Makhafula vilakazi biography of martin

Going by the name "Makhafula Vilakazi" (the title of one of his poems) Matodzi Gift Ramashia grew up in Chiawelo, Soweto. His poetry is a fusion of Tsotsi-taal, English, Zulu and Sotho interspersed into an uncompromising depiction of township life, exploring issues which affect his community such as HIV and AIDS, unemployment and crime. An exponent of a genre which he calls "Kasie Poetry", Makhafula Vilakazi says his writing is influenced and inspired by the striking similarities of life’s contrasts.
Makhafula Vilakazi has performed at various events such as the Botsotso Poetry Festival, the Jozi Spoken Word Festival, Speak the mind (Arts Alive Festival), Be connected International Festival, Music Mayday Festival, Word 'n Sound music festival, among others. During 2010 he was a regular feature on Soweto TV and was recently invited as guest speaker and poet as part of the channel’s annual Freedom Day celebrations
He has recited his poetry on various youth television shows over the years including Shift, Mzansi Insider, Dlala Ngeringas. In 2012 he was a guest commentator in the critically acclaimed documentary series "Why are we so angry?" where he unpacked society’s social ills and also recited his poetry. In 2013 he was invited to recite a tribute to Nelson Mandela as part of the SABC 1 memorial services.
Over the years he has been invited to recite at a number of commercial radio stations including YFM, Metro FM, Power FM, 702 talk radio as well as community radio stations such as Kasie FM, Eldos FM, Thetha FM, Jozi FM, Alex FM He has published some of his poems in an anthology "Sections of Six" which was published by Botsotso Publishers.
In 2008 he won the B-Connected competition in Soweto run by International Creative Arts Organisation “Music Mayday”– a competition which saw him represent South Africa at the Music Mayday Annual Festival in Tanzania, performing along artists from Ethiopia, Holland and Tanzania.
Recently Makhafula Vilakazi collaborated with renowned, respected and award winning South African rapper Tuks Senganga in his album "Tshwanelo" – an album that was nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA).
In 2013 Makhafula Vilakazi released his first poetry CD compilation titled "I am not going back to the township". The album features Samthing Soweto, Impande Core and Poet/SAFM radio presenter Khanyi Magubane. Makhafula Vilakazi says his first project is about re(de)fining the black person’s identity by scrutinizing history and the effects of historical events on particularly black Africans.