Thabiso Mohare, Poetry As A Compass

From hip hop cassettes in Hammanskraal to founding one of South Africa’s most influential spoken word movements, Thabiso “Afurakan” Mohare has always treated poetry as more than performance; it has been a compass for life. As co-founder of Word N Sound, he has helped shape stages, archives, and voices that have defined a generation of poets. But his truest pivot has been personal: declaring himself “a parent first” and restructuring his life and work around family, time, and legacy.

In this episode of Listen To Your Footsteps, Afurakan reflects on:
• How poetry offered survival, direction, and a lifelong foundation.
• The making of Word N Sound and the challenge of archiving 15 years of formats, festivals, and voices.
• Why he believes income belongs to the household, not the individual.
• The shift from chasing gigs to building a consultancy that safeguards time with his daughters.
• Lessons on creative freedom, parenting with intention, and redefining manhood beyond breadwinning.

Spoken with honesty and vision, this conversation captures Afurakan’s journey as both artist and father, revealing why poetry is not only his craft, but his compass.

Listen now on ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Afripods⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find the latest from Thabiso Mohare on the following platforms:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠| ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | X [formerly Twitter]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Recorded at ⁠⁠Vodcast TV⁠⁠

Show Music by Kweku 'Taygo' Baffoe

Produced by ⁠Ayob Vania