Mak Manaka

Mak Manaka is a South African performance poet. A force of nature erupting from Soweto's soil. Known simply as Mak, he carries forward a legacy of creative warriors - born to Nomsa and Matsemela Manaka. This heritage pulses through his work, leading South African icon Don Mattera to declare, "If genius can be genetically connected and if it flows from generation to generation, then Mak Manaka is the epitome of it." Mak's poetry refuses containment. It's more than words on a page - it's a powerful performance that ignites audiences from Soweto's streets to Spain's stages, from Cuba's heart to Germany's heights. His voice has commanded historic moments:
- The inauguration of President Thabo Mbeki
- A soul-stirring performance for Nelson Mandela
- The closing ceremony of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany
- The prestigious 18th Genoa International Poetry Festival
His journey blazes through four acclaimed collections:
- "Oncoming Traffic" (Botsotso, 2018)
- "Flowers Of A Broken Smile" (InkSword, 2016)
- "In Time" (Geko, 2009)
- "If Only" (self-published, 2003)
Beyond the page, Mak breaks boundaries. His 2005 dub-poetry album "Word Sound Power" fuses spoken word with sonic artistry. His words transcend languages -translated into Italian and German - and claim space in vital publications from Mail & Guardian to The Chronic, from Aerodrome to Poetry Potion. At his core, Mak is an advocate for the reclamation of poetry's soul. He embodies Sobukwe's teaching: "Our fight is the right to call our souls our own." Through his art, Mak drives social transformation, using his platform to amplify voices that need to be heard. The establishment nods - as evidenced by his nomination for the 2005 Daimler Chrysler Poet Of The Year Award - but Mak's true power lies in what he builds. Armed with a Master's in Creative Writing from Rhodes University, he's not just creating poetry - he's creating poets. Through workshops across South Africa, Mak nurtures the next generation of voices ready to shake the world. He stands as a cultural ambassador, a voice for the voiceless, and a true artist of the people. His performances aren't just recitations - they're transformative experiences that leave audiences moved, inspired, and forever changed. Maakomele R. Manaka doesn't just write poetry. He lives it. Breathes it. Transforms it. And through his work, he transforms us all.