This week we get upclose and personal with poet Racheal Voko Ncube to understand more about art and artivism, her journey and aspirations.
Just to get the ball rolling, allow us to ask the cliché question: Who is Racheal? Racheal is a young lady in her late 20s, born in Plumtree (Kalanga) bred in Bulawayo. She did her primary school at Mafela, secondary school at Sikhatini High and went to Hamilton High for her Advanced Level. Her field of study is Counseling and Therapy, and Quantity Surveying in the Civil Engineering department. Rachel believes nothing is impossible through faith and God, nothing is permanent unless it’s something positive then it can be permanent.
Can you tell us more about your poetry journey Growing up I always had a passion for arts, from primary I would act in plays derived from biblical stories. And then in secondary I was appointed as the drama club chairperson, and our drama group was good we would always win in the district. When I went to Hamilton high I was appointed drama club president. In 2018 I then became a radio presenter at Charisma radio station on DSTV through this guy who gave me a heads up about the opportunity. I started writing poems and someone noticed how good I was, and that got me a slot on Skyz Metro where I would perform. People started calling me and I started performing for organizations, functions. I would also love to perform at weddings when I get the chance. I got nominated for the Bulawayo Arts Awards Outstanding Community Arts Engagement category because of my performance which spoke to community issues. I was nominated alongside big guys and big groups. I then came up with the belief that a nomination is worth a win to comfort myself as I knew there was no way I would win against the other guys. Fast forward to the big day, I went there looking all glitz and glamorous and just sat there. My name was called, I was the winner and I couldn’t believe it. From then people started noticing me and talking about me. I can’t say my journey began in 2019, but 2019 endorsed my journey. I stopped doubting myself, I felt like a star. In 2020 I got an award under the Zimbabwe Annual Women of Excellence, 2021 I was crowned champion at a poetry slam and I was nominated for the Governance Awards in Bulawayo, and Young Global Leaders Awards hosted in Ghana and the Royal Bulawayo Arts Awards under the Spoken Word Category . Basically that’s my journey.
How has poetry helped you in your advocacy work and how is the reception? It hasn’t been all rosy. There was a time when I first published a book based on my poetry pieces, the feedback I got brought me to my knees, it was so discouraging and I developed a negative attitude towards my book but I’m not giving up on it. I will definitely revisit the book and work on the second edition, hopefully I will do better. I also feature in a poetry anthology called Write the World with other poets from Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa. It is available on Amazon. So I can say the reception has been good.
Who do you target with your poetry? I believe so much in young people and that they are the now, not the tomorrow so they have to happen “now”. Young people have the energy and zeal to get things done.
What are your aspirations with “Every child is your child”? Every Child is Your Child is an initiative under the brand “Voko”. It’s a statement which speaks to everyone, young people and adults. To say even if you see a child in the streets that child is yours. Most orphans are vulnerable and deemed not fit to be part of society. So every child deserves equal opportunities, education, food but that can only happen if everyone sees every child as their child. I get emotional when I start talking about this because in my journey there are people who showed up for me even if I was not their child, they treated me as one of their own. I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who helped me in my journey, Thank you. Then there are people whom I considered as relatives, friends and my people who didn’t bother to show up when I needed them. So there’s a lot to it and I hope one day I will gather the courage to say it out. But this is an initiative to bring healing to children who feel like outcasts in community, we are trying to reconnect them to the community where they belong.
You always say you are the future Minister of Women Affairs, what do you think about women’s representation in leadership in Zimbabwe and what can we do as women to leave our mark? Well its dream, which could come true. It’s a feeling, a way I want to position myself. I might not turn up to be the minister but I am positioning myself as one. What I am saying is I stand with women for women, anything that is against women is against me. I feel like we are less represented in leadership and we need to take up the spaces because they are ours. 50/50 representation doesn’t just come to us, we need to work for it. No one will come and qualify us, we have to do it ourselves.
Who inspires you? I’m a bit selfish when it comes to this. I do not want a role model whom I will only see online and never get to meet. So I ended up saying There is an imaginary me that I look up to, The Racheal that I envision. Every day I look in the mirror and say I’m not yet there but I will get there.
In light of the recently commemorated Day of the African Child theme, what are the harmful practices you think are a hindrance to women and girls’ excellence? Child marriages is one of the harmful practices because when you are a girl and you are married off before 18, you are not given a chance to explore the world, what you are good at or what opportunities await. Child marriages have made people believe that girls are investments, they no longer enjoy the right or benefit of being a family member and get to be loved, they are raised to be married off.
What role can the arts industry play in eliminating these practices? I am an activist and artist hence its called Artivism. It’s a tool which can be used to fight these practices because our work speaks to these issues and highlight how they can be solved. Art is a way of simplifying complicated and technical issues, bringing back these issues to communities in a way they can understand.
Any challenges you have faced as a young woman/youth in arts? Rising up the ladder is a challenge because for you to rise you have to know someone. And even when you know someone as long as your craft does not speak to what is required then it’s difficult. So it’s about you knowing what you are doing and knowing people. If you know someone they will get you gigs, they will vouch for you in a room full of people with power. If you don’t know anyone you will remain an upcoming artist.
Your message to other young women/young people who have talent but limited opportunities Stand your ground and protect your reputation no matter what. The arts industry is dirty but it is also clean. There are people who genuinely want to support you and see you win, then there are people who exploit (and sexploit) artists. Seek for opportunities, knock on those doors. Some will be opened with conditions, be wise with your choices. Some will be closed in your face by people you consider friends and family, it’s okay. Don’t be in a rush, if art is your passion, calling or choice, in due time everything will happen so don’t force yourself on people who don’t care about you or who see you as a threat, and these may be the same people with the keys to your progress, the people who would rather give opportunities to strangers who will bootlick them. I always say If you do not worship people your name will never be recorded in history, that’s the sad reality so it’s your choice, your passion and your talent.