Mary-Jane
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Zimbabwe’s creative excellence took centre stage at the 2025 Afrotellers Conference, where Bulawayo-based poet Sondlane “Sox the Poet” Dube delivered a soul-stirring performance alongside his mentee Silethemba “Letty” Dube, a participant in the WeCre8te Afrika mentorship programme.
Their collaborative piece, “The Worst Thing,” delved into Africa’s collective wounds — exploring the generational trauma caused by wars and genocides through the eyes of children. The performance drew a powerful emotional response from audiences, linking art to the broader struggle for healing, justice, and social transformation on the continent.
Held from 23 to 25 October 2025 at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Film and Television Cinema, the conference opened under the theme “Our Stories. Our Voices. Our Power.”
Sox, an alumnus of Accountability Lab Zimbabwe’s Arts for Change programme, is the founder of WeCre8te Afrika, a Bulawayo-based mentorship initiative nurturing eight young female poets. Through poetry, the programme fosters self-expression, healing, and awareness on social justice and identity.
Speaking after the performance, Sox said the collaboration was meant to show “how art can confront pain and build bridges across generations and nations.”
Conference founder and Thrive Africa CEO Wilson Chivhanga described the performance as “a powerful story that illustrated the struggles and aspirations of the African people.”
“It captured lived experiences that define our continent — a call for justice and for the Africa we hope to build: fair, peaceful, and rooted in dignity,” said Chivhanga.
Since its inception, the Afrotellers Conference has grown into a Pan-African storytelling movement connecting artists, activists, researchers, and cultural practitioners from Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Lesotho, the DRC, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
During the opening reception, Lekgetho Makola, Chief Operating Officer of the Market Theatre Foundation, underscored the importance of reclaiming African narratives:
“Thriving societies tell their stories beautifully — in their own voices and languages. As Africans, we must do the same.”
Rene Smith, head of the Wits School of Arts, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to African-centred creative education, saying Wits seeks to foster “a community of artists and researchers immersed in decolonial, practice-based innovation.”
Other performers included Noluntu J, Kabelo Mofokeng The Poet, Drum Café Kenya, and Arts 4 Change — each showcasing Africa’s diverse storytelling traditions.
Through his performance, Sox the Poet carried Zimbabwe’s creative voice to the continental stage — blending art, memory, and activism to remind audiences that words remain powerful tools for healing and change.
“We must be in charge of defining the African narrative,” concluded Chivhanga. “Our future depends on it.”
