Critically acclaimed producer, poet, and performer Siphokazi Jonas has unveiled her debut poetry collection, Weeping Becomes a River, which includes a poem that delves into the complexities of women dealing with trauma, resilience, and healing.
Jonas, who has made a significant impact on the national stage with her powerful work, continues to expand her influence with this collection, addressing pressing social issues, particularly gender-based violence.
In the standout poem “Annual crop,” she evokingly outlines the anguish of a woman caught in the grip of abuse.
Her carefully crafted stanzas explore the emotional and psychological impact of violence, with lines like, “Harvest season falls on a South African woman every six hours’’.
The poem’s vivid imagery evokes the deep scars South African women have to endure during and after abuse in the hands of a man.
The performer’s poetry serves not only as a form of expression, but also offers hope, creating a narrative of strength and survival.
Jonas is involved in the short film adaption of the #WeAreDyingHere film as a co-writer, co-producer, and performer. She performed as the main attraction of the inaugural Fresh Poetry Tour, a national poetry tour that took place in South Africa in February 2019.
Jonas has performed alongside South African legends like Thembi Mtshali-Jones, Celeste Matthews-Wannenburgh, Natalia da Rocha and musician Hotsix Mabuse, Pops Mohamed and Freshlyground’s Zolani Mahola.
With Annual crop, Jonas solidifies her reputation as an influential figure in the arts. Using the power of poetry to spark conversations and inspire action, she further proves why she was crowned Cape Town’s Ultimate Slam Champion back in 2015.
IOL