Becca the Poet: Poetry has enhanced my courage and shaped my worldview

Embrace poetry in all forms and find ways to fix it in what you do; find joy in what you do, for that will always keep you going

Becca the Poet.

• She started chasing her passion while still in primary school.
• She has been intentional to perfect the art, interacting with professionals for better perspectives.
• She juggles poetry with her advocacy roles.

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Rebecca Mongina, who goes by the stage name Becca the Poet, is a vibrant lady who has intertwined her career in teaching with her talent in poetry.

She is also an actor, writer, and certified thespian. 

Becca is a graduate of Kisii University who, while still pushing her talents to greater heights, is currently working with Daraja United Women and Youth Empowerment (DAUWOYE), an NGO empowering and sensitizing youth and women on HIV/AIDS and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). 

At the NGO, she works as an anti-GBV activist, peer educator, mentor, “Sasa together” activist, and a gender champion.

Scholar Media Africa had an exclusive interview with Becca the Poet to see life through her eyes and understand her journey so far.

Discovering her talent

It all started at Tonga Omonuri Boarding Primary School, where, at a young age, she was tasked to recite a choral verse on stage for the congregation during an AGM.

Although she was nervous at first, she ended up thrilling the entire audience that had officials from the county government. 

In appreciation from the guests, she received almost KSh3500 that very day. This enthused her to keep moving towards exploring her talent in poetry.

She dedicated her energy to it. 

Why poetry?

At the availability of diverse genres, from music to plays, “My passion is purely in poetry. Although I am a teacher by profession, poetry is what runs through my veins,” she explains.

Becca the Poet says poetry offers her the avenue to express her thoughts, daily emotions, and challenges. She also believes her talent lies there.

Type of poetry

She has ventured purely into contemporary poetry, mainly focusing on nature and modernity as her primary themes. 

She says as a contemporary poet, she can write freely and fast enough without going through the burden of rhyme and meter. 

This way, she is able to retain some aspects or phrases she feels her audience will want to hear from her or that make her poem appealing.

Crafting the poems

Becca confirms that composing her poems is relatively easy because nature, emotions, daily activities and the trending world give her ideas. 

She says crafting poems this way makes her mimic the entire societal happenings and how she feels toward them.

Becca is well-exposed to poetry through the various fora and platforms in which she has performed and the people she has interacted with in her poetry journey. 

Finding inspiration

After primary education, she joined Sironga Girls High School, where she performed on a number of occasions, building her confidence on stage.

She has interacted with a lot of renowned poets from across the globe.

She worked closely with Dr. Christopher Okemwa, an experienced writer and poet from Kenya, who was also her lecturer during her undergraduate studies at Kisii University. 

She has also been inspired by her former lecturer and thespian, Dr. George Nyandoro of Kisii University, who teaches Theater Arts. 

She has since written a lot of poems, most of which have been published, some aired, and others recited during high school music festival performances. 

Becca the Poet is a co-author of Black Rootedness, an anthology that brings together writers from across the globe.

Her second book, the first of her own, is expected to be out and in circulation within this month.

In that anthology, she has written two poems: “From the desert” and “When I grow up”, two impressive poems that she uses to express her roots and what nature has thrown at her.

Some of her other works have been published in: “Shackles of pain” Anthology of poems compiled by Jael Migiro, Kistrech International poetry magazines, The Writers Pen monthly magazine, World of Dreams poetry monthly magazine, and Summer love poems monthly magazine.

“My performances have been featured in KTN Life and Style show, which used to be hosted by Brian Aseli and Ann Nixxi, Kisii FM Talanta show, Kistrech International Poetry Festival, an annual arts performance,” she explains.

“I have performed on stage at various levels and up to date, I still go on stage to perform poetry, sometimes acting in other genres of theatre arts,” Becca explains.

Poetry and occupation

Although poetry and advocacy are two different career paths, she has been trying to handle them both. 

“It’s, however, hectic to work through the schedules at my current workplace while still giving to poetry,” she told Scholar Media. 

As a lover of advocacy, she has been spending most of her daytime at the DAUWOYE.

On juggling the two commitments, she says, “I have disciplined myself to be focusing on my poetry in the evenings and whenever I get free time.”

Its essence

Becca the Poet has integrated poetry into her line of work and daily chores. 

She, at times, uses it in her current occupation to engage her audience on matters of life’s importance. 

She says that in youth forums and during events like International AIDS Day, and Women’s Day, among others related to what DAUWOYE does, she uses those forums to show her talent. 

“Poetry has built my courage and led me to maturity concerning my perspectives and worldview. Stage performances from time to time have boldened me, turning me to a courageous lady,” Becca the Poet appreciates.

You may wonder whether poetry has any monetary value. Becca admits that, at first, poetry to her was all about passion and exercising talent, but she gradually mastered the art of capitalizing on her talent and earning something from this entertainment genre.

Since her maiden earning as monetary appreciation from poetry at a very young age at her former primary school, she has hitherto continued to earn from the art.

Even after graduating, she remains active in commercial poetry. 

According to her, when talent meets passion and hard work, she is able to achieve her goals and deliver impactful poetic results to her audience.

Striking a balance 

Typically, handling two occupations can be exhausting and time-consuming. 

“I am trying to balance them. During the day, I work at the NGO, and during the night and any free time, I give time to my poetry,” Becca sheds light on the matter.

“At times, multitasking threatens to wear me out or diminish the quality of my creativity in poetry,” Becca admits.

She warns that it’s a tight path that needs dedication and a lot of commitment; otherwise, you will let one lag behind or kill one career.

Challenges on the course

As in other genres of theatre arts, the financial part of it becomes tricky and discourages many.

“Publishing has been the toughest challenge so far in poetry. The costs are quite high, and sometimes, an author may publish books and afford to sell only a few copies. That demoralizes you as a writer,” she narrates.

Becca the Poet also says starting and sustaining a writer’s blog takes time and once you are in, you need to keep working to keep your audience informed.

This pressures her when she is simultaneously squeezed by her other roles in the NGO.

She also says that it has proved to be problematic to choose between being a teacher, working in an NGO, or sticking to poetry. 

This remains a puzzle to be solved as time goes by; she has to choose between passion, talent, and career or build a career from her passion.

Becca’s word

“People need to embrace talent and nurture it to maturity. You can never know how good you are until you rise to the occasion and prove yourself right or wrong,” she advises.

She says the world is full of opportunities that people don’t realize early enough. 

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To anyone pursuing a talent or passion in poetry, “Embrace poetry in all forms and find ways to fix it in what you do. Lastly, find joy in what you do because that will always keep you going,” she encourages.