DUT STUDENT WINS SATMA BEST POET AWARD

Media statement by Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at the Durban University of Technology

Public Management student at the Durban University of Technology, Ndumiso Maphumulo, won the award for Best Poet at the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) which were held on Friday, 17 October 2014, with his album titled Ze ningondle.

Maphumulo won the award after battling more than 10 other nominees in the category. The social activist was also nominated in the Most Downloaded Album category.

Maphumulo is ecstatic after winning the award, and is proud to have been granted the opportunity to represent DUT and KwaZulu-Natal at the ceremony. His poem Ze ningondle, which Maphumulo’s winning album is named after, speaks against domestic violence against women and children.

His involvement with the power of words started in 2004 when he was a pupil at Mandosi Primary School in Inanda. He believes his work is unique as he sees his responsibility as one that goes as far as uncovering truths behind closed doors and empowers victims to stand up and break the silence.

His work has already touched the lives of many and he has had to perform to tearful crowds during some of his performances. Maphumulo is also a youth and an HIV/AIDS activist who is specially known for his strong stance against transactional sex through his poem titled Ben 10. Ben 10 is slang for younger men who date older women.

The term is widely used in South African black cultures.
SATMA Awards were founded by Dr Dumisani Goba in 2005 and were inaugurated in 2006 with the aim to bring all races and ethnic groups together through the celebration of diverse musical cultures and to eliminate tribalism and other divisive elements in the country’s society.

In this regard, Maphumulo is ambitious to take poetry to the rural areas as one of his major career projects as he believes the lack of media penetration in these areas will hinder SATMA’s vision.
For comment or interviews, please call Ndumiso Maphumulo on 084 753 6021.

A high res picture of Ndumiso Maphumulo is available on request from Sinegugu
Ndlovu.

Issued by:
Sinegugu Ndlovu
Manager: Communications
Botanic Mansion
Division of Corporate Affairs
Steve Biko Campus
Gate 1
TEL: (031) 373 2845
FAX:(031) 202 2475
E-MAIL: sinegugunp@dut.ac.za