There’s no time to tweet here
The police ask what I did to deserve it here
The docket is for sale here
They family wants to solve this as a family here
They pay damages to make things right here
The lecturer fails you here
The principal is king here
The prophet is father here
The breadwinner must not be questioned here
The bread must not be endangered here
The neighbours mind their own business here
They say I’ll ruin the family here
They say bekezela here
They say “don’t try be clever” here
They say they’ll teach me a lesson here
They say they want to “fix” me here
They say “smile” here.
The trend is #wearedyinghere.
– Siphokazi Jonas
We are talking to the beautiful and talented Siphokazi Jonas. A writer, poet and performer of note. She was born in King Williams Town and raised in Queenstown. Her work is inspired by her experience of black women especially in Eastern Cape. She tells us how her sense of self was created in Eastern Cape, “I find people and our relationships with each other incredibly fascinating and my work explores these relationships and how they shape us”, says Siphokazi.
She tells us of how God inspires all her work even though some of it might not specifically be for the Christian community, “my point of view is from God’s grace and how He bends towards us”, she shares.
Siphokazi recently started a production called #WE ARE DYING HERE. She collaborated with the amazing poet Hope Netshivhambe and songbird Babalwa Makweta. The production is about the abuse that women in South Africa face and how they want to live without fear. The team worked long tireless hours to put together the masterpiece that is provoking all, men and women. This production is a voice for all women who live in fear and those who fear for their young ones.
She shares with us that the intention of this production is to give women a space to breathe, mourn and process the dark cloud of gender-based violence that has set upon our country. “It is a reminder of how we want to live and to live without fear”, says Siphokazi. # WE ARE DYING HERE is currently streaming online. It will be airing for another week after the 6th July. Yes, you heard it here first! Go watch the production so you can start eye opening conversations in your homes. Every ticket will be R50 on https://covid-zero.co.za/wearedyinghere/
