This year marks five years since the passing of Myesha Jenkins, a pioneer of spoken word in South Africa and an icon of feminist creativity and action. She was more than a poet – Myesha Jenkins was a voice, a bridge, a pulse in the rhythm of South Africa’s literary heart.

Through her words, she carved spaces where stories could breathe – spaces where women could speak, where jazz could dance with poetry, where the page met the stage and the stage met the soul.

Today, we remember her not only for what she wrote, but for what she made possible.

Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Gail Smith, journalist, human rights activist and cultural worker, to reflect on Myesha Jenkins’ legacy.