NATALIA Molebatsi is guardian of a rich tradition of black women's imaginative and creative writing.

She is a poet who through her driven course for change, has become an activist.

Her poetry is influenced by elements such as  being a true African, the soul of music, the importance of literature, the strength of women as well as societal issues.

Originally from Tembisa in Ekurhuleni she defines herself as a  performance poet, writer and mother.

The librarian at the University of South Africa (Unisa) Academic Library is also a leading lady for an Italian-South African band called Soul Making.

She says poetry found her and gave her a way of expressing herself.

"I had issues like everyone else and poetry guided me to articulate my feelings and experiences. It gave me urgency and space to share my views."

Her poetry is a mixture of old and new. She defines it as spoken-word performance poetry.

"This is the kind of poetry I believe comes from the genetic memory of old storytellers and great African poets with voices from unexplained places mixed with the (new age) rap rhythm of what is still positive and relevant."

Donning  long thick dreadlocks, her hair links her to her African origins.

"I started this new set of dreadlocks five years ago when my daughter was born," she says. "The stereotype is that people with dreadlocks are dirty and we were always cursed, but now they are fashionable. I feel they are natural and at this time we need to raise something authentic about ourselves."

Molebatsi believes that poets like Maisha Jenkins, Lebo Mashile, Ntsiki Mazwai, Napo Masheane  shaped and changed the culture of the spoken word in this country.

Where language is concerned culture is as much a priority for Molebatsi as  literature.

"Some poems just come out in many languages," Molebatsi says. "I mix because I feel I'm all that.  Yes, English is included due to issues around our country's colonisation, but with that realisation I tried to pull out all the (local) languages.

"Beyond the element of language belonging to the master, understanding another language is understanding another culture."

In addition to her world of literature, Molebatsi highlights included hosting An Evening with Alice Walker at the State Theatre in Tshwane in 2010. Walker is an American author, poet, feminist, and activist and Pulitzer Prize winner. She defines  her  as one of the greatest writers of our time.

The World Cup year was a great one for the poet, who was also part of the Third World Festival of Black Arts and Culture in Dakar, Senegal, where she shared a stage with Masheane, Thandiswa Mazwai, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse and Tu Nokwe, among others.

In 2011 Jimmy Dludlu featured her poem A Matter of Bread and Sugar on his award-winning album Tonota.

Molebatsi's activism is mainly based on women and human rights.

"We live in a world where we are trying to deal with profound hate from men, but also issues around discrimination, in every way."

While living in Italy between 2005 and 2009, Molebatsi ran workshops for high school and university students around issues on human rights.

It is during her stay overseas that Molebatsi founded her band, Soul Making.

"We are a 5-member band who meet 3 to 4 times a year. I am the only woman and based in SA, while the guys are in Italy. We are made up of a double bass, drums, guitar and keyboard players, with myself on poetry."

In her poetic journey, Molebatsi has also published two anthologies titled We Are (2008), to which  Simphiwe Dana and Gcina Mhlophe contributed, as well as Sardo Dance (2009), a collection of her own work.

Molebatsi has also performed in Zimbabwe, Holland and Nigeria and has represented South Africa as part of the cultural events programme at the 2012 London Olympics. This poet is living her dreams. - monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za