Mangaliso Kabulika
SPOKEN word artist, Tecla Mwoyo, has released her debut poetry album dubbed ‘Voiceless’.
The album pays homage to Zimbabwe’s rich linguistic diversity by featuring ten spoken word pieces in local languages such as Venda, Ndebele, Sotho, Shona and Kalanga.
Tecla explores a range of thought-provoking themes, including patriotism, girl child rights, love and forgiveness.
Through her powerful and words, she wants to shed light on pressing social issues while promoting unity and understanding among Zimbabwe’s diverse communities.
In an interview with H-Metro, Tecla said incorporation of indigenous languages in artistic expressions is vital for their survival.
She highlighted the financial challenges she faced during the making of the album.
“These languages are an integral part of our cultural heritage and we must actively work to protect and promote them.
“I wanted to use my poetry as a platform to showcase the beauty and significance of these languages.
“This is also a reflection of unity and to raise awareness on social issues that our diverse cultures are going through and there is no greater way to address them like in one’s language.
“The journey to create ‘Voiceless’ was not without obstacles. I encountered financial difficulties along the way, but my passion for celebrating our linguistic diversity fuelled me to soldier on.
“I believe that art has the power to inspire change and I hope that this album resonates with audiences and encourages them to appreciate the linguistic tapestry of our nation,” said Tecla.