> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dos.dzaleka.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Poets > Document the poets and spoken word artists expressing powerful truths through verse in Dzaleka ## Overview Poetry is a vital form of expression in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, giving voice to experiences of displacement, resilience, love, justice, and hope. The poets collection documents the talented writers and performers who use words to educate, inspire, and advocate for change. ## Cultural Significance Poetry in Dzaleka serves crucial purposes: * **Emotional Processing**: Poetry helps process trauma, loss, and complex emotions * **Social Commentary**: Poets address discrimination, injustice, and social issues * **Cultural Expression**: Verses preserve languages and cultural storytelling traditions * **Youth Voice**: Poetry gives young people a platform to be heard * **Education**: Poems teach lessons and share important messages * **Community Building**: Poetry groups create supportive creative communities * **Advocacy**: Powerful words raise awareness about refugee experiences ## The Branches Arts Group Many poets in Dzaleka are part of the Branches Arts Group, a collective that: * Provides mentorship for emerging poets * Organizes poetry performances and workshops * Creates space for creative expression and skill development * Collaborates on poetry projects and publications * Performs at festivals and community events ## Content Schema The poets collection uses this schema defined in `src/content.config.ts:577-595`: ```typescript theme={null} const poetSchema = z.object({ title: z.string(), slug: z.string().optional(), type: z.enum(['individual', 'group']).optional(), image: z.string().optional(), description: z.string().optional(), biographyAuthor: z.string().optional(), age: z.number().optional(), nationality: z.string().optional(), birthYear: z.string().optional(), birthplace: z.string().optional(), arrivedInMalawi: z.string().optional(), nickname: z.string().optional(), startedPoetry: z.string().optional(), firstPerformance: z.string().optional(), poetryGroup: z.string().optional(), currentStatus: z.string().optional(), featured: z.boolean().optional(), }); ``` ## Example Poet Profile From `src/content/poets/aj-peace-justice.md`: ```markdown theme={null} --- title: "AJ Peace Justice" slug: "aj-peace-justice" type: "individual" image: "/images/poets/aj-peace-justice.jpg" description: "A young Rwandan poet who uses poetry to speak against discrimination and express emotions through written words." biographyAuthor: "Lisa Gilman" age: 18 nationality: "The Republic of Rwanda" arrivedInMalawi: "2015" startedPoetry: "Standard 8" firstPerformance: "School Assembly" currentStatus: "Student" featured: true --- # AJ Peace Justice ## Biography AJ Peace Justice is a young man from Rwanda who is 18 years old. He arrived in Malawi in 2015 and is currently a student. For him, poems are emotions that you can express in written words, and it relieves you. He started his poetry after he got inspired by a friend, Espoir, who started teaching him while they were in standard 8. He firstly recited and performed poetry during a school assembly. The way people perceived his work and encouraged him after the performance pushed him to continue with his writing. He loves poetry a lot, because he can express himself easily. He wrote a poem about discrimination because he saw and felt the need to speak against discrimination towards people living with disabilities. To him, it is important that such issues are spoken about and addressed. He tells readers of the book and viewers of the website that, through his poems, he hopes they can learn. ## Featured Poem: I AM NOT THE ONE I am not the one who troubles Insulting people in the village Roaring like a lion, strong like a ghost Pushing others in my way Hence, I am thin, like the leg of a cockroach Buzzing like a bee Biting as a bee Not walking, but eating, like death A dictator isn't who I am Teasing others Ruling others in strong way Others are getting heart attacks Moving at high speed Like drops from the heavens With no break Stopping others People's mouths, others leaving their families Crying for orphans But he's sitting in the room, smoking, yet on the door is "No Smoking" Putting leg over leg, counting money from blood A collector can't collect a collector, cause A collector is already a collector *Biography collected and written by Lisa Gilman* ``` ## Example with Multiple Poems From `src/content/poets/angela-abizera.md`: ```markdown theme={null} --- title: "Angela Abizera" slug: "angela-abizera" type: "individual" image: "/images/poets/angela-abizera.jpg" description: "Dzaleka Arts Project Team Leader for Poetry who uses poetry as a powerful tool to convey messages and inspire others." biographyAuthor: "Lisa Gilman" nationality: "Rwanda" role: "Dzaleka Arts Project Team Leader for Poetry" email: "angeabizera@gmail.com" currentStatus: "Student (online degree) and Volunteer" volunteerWork: "Plan International Malawi - Dzaleka Children Parliament mentor" groupInvolvement: "Youth group and Branches