SHAZNAY Megan Wood, known in local poetry circles as Thee Ammartian, is gearing for the release of her first body of work titled MEGAMIND this Saturday at Ela The Garden in Newlands, Harare.
The spoken word EP is a fusion of poetry and music with themes surrounding the girl child, spirituality and societal issues.
The title of the EP was derived from her second name “Megan”. “I naturally think and feel things a bit deeper, hence coming up with the title ‘MEGAMIND’.”
NewsDay Life & Style reporter Khumbulani Muleya (ND) recently spoke to Thee Ammartian (TA) and below are excerpts from the interview.
ND: What drew you to mix poetry and music?
TA: I felt the need to create poetic melodies and tell different stories outside of poetry or just a single genre.
ND: How does MEGAMIND differ from your previous projects?
TA: It is more of a wholesome piece of art made up of five different poems that highlight different stories and themes found in society, whereas my other projects were mostly singles accompanied by visuals.
ND: What sparked your interest in exploring themes surrounding the girl child, spirituality and societal issues?
TA: I am a 2022 Gender Champion award winner courtesy of the Netherlands embassy.
I stand for women and girls and use poetry to advocate on behalf of the girl child, gender-based violence, eradication of child marriages and period poverty.
Spiritually, I decided to write about my own personal journey and life experiences.
ND: Did you collaborate with other artistes or producers on your recent project and will any of these collaborations be featured at the listening session?
TA: Yes, I did collaborate with two producers Nagbeatz and Hillary Muzonde. They covered sound production and did an amazing job.
ND: What was the most rewarding part of the creative process?
TA: Completing the EP. Creating this project was not a joke. I learnt patience, perseverance and wisdom about when to say things, how to say them and when to deliver.
That alone is very rewarding for me as I know that I am not delivering half-baked work to those who support me, but all my heart and soul in an extended play of art.
ND: How do you envision MEGAMIND contributing to conversations around women’s empowerment and girl-child development?
TA: As the Shona proverb would say “musha mukadzi”, one of my poems titled Issa Mwanangu Tiza is dedicated to the girl child.
I teach and preach to her about ubuntu/hunhu and the importance of having good morals as we have become a wild generation.
ND: What can fans expect from the launch event at Ela The Garden?
TA: A wholesome experience as I am going to do a live performance of the EP at the listening party.
