By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
With no one as her role model and being her own role model, Bernadette Mukova inspires herself to be a better person and whatever she does it is her own inspiration.
Mukova, known as “Cyclone”, a name she uses for the stage, has many collars as she is a poet, scriptwriter and actress.
Cyclone is working on releasing her debut poetry book titled Ruva Rangu.
“I am working on a book titled Ruva Rangu and I am in the process of recording poetry and songs fused together. For my work to move forward, I will be performing and hosting poetry slams every month in conjunction with Litfest Harare,” Mukova said.
As far as her work is concerned, she has received an award from the United Nations Population Fund for the best piece second place nationals in Zimbabwe.
Mukova lamented the massive exploitation of artistes by the so-called promoters and noted that it was even more difficult for females who are exposed to sexual exploitation.
The 25-year-old artiste believes she did not choose poetry, but it was poetry that chose her.
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“I did not choose to be a poet, but poetry chose me. Words from within needed someone to deliver them. Poetry mirrors the vices and norms of society, thus God chose me to speak to the people,” she said.
“As for film, I got to admire it as I was growing up and got eager to develop it as well. I like the fact that people have to watch me do what I love most. As I grew up, I wanted to choose a career, not a job where I would not feel that I will be working. I enjoy art in general.”
In a bid to make society able to distinguish between the good and the bad, Mukova chose to make her work fall under a genre she likes to call protest.
“My work falls under a genre l would like to call protest. It is about questioning the status quo and making society realise the right from the wrong. I can say my work is determined to provide light in the darkness so that is why I want to change the perception people have through my poetry,” she said.
Mukova is very optimistic about the future.
“I see myself performing on the stage more, flying the Zimbabwean flag high out there and I also see myself writing my own books and teaching through the spoken word,” she said.
Mukova was born on January 22, 1994 and went to Masvingo Christian College. She studied Film and Theatre at Midlands State University.
She says she wants to make a living through art and her dream is to be internationally recognised and write academic books.
