I am Siya, the street poet.
Poetry is therapeutic for me. Poetry helps me to deal with my frustrations. I want my poetry to send a clear and uplifting message to the youth. Do not let your background define who you are. Let your dreams fuel who you can be.
Broken Bones and Trust
Patience and Time
My Story
When I am on stage following my dream, I always hope that somebody will picture a ‘Siya’ struggling out there, and can see an engineer, nurse, doctor, or motor mechanic in them. Or street poet.
I am Siyabonga Cafu Mdiza. I am Siya, the street poet.
I matriculated at the Desmond Mpilo Tutu High School in Paarl before joining Weskus Distrik Municipality as an Intern. I am 22 years old. Working as a trained call-taker in their Disaster Management Centre I learned about taking responsibility, being compassionate and mostly, about being responsive to the needs of others.
My passion for writing started when I was fifteen. I wanted to be the voice of the voiceless and share my life experiences and my community’s struggles.
Poetry is therapeutic for me, considering that I am antisocial. Coming from a broken background, poetry helps me to deal with my frustrations. At the same time, I want my poetry to send a clear and uplifting message to the youth. Do not let your background define who you are. Let your dreams fuel who you can be.
“Siya is a young man connecting two worlds. My world, and his world. When you hear him, you feel compelled to help a youngster pursue their dreams as you did yours, even if you are just a drop of rain that inspires hope for a seedling. Often, that is all it takes.”
Gary Hendrickse
CEO Sherpa
Contact
079 096 8538
siyabongacafumdiza@gmail.com