Award-nominated poet Zama Madinana is creating spaces for poetry to thrive, from monthly gatherings in Braamfontein to the Fête de la Musique stage.
South Africa (11 June 2026) – For Zamokuhle “Zama” Madinana, poetry has become far more than a creative outlet. It is a way of exploring the complexities of love, confronting social realities and giving voice to the stories that shape South African life. His thoughtful and often deeply personal work has earned recognition both at home and abroad, appearing in respected literary publications including The Shallow Tales, Kalahari Review, Efiko, Libretto, Brittle Paper and Olney.
His growing reputation saw him named one of three finalists for the Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Award, while a nomination for the prestigious Pushcart Prize in 2022 further cemented his place among a new generation of influential African literary voices.
That success has continued to build in recent years. His debut full-length collection, ’94, was longlisted for the South African Literary Award in 2024, introducing readers to a body of work that reflects on identity, history and contemporary South Africa.
Beyond the page, Zama has become a familiar presence on stages across the country, sharing his poetry with audiences from Johannesburg to communities further afield. His performances have also crossed borders, taking him to Botswana, Mozambique and Lesotho, where his words have connected with audiences through the shared language of storytelling, reflection and human experience.
Recently, Zama started hosting monthly poetry readings at Dibukafé, a living library curated by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), and he will also perform at this year’s Fête de la Musique on 20 June at Victoria Yards.
We got the opportunity to speak to Zama about his love of poetry and the opportunity to join the lineup at this year’s Fête de la Musique. The father of a teenage daughter shares that he is simply passionate about literature. We spoke about some of the surreal and meaningful moments of his career to date, as well as his collection ’94 receiving major recognition.
“That poetry is still relevant, and it still resonates with the people, especially if you write about the issues that affect them. I began writing this book to address some of the injustices that happened after 1994. It also taught me that people do buy poetry. We have sold over 1000 copies independently.”
For some, myself included, poetry can feel intimidating, but Zama has reassuring words for those who may shy away.
“We use poetry to reflect on the society. If they want to pay attention to what is happening around them, they should come to poetry sessions or read poetry books. People should also understand that poetry is not confined to lecture halls and books. Poetry lives in coffee shops, cafés and bars.”
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Make Room for More Play, Connection and Little Moments This SpringZama’s poetry has lived and breathed along the streets of Braamfontein. It was here that he noticed the Dibukafé, its bookshelves lined with French literature and its peaceful space. Knowing that the worst they could do was say no, he approached the team to ask if he could host poetry readings in the space. The answer was a resounding yes.
“I saw this beautiful space, intimate and inviting. I started going in there often to read books, even though it’s a French library, but they also have a good collection of local books. I then approached them to do a poetry show, and they agreed.
So it began with my solo show, Freedom Songs and Interludes. It is a live reading from my forthcoming poetry chapbook. It is about Africa, her beauty and burdens. The show explores the themes of freedom, hope, inequality, war, and immigration. It also examines the political unrest and the ongoing fight for complete freedom.
It was a full house, and Alison Polley-Green, Cultural Programmes Officer at IFAS, was impressed and asked me to do monthly sessions where I invite different poets to perform.”
These evenings have become a space to make poetry more accessible, especially for young people.
“I am trying to make poetry more accessible in the city, especially to young people. Where young people can express themselves and tell their story. I am also trying to create a platform where artists can collaborate because the show not only attracts poets or poetry lovers but also people and artists from different backgrounds. Filmmakers, visual artists and even academics.”
A community is growing at Dibukafé. The poetry evenings are shifting how the public engages with creatives, and that is incredibly meaningful.
“These spaces were created for us, creatives, thinkers and street academics. These spaces were created for us to engage with the public through art. Therefore, we should use them.”
The success of the poetry nights inspired Zama to apply to perform at this year’s Fête de la Musique. Following a rigorous selection process, Zama was honoured to be included in the lineup. We asked Zama what the audience of eager listeners could expect from his performance, and the answer is fire!
“This is one of the big festivals in the country, so I am excited and looking forward to sharing my poetry on a bigger stage.
I’ll be sharing some of my favourite poems as well as the new material. So, they should expect nothing but fire.”
He encourages people to join, not to feel nervous about poetry, and to come and share their truth.
“I address realities that we sometimes ignore through poetry. So, as poets, it is our responsibility to refuse to look away. It is our responsibility to give hope to the people”
If you are eager to hear Zama’s poetry, be sure to head to the Fête de la Musique, happening on the 20th of June 2026 at Victoria Yards, Lorentzville, from 1 pm to 7 pm. Entry is free. You can find out more about the festival here.
This interview is part of a special partnership between the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Good Things Guy, celebrating 30 years of cultural co-creation. Since 1995, IFAS, the cultural agency of the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, has supported artistic and creative exchange across disciplines from visual arts to gaming.
To mark its 30th anniversary in 2025, IFAS and Good Things Guy are sharing the stories of South African creatives whose journeys have been shaped by French–South African cooperation, highlighting three decades of connection, creativity, and shared achievement. You can read them all here.
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