People’s English in the Poetry of Mzi Mahola and Vonani Bila

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Black poets and various wordsmiths in South Africa played a critical role in liberating the country. Several of these artists wrote in indigenous languages, but during the 1960s and 1970s some protest poets expressed their opposition to oppression in English. These artists also played a pivotal role in ensuring that the outside world became aware of apartheid suppression. Other critics have, however, questioned the role of the English language for the masses that surrounded these artists. It is also important to understand how these artists perceived their role in their society as English poets. The article focuses on two South African poets, Mzi Mahola and Vonani Bila, whose recent poetry examines the current struggles, joys, and happenings in their communities. The article focuses on how these two poets use English to express their experiences. Furthermore, the themes explored in the article reveal the commonalities that may exist among “black English poets” in South Africa. More than three decades after the demise of apartheid some themes have pervaded their writings as new struggles have emerged. Furthermore, People’s English continues to be a vital tool in expressing black and human emotions in post-apartheid South Africa.