Jazz it out

“I am from the clan called amaMpondomise, clan names ooJola, ooQengeba, amaThole woMthwakazi, ooNdleb’Ndlovu, Zwelibanzi, Zanemvula, Nomakhala, Njuza, Sthukuthezi, sithandwa mhla kukubi”. This is how author, performance poet, marketer, creative curator, social media manager, project coordinator, writer, and aspiring psychologist Thandiwe Nqanda introduced herself to Jazz It Out. She is also a coffee fanatic, a team player who can work under pressure.

Apart from her love for art, she enjoys basketball and reading biographies. The Cape Town born and bred creative is proud of her heritage. “My mother Joan Sennye Nqanda is Tswana and my dad Lungile Gerald is Xhosa. They are both engineers, technical and smart beings”, she said. They have set the standard for her in terms of how they carry themselves, and worked hard in ensuring her family is dignified and well taken care of.

Thandiwe’s parents never had literature books besides magazines. Is there a family member that was a writer before she became one? “My grandmother’s sister is the only person who had the gift of writing and she still does in her spare time. However, she does not have any published works”, she said. This makes her the first self-published writer and poet in her family. But this does not make her feel under any kind of pressure.

Poet and author Thandiwe Nqanda. Picture by Nash Matsheza

At primary school, she was very active and enjoyed outdoor activities such as soccer, athletics, and choir practices. “I was literally a busy bee and a dancer of note. Playing outside my grandmother’s house is a core memory which was so much fun”, with a chuckle. She would open many circles and could do the splits which was a flex. “I read tons of novels which was a trend for nerds”, choosing the right company from a young age.

She describes her current interest in music compared to her high school days as a plot twist because at high school, she was heavy on rock music and her favourite band was Evanescence. Brenda Fassie will always remain her all-time favourite. Thandiwe loved Gospel as well. Apart from the fact that she was at a Catholic school, she grew up in a Christian based household. “Lundi Tyamara, Deborah Fraser and Rebecca Malope were on repeat daily”, she recalls. Tamia, Beyonce in her Sasha Fierce days, Tupac and Slum Village were played regularly.

Her first encounter with poetry occurred when she was given homework to write a poem while at primary school. “I wrote it and presented it to my mom. It didn’t make sense to me but she thought it was great. For all I can remember, it had to do with butterflies and sunflowers. Since then, I never stopped writing”, she explained. When her friends saw that first poem, they applauded how she expressed the truth and weight of the written content. Maya Angelou is a poet who gave her inspiration as she could relate to her style of writing. She had a file with a collection of Maya’s poems that she would print at the Internet Café.

After matriculating, she enrolled for a BA Degree at the University of Witwatersrand (WITS). Even though she did not deliberately choose modules that would make her a better poet, they somehow guided the way in which she curated and marketed her shows. Initially, poetry for her was just a form of expressing herself, derailing a message, and an outlet. “Today, I have entirely different views because I have learnt to understand that in time it can be beyond just an outlet”, she said. Currently, she is pursuing an Honour’s Degree in Media Studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

A scene from “Grieve, that’s how you survive”, a choreo-poem play she performed with Grace Storm at National Arts Festival in Makhanda. Picture by Michael Blacks

Just like music, Thandiwe believes that poetry is also a calling. “Sometimes I do not recognize nor remember certain things and events during performances. It also feels like something else takes control, something spiritual”, she said. The manner in which poetry lines come through is not normal. Often they come through when she is sleeping, taking a walk or busy with other worldly things. They come through at unfashionable times.

Recently, her work has grown to be inclusive of musical instruments, most of them being Jazz related. It takes a lot of creativity and practice to fuse Poetry with Jazz. “Back in high school and varsity, I would always get these melodies and quickly record them on the nearest device until I met bassist Siyabonga Moubeleni, where we jammed together one afternoon in Dobsonville. Since that session, I was inspired to translate the melodies I had recorded to workable music”, she explained.

Doing a show where she could fuse Poetry and Jazz was such an eye opener for the people centred creative. “Since that event, I have been priviledged to work with amazing musicians such as drummer Ndumiso Nxele, who was the first international Jazz artist to work with professionally”, she said. Thandiwe has also worked with Kujenga, Vuyo Tshwele, Athi Ngcaba and many others. “It takes rehearsing and understanding the story being told on both ends and making room to carry those stories in the form of Poetry and Jazz”, she added.

Thandiwe’s book titled “No Time to Mourn”

Thandiwe confesses that those melodies could have been translated in any genre. “But Jazz has always been a genre that speaks to me as a person and an artist. It’s beautiful and filled with depth and so is Poetry”, she said. Her journey as a poet began in 2017 at 16 days 16 poets – 16 Days of Activism Campaign in 2017. She has performed as guest poet at Wits Mental Health (2018), did Youth Day Virtual Show by Thato Koto (2019), and Word N Sound Slam Poetry (2020).

She is an author of a self-published book titled “No” Time to Mourn” (2023) which is a poetry collection. Thus far, the book has sold more than 400 copies in 7 countries. Together with Grace Storm, they wrote and directed “Grieve, that’s how you survive”, a choreo-poem play. Scenes of the choreo- poem play are taken from “No” Time to Mourn” and “Love and Other Stuff” by Ms Storm. The duo took the audience on a pathway down memory lane, as they explored stages of their lives where they have experienced grief and brought to light how humans are connected to nature.

Besides being a poet and author, she is also a basketball player whose journey started with Montana Vikings Basketball Club (MVBC) in 2008. This club contributed to her experience of being multi-time SA National, Provincial and All Star sports champion. It extended beyond the court to coaching and provided academic support for basketball recruits in high schools and at her alma mater, Wits University, where she also captained the Wits Basketball 1st Ladies team in 2021.

Some of her favourite poets include Siphokazi Jonas, Gcina Mhlophe, Aja Monet, Upile Chisala, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebogang Mashile, Maneo Mohale, Maya Angelou, and Zizipho Bam. Her favourite authors are Mongane Wally Serote, Xabiso Vili, Nayyirah Waheed, Makhosazana Xaba, Sindiswa Magona, Koleka Putuma, Toni Morrison, Zakes Mda and Nikita Gill. Siya Makuzeni, Thandi Ntuli, Nina Simone, Sibongile Khumalo, Ndabo Zulu & Umgidi Ensemble, Kokoroko, Kujenga, Benjamin Jephta, Yusef Lateef, Esperanza Spalding, Zim Ngqawana, Herbie Tsoaeli and Endea Owens are her favourite Jazz musicians.

Thandiwe is not sitting on her laurels and the possibility of writing another book in the future is something she cannot rule out. “I hope to do musical works which will lean more towards Jazz as a genre”, she said. Furthermore, the optimist hopes to translate her poetry collection in 1 or 2 languages and hopefully feature at various festivals. Thandiwe always advises young poets not to stop writing. “They must always be eager to learn and not be afraid to express themselves artistically. Don’t allow yourself to be used in any space, this is your work. This is your craft. Be protective and set boundaries if needs be”, she emphasized.

Her hobbies include brunch dates with friends, catching Jazz shows and shooting content for brand events. Baking and cooking are things she excels in. “I am convinced that if I invest much more time I could land up on MasterChef or even publish a cookbook”, she concluded. From time to time, she visits the gym for a workout. Follow her @thandiwenqanda on Tik Tok, @thandiwe_nqanda on Instagram and @ThandiweNqanda on X. Her Facebook Page is Thandiwe’s Poetry. Subscribe to her YouTube channel Thandiwe Nqanda. Visit her website www.thandiwenqanda.co.za to place an order for her book.