Drawing from her experiences as a first generation immigrant, Thembe’s poems transport the reader from seas to living rooms that form portals into sensory stories about family, loved ones and the self. She explores how she has navigated her sense of belonging from a childhood in South Africa, and then growing up in the UK. There is a vulnerability in her writing that is both brave and beautiful.
Thembe will read from her work, followed by a Q & A and book signing.
This event is presented by Apples and Snakes and Tate Enterprises.
Biography
Thembe Mvula is a South African born poet currently based in London. In 2016, she graduated from the university of Kent with a degree in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies. After graduating, she became a Year Here postgraduate fellow. There, she spent a year in London gaining experience in different areas of the social sector including secondary school and the homeless sector. She also developed ideas for her own social enterprise. She was shortlisted for the Melita Hume Poetry Prize in 2017 for We that Wither Beneath. As well as being a TEDx speaker, Thembe has performed across the country, and was a finalist in the UK Roundhouse Last Word Festival poetry slam competition in 2017. She is currently a member of The Roundhouse Poetry Collective.