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“For women then, poetry is not a luxury, it is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action

Audre Lorde

PUBLICATIONS

Busisiwe Mahlangu SampleSafe House at the Slow Down by former US poet laureate Tracy K. Smith

Safe House and Other Poems Kalahari Review

I wear Mother's Bones at New Contrast (Winner of the inaugural National Poetry Prize 2020)

Hiding Place at 20.25 Africa: An Anthology for Contemporary Poetry Vol.III

To Metro Away at Poetry Potion 

What no one told me about love at Poetry Potion

Girl is prayer (Wild imperfections)

Sizakele to the Blood Ocean at Flow (Vol. 1 in the FicSci Series)

Writing Sample: Iowa University at the International Writing Program 

Interviews and articles

Busisiwe Mahlangu: “La performance me permite experimentar y explorar las dimensiones del poema” | Agencia Paco Urondo

Busisiwe Mahlangu escribe versos, teatro y narrativa. Es autora de Surviving Loss (2018), una colección de poemas que adaptó para el escenario y que suele presentar en formato performance. Obtuvo el Premio Nacional de Poesía de Sudáfrica y fue incluida en varias antologías de autores jóvenes de su país. En 2022, fue becaria del Instituto de Estudios Avanzados de Johannesburgo, y al año siguiente, del Programa Internacional de Escritura de Iowa, Estados Unidos. Su obra todavía no está traducida a...
The Johannesburg Review of Books •

'Before I even believed in myself, women writers older than me held my hand’—Busisiwe Mahlangu in conversation with Makhosazana Xaba

This is the sixth in a series of long-form interviews by Patron Makhosazana Xaba to be hosted on The JRB, which focus on contemporary collections by Black women and non-binary poets. The first, with Maneo Refiloe Mohale, can be found here; the second, with Katleho Kano Shoro, here; the third, with Sarah Lubala, here; the forth, with vangile gantsho, here; and the fifth, with danai mupotsa, here. In opening up a space for wide-ranging, erudite and graceful conversations, Xaba aims to correct the...
SowetanLIVE •

Wordsmith Busisiwe Mahlangu proves she has really arrived

At the age of 24, writer and poet Busisiwe Mahlangu has already set the poetry world on fire. Born and raised in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, Mahlangu has won numerous poetry slams since the beginning of her professional career.

His recent achievement, The SA National Poetry Prize 2021 that she got last month, is proof that the rising star has arrived. Mahlangu won the competition with a poem titled I Wear Mother’s Bones, a dedication to her mother, a domestic worker

Performances

TEDxTalk

Young poet and activist Busisiwe Mahlangu performs her stirring poem about socio-political issues so many are facing. "Houses" is a moving piece about a lack of love, death and poverty. Busisiwe Mahlangu is a writer, performer and language activist born in Mamelodi, Pretoria (South Africa). She is currently studying for a BA in Creative Writing at the University of South Africa (UNISA) majoring in African Languages and Linguistics. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community

Theatre

On the 1st and 2nd March 2019, the award-winning author and poet Busisiwe Veronica Mahlangu will take audiences through the survival journey of a young black woman from Mamelodi in a poetry production titled ‘Surviving Loss’ adapted from the eponymous book to be performed at the South African State Theatre.

In a string of poetry, songs and dance, an all women cast including musicians Nthabeleng Darlianoh Lesoli and dancer Susan Nkata, directed by University of Pretoria graduate Palesa Olifant, backs Mahlangu as she recites poems about coming of age and womanhood- not shying away from social ills of gender-based violence, sexual harassment, poverty and mental health. She brings alive the story of strength, endurance and survival in times of homicide in the country.

Poetry Africa

Busisiwe Mahlangu, born 1996, is a writer, performer and TEDx Speaker from Mamelodi, Pretoria. Her debut collection ‘Surviving Loss’ has been adapted and produced for theatre at the South African State Theatre as part of the Incubator programme 2018/2019. Mahlangu has toured and shared her work internationally including Washington DC, Sweden, Lesotho, Mozambique and Nigeria.

Puo Poetry

Busisiwe Mahlangu delivers a medley of poems: Birthmarks, I Wear Mother's Bones and Set me free. These poems grandly capture the lineage and authentic stories of women from generation to generation, and the pertinent discussions that need to be had on one's journey of womanhood.

Jazzuary FM

Author and poet, Busisiwe Mahlangu takes her poetry to the stage featuring jazz artists; bassist Les Futshane and Johan Mthetwa on Keys. Hosted by the late legendary writer,  Myesha Jenkins on Jazzuary FM in partnership with Kaya FM and Kaya TV.

Houses by Busisiwe Mahlangu

"The last time he turned beast, the walls collapsed our screams into a song and the neighbours danced to a sharp melody." - Busisiwe Mahlangu

Watch Busisiwe Mahlangu share a beautiful poem in today's #NC16DaysOfActivism episode.