Seunda unpacks poetry collection in ‘At 35’

Media personality and spoken word artist Yankho Seunda used the launch of his poetry collection, @35, to reflect on maturity, responsibility and experiences that shape people. The spoken-word artist performed before a full house at Apollo Auditorium in Blantyre on Saturday night, where he presented a three-hour show combining poetry, storytelling and social commentary. Dressed in a black African-inspired outfit, Seunda delivered pieces that explored identity, pain, relationships and hope, drawing laughter, reflection and silence from the audience.

One memorable moment came when he performed a piece about carrying the weight of the past and confronting experiences beyond one’s control. Narrated Seunda: “You carry the memories of your past because you’re afraid the future won’t. You wear a beautiful smile in front of the pain you’ve always known.

“I know it’s useless to hold you accountable for the mistakes you never made. You were conceived at a time when they were not ready to hold you.” In an interview, the former chairperson of the Vilipanganga Poetry Movement said @35 represents a stage in life when people begin to view the world with greater understanding. “Thirty-five is a proper age to start understanding life from a mature perspective.

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It is the minimum age required for someone to contest for the presidency is expected to, so I use it to symbolise maturity, responsibility and leadership,” he said. Seunda described the collection as “a win for poetry”, saying it fulfils a personal dream while encouraging young poets to embrace literature. The collection explores different aspects of human experiences through compositions such as Mirror featuring Fundo, For You, Chibwana, Unborn featuring Nathaniel Chaluchalu, One More Time, Amorah, Si Anthu, Bar featuring Mercy, Dear Yankho, Sometimes, Precious featuring Sangie, Ndale, Love 2 Folds and Dying Roses.

His stage delivery also showed the growth of modern spoken word, as he used pauses, eye contact and body language to transform written verses into a performance. The launch featured performances from other poets, including veteran Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, Isaac Kadankowa, Refilwe and Robert Chiwamba. Chiwamba performed his piece Ku Ma 30, reflecting on the realities that come with reaching 30 years of age. He told the audience that reaching the milestone is a blessing because it introduces people to challenges associated with ageing.

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