My Bulawayo had the chance to sit down with the multi talented Mutsa Diana Shiripinda a poet, a media graduate who performs under the Pseudonym Rae Lyric (RL) and My Bulawayo (MB)
MB. Tell us about yourself
RL. am a 25 year old media graduate and spoken poet , was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Botswana at the age of 4years. upon noticing my love for poetry at a high school and my teacher encouraged me to read and write poetry.
MB. one word to describe yourself
RL. sunshine
MB. Tell us about your educational background
RL. I am a media, Journalism and Broadcasting graduate student after graduating i worked at Gaborone based radio station Gabz Fm and i got a job there as a news anchor, business reporter, which is an adult contemporary radio station. during my time at Gabz fm i also presented and produced on the mid morning show ,Literacy feature The words.
MB. tell us about your journey in Poetry
RL. I can say I began performing in 2009 and went on to start an on campus poetry collective at university campus. Performing weekly helped me in terms of my performing skills and build a following. I eventually ventured into performing at open mic sessions, most notably Exodus Live Poetry, Poet’s Passport Botswana as well as Rhythm & Soul sessions. Then later, impressed by my performances, i was invited to join the collective ‘Masters of Soul’, a collective of poets, vocalists and instrumentalists. With the collection, she performed at Botho Arts Festival, Maitisong Festival as well as being an opening act for Ugandan comedian Anne Kansime.
MB. how has it been working a foreign radio station?
RL. it was a great experience Even now given the time and chance would not hesitate to be on radio, it was a great platform to meet different people.
MB. You also moved to South Africa was it Poetry motivated
RL. not really but i went to South Africa to gain life experience not really involving poetry, but i must say its a great country and its poetry is moving to great heights.
MB. what are some of the projects you have worked on?
RL.I have performed at Botho Arts Festival, Maitisong Festival as well as being an opening act for Ugandan comedian Anne Kansime. To date, I have also performed as Rae Lyric at various festivals including Shoko Festival, Maun International Arts Festival, The University of Botswana’s Multilingualism and Poetry festival and most recently, Shakespeare in Harare and The TiriAfrika Africa Day Concert in Harare.
MB. Besides Poerty what else are you doing?
RL. i run a blog under www.raelyricscribes.com that features most of my work . poems, series letters, fiction series that include the Side chick story and the confessions of a new girl just to mention the few.
MB. tell us about the poetry slam set for today
RL. Today we have poetry slam at the surburbs at 61 Heyman Road, Alliance Francaise offices, be there its free just bring your picnic box and enjoy the best of poerty am sure you will be there am inviting you personally
MB. definately will be there its a Friday I cant miss it for anything, again Thanks for coming through and sharing your life with us, we appreciate your story and may you keep on telling it through poetry and through the microphone keep shinning
RL. thank you
