Word N Sound is celebrating 10 years of their powerful poetry platform with a special exhibition at the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg from 7 March – 12 April 2025. This is a big deal to me because Word N Sound is my beginning so I will definitely be at the opening night tomorrow, 7 March 2025.

Sometime in August 2011, I left my Braamfontein apartment with my little bag and walked all the way across the Nelson Mandela Bridge to get to The Bassline (the smaller one, upstairs) in Newtown in time to sign up for the Open Mic slam poetry competition. I just had a little poem called To Do List for Africa and a dream. I had my convictions and my love for writing and I just wanted to share.

So, I shared. When the the Open Mic came to an end, I had won the Queen of the Mic title. I am the first woman to win a Word N Sound poetry slam and I’m very proud of that. Word N Sound gave me the confidence to claim my writing and my voice out loud. I’m also so proud of Thabiso and Qhakaza Mohare who dreamed a dream big enough to carry us all in.

From the Word N Sound press release:

For over a decade, Word N Sound has transformed poetry from a niche art form into a thriving cultural force, providing a platform for emerging voices and fostering a dynamic community of spoken word artists. Legacy X-Future History chronicles this journey, celebrating the milestones, the voices, and the audiences that have shaped Word N Sound into a movement that resonates far beyond the stage.

“Word N Sound began with a single microphone and a shared dream—to create a space where poets could be heard. A decade later, we have built more than just a platform; we have cultivated a legacy. Legacy X – Future History is both a tribute to this journey and a call to the next generation to continue shaping the future of
spoken word.” – Qhakaza Mohare, Word N Sound Co-Founder.

Through a curated collection of archival material, multimedia installations, and interactive experiences, visitors will walk through the history of Word N Sound, exploring how spoken word has become a space for reflection, resistance, and re-imagination. The exhibition is designed not only to celebrate past achievements but to inspire audiences to engage with the ongoing evolution of poetry and performance in South Africa.

Goethe-Institut Johannesburg, a long-standing supporter of arts and culture, is proud to partner with Word N Sound to bring this exhibition to life. As part of the exhibition’s programming, audiences can expect live performances, panel discussions, and workshops that further explore the themes of legacy, identity, and the power of words.

Word N Sound: Legacy X – Future History is free to the public and runs from 7 March to 13 April 2024 at Goethe-Institut, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg. The monthly slam series is also on so check those out, especially all of you who would like to become poets.