Arts Group" startedWriting: "Natural talent, inspired by friends" featured: true --- # Angela Abizera ## Biography My name is Angela Abizera, originally from Rwanda. I hardly know my story, I was young then. I currently reside in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. I am passionate about helping other people and working for the community. I am student doing an online degree, and I do voluntary work under Plan International Malawi as a mentor for the Dzaleka Children Parliament. I am also engaged in a youth group. I love writing. I just started writing and got inspired and encouraged by friends. Two of my friends who were in the Branches Arts Group here in the camp approached me and told me that they heard that I write poems. They kept on requesting that I show them my poems even though I denied that I write. Then I finally gave in and showed them one of the poems I had written and sent to my friends titled "Dear Peace." They loved it and invited me to join their group, and I did. I never learned about poetry. I would say it's a natural thing because I remember back in the days, I would write short fiction stories and dramas, but at the moment I am not doing that anymore. Poetry is a powerful tool to be used as you can convey different messages. When people read my poems, I want them to grasp something either to entertain them or educate them. I want my poems to always have a message. ## Featured Poems ### Dear Peace I heard you are capable But we don't live in humble I heard you are responsible But we are unable Wars don't cease We are not living at ease For they still tease We are not going to please We are forced to flee Called a refugee But we hope to be free Like pollen we wait for our bee ### LOVE FOUND US YOUNG I saw him Him that caught my eyes Wide and eager I had to see him [Additional verses...] *Biography collected and written by Lisa Gilman* ``` ## Creating Poet Profiles ### Profile Guidelines Have a thoughtful conversation about their poetry journey, inspirations, themes they explore, and what poetry means to them. Ask the poet to share 1-3 poems that represent their work and voice. Always get permission to publish. Learn about why they wrote specific poems, what issues they're addressing, and what message they want to convey. Record how they started writing, who influenced them, their creative process, and their growth as a poet. ### Creating a Poet Entry ```bash theme={null} touch src/content/poets/poet-name.md ``` ```markdown theme={null} --- title: "Poet Name or Pen Name" slug: "poet-name" type: "individual" image: "/images/poets/poet-name.jpg" description: "Brief compelling description of the poet and their work" biographyAuthor: "Interviewer/Writer Name" age: 22 nationality: "Country" birthplace: "City, Country" arrivedInMalawi: "Year" nickname: "Pen name if applicable" startedPoetry: "When/how they started (e.g., 'Standard 8', '2018')" firstPerformance: "Where they first performed" poetryGroup: "Branches Arts Group" # or other group currentStatus: "Student / Working / Volunteer" email: "contact@email.com" # optional featured: false --- # Poet Name ## Biography [Their story in their own words - background, how they discovered poetry, what it means to them, their creative process] ## Poetic Voice and Themes [What subjects they write about, their style, what messages they aim to convey] ## Featured Poems ### Poem Title 1 [Full poem text, properly formatted] ### Poem Title 2 [Full poem text, properly formatted] ## Impact and Message [What they hope readers will take away from their poetry] --- *Biography collected and written by [Author Name]* ``` ## Field Descriptions ### Required Fields Poet's name or pen name Usually `"individual"` (could be `"group"` for poetry collectives) ### Biographical Fields Current age of the poet Country of origin Year of birth (alternative to age if exact age is sensitive) City and country of birth Year they arrived in Malawi Pen name or stage name if different from their given name ### Poetry Journey Fields When or how they started writing poetry (e.g., "Standard 8", "2018", "Age 15") Where they first performed their poetry publicly Name of poetry group or collective they belong to (e.g., "Branches Arts Group") Current occupation or role (e.g., "Student", "Teacher", "Community Organizer") ### Documentation Fields Name of person who interviewed and wrote the biography Brief description for previews and search results Path to poet's photo Whether to feature prominently in listings ## Formatting Poetry ### Line Breaks and Stanzas Preserve the poet's intended formatting: ```markdown theme={null} ### Poem Title First stanza line one First stanza line two First stanza line three Second stanza line one Second stanza line two Third stanza line one Third stanza line two ``` ### Special Formatting For poems with special indentation or structure: ```markdown theme={null} ### Structured Poem First line Indented line More indented Back to first indent Back to beginning ``` ### Attribution Always credit the poet and biography author: ```markdown theme={null} --- *Biography collected and written by [Author Name]* *Poems © [Poet