Wole Adedoyin interviews Manasses Kabugi: The Voiceless Need Someone to Speak on Their Behalf and Echo Their Grievances

WA: WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BEGIN WRITING POETRY CENTERED ON HUMAN RIGHTS THEMES?
KABUGI: Witnessing the increasing disregard for human rights and the intentional inaction by the political class motivated me to begin writing poetry focused on these themes.

WA: HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POETRY AND ACTIVISM?
KABUGI: Poetry is one of the avenues through which activism can be pursued, though not all poetry is intended to be activist in nature.

WA: WHICH SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND WHY?
KABUGI: Equity. Because no one is more human than another—we are all equal and deserve equal treatment.

WA: CAN YOU RECALL A MOMENT WHEN YOUR POETRY SPARKED A CONVERSATION OR ACTION ON A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE?
KABUGI: I haven’t yet written or published a piece that specifically sparked a public conversation or action on a particular human rights issue.

WA: HOW DO YOU BALANCE EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION AND POLITICAL MESSAGE IN YOUR POEMS?
KABUGI: I achieve this balance by being creative and avoiding personal attacks or name-calling, which helps maintain objectivity while still expressing deep emotion.

WA: DO YOU FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY AS A POET TO GIVE VOICE TO THE VOICELESS?
KABUGI: Yes, I do. The voiceless need someone to articulate their grievances. If I don't do it, who will?

WA: HAVE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOUR UNDERSTANDING OR EXPRESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS?
KABUGI: Absolutely. My experiences have shown me how a lack of political will can undermine even the most sincere efforts to protect human rights.

WA: HOW DO YOU RESEARCH OR STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES YOU WRITE ABOUT?
KABUGI: I stay informed primarily by actively following news from credible media sources.

WA: WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING POETRY ON DIFFICULT OR TRAUMATIC TOPICS?
KABUGI: One major challenge is choosing the right words to paint an accurate and powerful picture—words that move the reader to take action, not just pity the writer.

WA: HAVE YOU FACED ANY BACKLASH OR CENSORSHIP BECAUSE OF YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS-FOCUSED WORK?
KABUGI: Not yet.

WA: WHICH POETS OR THINKERS HAVE INSPIRED YOUR ACTIVISM THROUGH LITERATURE?
KABUGI: Kithaka Wa Mberia, Chinua Achebe, and Henrik Ibsen have greatly influenced my literary activism.

WA: DO YOU SEE YOUR POETRY AS A FORM OF PROTEST, TESTIMONY, OR BOTH?
KABUGI: Both. I write to resist injustice and also to document experiences I've observed or encountered.

WA: HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR WORK REMAINS AUTHENTIC WHEN WRITING ABOUT COMMUNITIES OR STRUGGLES YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY PART OF?
KABUGI: I make sure to gather facts and base my work on real issues. This approach helps me craft pieces that are respectful, informed, and authentic.

WA: HAVE YOU COLLABORATED WITH NGOS, MOVEMENTS, OR ADVOCACY GROUPS THROUGH YOUR POETRY?
KABUGI: Not yet.

WA: WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR POETRY HAS ON READERS—EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, OR SOCIALLY?
KABUGI: I hope readers connect emotionally with victims, become intellectually aware of injustices they might not have known, and feel socially compelled to stand up against oppression and defend the voiceless.

WA: DO YOU INCORPORATE LOCAL LANGUAGES, HISTORY, OR CULTURAL REFERENCES WHEN ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS IN YOUR WORK?
KABUGI: I mainly incorporate history, social norms, spiritual principles, and both national and international human rights statutes.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG POETS WHO WANT TO WRITE ABOUT JUSTICE AND EQUITY?
KABUGI: They should freely express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences through creative writing. They must also be deliberate, careful, and make good use of literary devices.

WA: CAN YOU SHARE A SPECIFIC POEM OR LINE THAT YOU FEEL BEST REPRESENTS YOUR COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS?
KABUGI: "And the new mantra is tribeless, faceless, party-less, and leaderless."

WA: HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE HOPE AND DESPAIR WHEN WRITING ABOUT THE INJUSTICES IN THE WORLD?
KABUGI: I don’t shy away from showing vulnerability. I see it as the starting point for inspiring hope in both the body and conclusion of my poems.

WA: WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE FUTURE OF POETRY IN HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY?
KABUGI: Poetry will continue to play an increasingly significant role in advocating for human rights. Its emotional depth and creative delivery make it a powerful tool for awakening consciousness and inspiring change.

Manasses Kabugi is a passionate Kenyan writer whose love for poetry and short stories stems from their boundless ability to convey deep thoughts and emotions. While he began writing about love and relationships, his creative focus has broadened to explore pressing social issues and human rights. For Manasses, writing is like painting—each piece an opportunity to translate vivid mental images into impactful, thought-provoking works. His entry into the National Poetry Competition marked a significant step in using his voice to reflect on Kenya's Gen Z protests and advocate for justice. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he shares insights into his creative journey and growing interest in spoken word performance.