lukoye during a Spoken Word poetry competition held at Imax Theatre in Nairobi on October 17. PHOTO /KINGWA KAMENCU

What you need to know:

  • I am organising a poetry event for May and preparations are centered on getting word out. D-day, which is usually a Saturday is the most hectic.

  • I will need to be at the venue first thing in the morning to make sure that the chairs, sound equipment and the artistes are all set. Then I detach myself from the organising and go to the backroom and breathe.

“I was the child who always had her compositions pinned on the notice board because they were so good. Initially, I did it for the win but now, it is a form of expression.

“Poetry is still a growing industry in Kenya, so I have another job. Five days a week, I work full-time as the communications officer at the Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya.

I spent most of the day today making arrangements for an upcoming charity walk. When I took on this job, I did not think that it would impact on my poetry as deeply as it has.

I am overly emotional and I spend the day around children receiving therapy and their parents who sometimes just need a listening ear.

I find myself drawing inspiration to write from the people I meet. I spend most lunch times jotting down poetry lines. I am working on my second album. In it, is a piece named ‘Being beautiful’. It was inspired by a friend who has cerebral palsy.

Exhilarating experience

“Away from the office, I organise bonfire poetry events, workshops where poets can share their work as well as poetry shows.

I am organising a poetry event for May and preparations are centered on getting word out. D-day, which is usually a Saturday is the most hectic.

I will need to be at the venue first thing in the morning to make sure that the chairs, sound equipment and the artistes are all set. Then I detach myself from the organising and go to the backroom and breathe.

“Being on stage can be as exhilarating as taking a shot of heroin. First, my fingers get cold and my heart beats fast, then I go back in time to my moment of truth when I wrote the piece. Sometimes it moves me to tears.

“Most days, I get home at 6pm. I live with my dog Gee and I fill most of my evenings with crafts.

This evening, I finished up on a bag that I started working on last week. There are no poetry performing schools in Kenya and I learnt most of what I know online. Later this evening, I was reading up on poetry performance. You have to keep learning in this industry.

“Much later, I watched a movie. I love animations because of the creativity and the humour in them. They take my mind off the serious things and allow me to go to bed happy.”