Name], [Year]* ``` ## Common Poetry Themes in Dzaleka Poems addressing war, violence, displacement, and the longing for peace Exploration of refugee identity, cultural heritage, and searching for home Romantic poetry, family bonds, friendship, and human connection Poems addressing discrimination, inequality, rights, and advocacy Messages of perseverance, strength, optimism, and overcoming adversity Coming of age, education, dreams, and the unique perspective of young refugees ## Interview Questions for Poets * When did you start writing poetry? * What inspired you to write? * Who taught you or influenced your writing? * When did you first share your poetry publicly? * How has your poetry evolved over time? * Where do you find inspiration? * What is your writing process like? * Do you write in multiple languages? * How do you decide what to write about? * Do you prefer writing or performing? * What themes do you explore in your poetry? * What message do you want to convey? * Why is poetry important to you? * How does poetry help you process experiences? * What role does poetry play in your community? * What do you hope readers/listeners will feel or learn? * Have you received memorable feedback on your work? * What are your goals as a poet? * How can poetry create change? * What advice would you give aspiring poets? ## Permission and Copyright Always get explicit permission from poets before publishing their work. Poems are copyrighted to the poet and should be attributed properly. ### Permission Template ```markdown theme={null} Dear [Poet Name], We would like to feature your poetry profile on Dzaleka Online Services. This would include: - Your biography - 1-3 of your poems - Your photo (optional) - Contact information (if you'd like to include it) You retain all rights to your poems. We will credit you as the author and you can request removal at any time. Could you please: 1. Confirm you're comfortable being featured 2. Select 1-3 poems you'd like to share 3. Review and approve the final profile before publication Thank you for sharing your voice with the community. ``` ## Photography Guidelines ### Portrait Photos * **Environment**: Photograph poets in meaningful settings (writing space, performance venue) * **Expression**: Capture their personality and thoughtful nature * **Lighting**: Use natural light for authentic, warm portraits * **Consent**: Always get permission to use photos ### Performance Photos * **Action**: Capture poets performing at open mics, festivals, or community events * **Emotion**: Focus on expressive moments and audience connection * **Context**: Show the performance environment and engaged listeners ## API Access Access the poets collection programmatically: ```typescript theme={null} import { getCollection } from 'astro:content'; // Get all poets const poets = await getCollection('poets'); // Filter by group membership const branchesPoets = poets.filter(p => p.data.poetryGroup === 'Branches Arts Group' ); // Filter by nationality const rwandanPoets = poets.filter(p => p.data.nationality === 'Rwanda' ); // Get featured poets const featured = poets.filter(p => p.data.featured); // Sort by age (youngest first) const youngPoets = poets.sort((a, b) => (a.data.age || 100) - (b.data.age || 100) ); ``` ## Multilingual Poetry Many poets write in multiple languages: ```markdown theme={null} ### Dear Peace / Chère Paix **English Version:** I heard you are capable But we don't live in humble... **French Version:** J'ai entendu que tu es capable Mais nous ne vivons pas dans l'humilité... ``` ## Performance Venues Poets in Dzaleka perform at: * **Tumaini Festival** - Annual arts festival with poetry stage * **School Assemblies** - Educational settings for youth poets * **Open Mic Nights** - Regular community poetry events * **Church Services** - Spiritual and inspirational poetry * **Community Gatherings** - Weddings, celebrations, commemorations * **Workshops** - Poetry writing and sharing sessions ## Supporting Poets Include ways to support the poet if they're open to it: ```markdown theme={null} ## Support This Poet - **Attend Performances**: [Poet Name] performs regularly at community events - **Share Their Work**: Help amplify refugee voices by sharing these poems - **Commission Poems**: Available for custom poems for special occasions - **Writing Supplies**: Donate notebooks and pens to support young poets - **Contact**: [contact information if provided] ``` ## Best Practices Use direct quotes extensively. Let poets tell their own stories. Treat poems as precious creative work. Format carefully and credit properly. Explain what inspired specific poems and what themes they explore. Show how their poetry affects the community and addresses important issues. Document their journey and evolution as poets. Make it easy for interested parties to reach out if the poet is comfortable with that. ## Related Resources * [Dancers](/heritage/dancers) - Performance artists who often collaborate with poets * [Stories](/heritage/stories) - Narrative photo stories that complement poetic voices * [Community Voices](/content/community-voices) - Opinion pieces and essays from community members