Southlands Secoundary School. Back (left to right): Acting Principal Mrs Rugbeer, Mrs Moolla and Mrs Dayanand. Front, from left: Waarisah Ismail, Deandra Chandermun, Taesha Chutrugon and Durban poet and author Kemera Moodly.
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Kemera Moodly, a Durban poet, recently launched her latest book, titled Belonging, a poetry project she embarked on with four high schools in Chatsworth.
Grades 10, 11 and 12 pupils from Apollo Secondary School, Meadowlands Technical High School, Protea Secondary School and Southlands Secondary School were encouraged to write a poem about their interpretation of "belonging".
She said the project resulted in a published anthology of 70 poems by pupils from these schools.
Moodly, who has a degree in industrial psychology and works as a human resources manager, said poetry came naturally to her - to pick up a pen and put her heart on paper.
“Nature, the sky, trees, birds and flowers inspired me. It felt like it was my calling to write and create poetry. It’s an inherent part of me to express my emotions and thoughts through poetry. I will never stop writing, it is who I am,” she said.
Durban poet and author Kemera Moodly with pupils from Apollo Secoundary School in Chatsworth. Back (left to right): Tasleem Rassool, Gabriel Naidoo, Reece Naidoo and Beauty Molefe. Front (left to right): Zahra Ali Sajid, Taryn Naidoo and Jazlynn Perumal.
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The inspiration for her latest book came from wanting to impact young aspiring writers and give back to the community, especially the community where her family is from, Chatsworth.
“Poetry should not only be about the English curriculum at school, it is also about self-expression and using it to give voice to one’s thoughts and feelings. The learners were free to interpret the theme however they chose to. Many wrote about God, family, friendship and love. What moved me most is that a considerable number of learners wrote very openly and poignantly about their families, and the significant role that their mothers, fathers and siblings play in their understanding of what it means to belong,” Moodly noted.
She added that in our modern, AI-driven society that emphasises virtual connections formed on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok (all of which the modern teenager is exposed to), it was reassuring to see that young adults profoundly valued real-life connections, family bonds and familial relationships.
Durban poet and author Kemera Moodly with staff and pupils from Protea Secoundary: Lumka Makhanya, Principal Dr Maistry, Verisha Annamalay Bradelle Govender, Zinhle Mtolo, Rajeshwari Reddy and Mrs Omar. Front (left to right) - Elethu Mphoswa, Esona Mvezi ,Hayley Niselle Narainsamy and Nonjabulo Msomi.
Image: Supplied
“For me, this was the most significant finding and takeaway from the project: despite the tantalising pull of social media, hashtags and popular online trends, a young adult still looks to their family for acknowledgement, acceptance, support and love. And even in the absence of this, the yearning for it clearly exists,” she added.
From the poems, Moodly also caught a glimpse into the pupils’ thought process.
She said the pupils’ poetry reflected that despite the powerful influence of social media, some things still significantly mattered to a developing young adult: God, family, friendships and love.
Dissecting the poems, Moodly said that while the pupils creatively tackled the concept of belonging, various sub-themes emerged and became prominent: family and group dynamics; childhood experiences and memories; romance; religion and faith; self-image; connectedness versus isolation; social acceptance versus self-acceptance; self-discovery; dreams, desires and aspirations.
Meadowlands Technical High School pupils from left: Vuyiswa Anna Juqula, Jayleigh Reddy, Andrecia Naidoo, Ayabonga Bhengu, Owami Mdunge and Mareece Marimuthu with poet and author Kemera Moodly.
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"I thoroughly enjoyed reading their poems. It was a window into their inner and outer lives,” she said.
Homelessness in Durban is also close to Moodly’s heart. All proceeds from the sale of her books are donated to the Denis Hurley Centre, an NGO that supports the poor, homeless, and unemployed in Durban’s CBD.
“When I was young and travelled with my parents through Durban’s CBD, I always had a soft spot for the homeless, saving my 10, 20 and 50 cent coins to give them one day. So giving back to the homeless community in this way is sentimental for me and also reminds me of what is truly important to me as an individual and as a Durbanite,” she added.
This won't be her last anthology, though.
Moodly said there were so many stories waiting to be told and experiences to be shared.
“We have a diversity of creative voices waiting to be heard and to offer various forms of artistic expression. We often look to the Western world for literature, poetry and art, but we have a plethora of creatives amongst us here in South Africa. The creativity must be harnessed, honed, showcased, appreciated and recognised locally,” she said.
She has also published: Words from My Heart, Seasons of My Soul, Teardrops from My Pen, Footprints, Tomorrow’s Light and Paper Heart.
The books can be purchased directly from the four participating schools and from Moodly. Follow Kemera on social media for more of her poetry and updates: Instagram: @kemera.moodly. Facebook: www.facebook.com/kemera.moodly. Website: www.kemeramoodly.com