COVID-19 may have locked down many students, but not Phoebe Abigail Nekesa. During the lockdown, she is nurturing her passion for poetry. Maureen Nakatudde talked to her
While many youngsters might be struggling with what to do during the lockdown, this is not the case with Phoebe Abigail Nekesa, a former student of Mt St Mary’s College Namagunga.
Nekesa is writing poetry and sharing the experience with others on her podcast and Instagram pages. She has also recently started a blog. And for her work, in July, Nekesa won a UG Teen Awards in poetry. The awards are an initiative of UG Teenagers, a non-government organisation.
Using her free time, Nekesa has honed her poetry and taken it a notch higher by creating a podcast. “Last year, during the first lockdown, my mother urged me to focus on writing,” she says.
Nekesa’s poems are about internal conflicts, self-awareness and self-discovery. She has so far written over 50 poems, but says she does not have any specific place where she gets her inspiration. “I draw lessons from everywhere, such us mine and other people’s experiences, movies, books and my surroundings,” she says. Nekesa, who says she started sharing her poems during the first lockdown, scored aggregate 11 in the recently released Uganda Certificate Examination results.
How She Started
Nekesa started by reading and researching about different poets, from where she picked various ideas.
Although she liked writing poetry, she figured it would not be complete without her voice.
At first, Nekesa wanted to use YouTube, but learnt that she required a following for the success of the channel, which she did not have since she was just starting out. She says she also lacked the confidence to run a YouTube channel. Nekesa then opted for podcasts. “For podcasts, very few people are involved. Besides, since not many poets are doing podcasts, I was going to be unique,” she opines.
Secondly, inspired by George Mpanga, a UK-based poet, whose stage name is George the Poet, Nekesa also started her podcast during last year’s lockdown.
Pod-Casting
“There are several pod-casting apps. However, one has to pay for a third party to distribute the podcast to different platforms,” Nekesa says.
Fortunately, Nekesa connected with a friend who had a contact that did voice editing. As he worked, Nekesa observed and learnt a few skills. She further watched YouTube tutorials and practised whatever she learnt. With time, Nekesa gained confidence and skills to edit her own work.
Nekesa, who boasts of 100 listeners, says although she is not yet earning from the podcast, she is confident she will get sponsors by the end of the year.
She has also opened an Instragram page where she discusses her poems and carries live videos on the Poetry Banter Show. In comparison to the podcast, Nekesa says the Instagram show is more interactive and fun.
Genesis
In 2018, while a Senior Two student and member of the Writers’ Club at Mt St Mary’s College Namagunga, Nekesa started writing poetry.
“I never thought one could make a living from writing alone.”
Nekesa says after hearing experts sharing their writing journey, she was inspired to follow their footsteps.
“My first recital was of a poem titled Star Lit Sky that I performed at the Agkhan poetry café in 2019. The poem was about astrology; I was looking at star space and gazing.”
Turning Point
From Primary Four to Primary Six, Nekesa was a presenter of a children’s show on a local TV station, which birthed her desire to become a journalist.
However, during the lockdown last year, she found another love for her life and that is poetry. Besides, Nekesa wants to venture into theatrical poetry/ plays and writing novels when the right time comes.
Juggling School And Poetry
“The first time we went back to school in 2020, I was a candidate. I had recorded many episodes that I left with a friend, who edited and posted them for me.”
When she returned to school for exams in January this year, Nekesa did not record any episodes as she concentrated on revising for her Uganda Certificate of Education examinations.
Challenges
Although Nekesa enjoys her poetry podcast episodes very much, she says sometimes it is very hard to get ideas.
“My goal is to post an episode every week, but sometimes I lack the content or inspiration for poems.” Moreover, Nekesa says preparing for her podcast poetry episodes require a lot of time. She says she has to carry out a lot of research. Editing takes a full day, considering she is not a professional. At times, Nekesa says there is that indecision. “You don’t know whether to post something or keep it to yourself,” she says.
Achievements
Nekesa is proud to have connected with so many people. “I have made many friends in poetry circles. I know more writers and I have gained much more knowledge in poetry,” she adds.
Nekesa has also acquired skills in editing podcasts. Recently, she was voted the best writer/poetry for the UG Teen Awards, which was an initiative of UG Teenagers.
Advice
Nekesa advises her fellow youth to start pursuing their passions now because talents can make you money or a name. “Many people think that they cannot do things at a young age. They think they are young and remain in their comfort zones, instead of getting out and pursuing their talents,” Nekesa says.
Space, By Nekesa
We’re in a time when we’re more alone than ever. Miles away from our beloved, Physically, emotionally and mentally apart.
And I wonder,
Whether it’s possible,
To die of loneliness?
To die of hopelessness?
It’s times like this,
Times when loved ones die, And we can’t be there to say our goodbyes,
That we sit down and think back To the moments we didn’t appreciate then,
To the words we didn’t say when,
And wish for second chances to make it alright,
Time machines to take us back in time,
To say those words,
To appreciate those moments.
But it’s impossible
For time travel doesn’t exist
And wishes are nothing more than hopeful nothings
A painful truth.
There’s nothing more to do
Than live now With the people we still have.
Hoping for a better future as we appreciate them,
Like they’re all we have left. And those little moments we’ll never forget, Like they’re all that matter.
Because when it’s all said and done,
How can you miss someone you never knew?
(This article was first published in the New Vision on 15th September, 2021)
