#BigQs WITH RIXPOET

Tell us who is Rixpoet.
Rixpoet is a cool, calm and collected poet with a passion for
words, love and peace.

How was your childhood?
It had many things in it. I'm the first born in a family
of three children. I've grown up really closed and writing has been my
therapy since then. I was suicidal at the age of 16 because of
problems I faced at home. It's been a long journey. Somehow, I'm still
alive.

When did you discover your talent?
At 16 years, during that hard time. Had
been expelled from school and it was virtually impossible to study
from home, especially the subjects that were a challenge to me like
Mathematics, Physics and Biology. I was lonely. Remembering my late
sister who had died in my watch at five months old, I imagined that
she would have been around to give me a shoulder to lean on had she
been alive. That inspired me to pen down my first ever poem titled 'A
Letter To The Grave', in which I expressed my feelings to my late
sister. The rest is history.

What is your style in poetry?
I'd like to describe my poetry as one that speaks to the soul;
thought provoking. I am in love with the idea of expressing myself in
the simplest of words yet creating diverse and vast meanings and
images in people's minds and hearts.

If you were not a poet, what would you be doing?
I'd be a news editor in some media house or a footballer in the
Tusker Kenyan Premier League. But I still want to play football. :)

Do people love what you do?
The people who read or have listened to my work are in a better
position to answer that. I however get humbled by the amazing feedback
I get from my fans and critics.

What inspires you?
My life is my first inspiration. I've been through things which
have helped shape my art because of the way I understand life and view
the world. It gives me a cutting edge to bring out things not everyone
can imagine anyone would write about and the whole idea helps me
create new experiences in people. My inspiration also comes from the
smallest things to the biggest; could be a conversation I overheard in
a matatu or the body language of the people I meet in the streets. It
could be the weather or how I feel about a particular food. It could
be anything.

Where do you see yourself in three years time?
I run a weekly arts forum called Fatuma's Voice and I meet lots of
young poets who need so much guidance and mentor-ship. In three years
I'd want to have taken the Kenyan poetry scene to international status
by doing quality videos and mentor-ship classes for upcoming poets and
other artists. (www.fatumasvoice.org)

Do you beleive you are the best poet?
Well, in art, one cannot call or term himself as the best like they
do in hiphop. As a poet, I work on the quality of my work so that I
could give people experiences and also learn and work with others so
that I could be able to better myself. I am living my art to the
fullest though, and is in the process of beginning my poetry band.

At what rate is poetry growing in Kenya?
Poetry in Kenya is growing at a very fast rate. What we need is
the corporate world to invest in it, but mostly, Kenyan established
and upcoming poets to be more passionate so as to achieve
international standards so that it could be easy to break out to
outside markets, rather than only concentrating to have a niche in the
towns which the art is flourishing. There is a lot of work to be done.

What would you advice anyone who wants to venture into poetry?
I wouldn't advise anyone to be a poet. It's an inborn thing. It's
not like a career that people go to specialize for in school. It's a
talent, and not everyone has it because we are different. Those who
think they do, therefore, should do it for the passion first and more
so work to make an impact to people's lives than just getting paid for
their work or being known out there. A poet is a very powerful person
in the society. He has words, one of the greatest and most appropriate
modes of communication. He needs to use this power to make the world a
better place apart from offering entertainment. And most of all, he
needs to live his art.

What is your taste in women?
Hehe. Interesting question. I am attracted to mature women. People
I could hold heavy and constructive conversations with yet also joke
about the most stupid things under the sun and be able to get along.

Who is your favourite Kenyan actor?
I do not have a favourite Kenyan actor. I admire quite a number
though; from Charles Bukeko, Nick Ndeda, Gerald Langiri, Oliver
Litondo, to the hilarious Olwenya Maina.

Who is your favourite Kenyan actress?
Well, I shall include Brenda Wairimu, Mkamzee Mwatela, and Nini
Wacera in that list, among others.

Favourite food?
Ugali anytime :) I admit I love mchele though.

Final say;
Words are living things.

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