Wole Adedoyin interviews Wangari Margaret Wanjiru: My Poetry Challenges People to See What’s Hidden, to Listen to the Quiet Cries, and to Act

WA: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A POET?
WANGARI: My name is Wangari Margaret Wanjiru, but most people know me by my creative names, Miz_poets or MissHighWrites. I’m a poet, writer, and performer from Kenya. Writing started as a way for me to process difficult emotions and experiences while growing up. Over time, poetry became more than a coping mechanism—it became my way of healing, connecting, and speaking up for things that matter. My work often reflects on identity, trauma, justice, and the strength found in vulnerability.

WA: HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS POETRY COMPETITION?
WANGARI: I found out about it online while scrolling through poetry opportunities. The moment I saw the words “HUMAN RIGHTS” and “POETRY” together, I knew this was a space where my voice belonged.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPETITION?
WANGARI: Honestly, I was drawn by the chance to use my voice for something bigger than me. I’ve lived through experiences that made me painfully aware of what oppression looks and feels like. I wanted to speak not only for myself, but for others who carry similar scars in silence. This competition gave me the space to do that.

WA: WHAT SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE DID YOUR POEM FOCUS ON?
WANGARI: Oppression focuses on systemic silencing, especially of children and young girls—those who often endure abuse, injustice, and neglect in environments meant to protect them. It also speaks to the quiet resistance that builds within the oppressed and the fire that eventually burns through the chains.

WA: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR HUMAN RIGHTS THEME FOR YOUR POEM?
WANGARI: Because it’s my truth. I’ve seen what silence can do to a person. I’ve lived in systems where justice felt far away and where survival meant staying quiet. Writing about oppression helped me process that pain while turning it into something empowering.

WA: CAN YOU SHARE THE INSPIRATION OR STORY BEHIND YOUR SUBMITTED POEM?
WANGARI: It came from a place of deep reflection. I started thinking about how many people—especially in Africa—are told to stay quiet to survive. I wanted to speak on behalf of voices still trapped in fear or trauma. The poem flows from pain but ends in power, because that has been my journey: growing, healing, and fighting back with my voice.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POETIC STYLE OR APPROACH TO WRITING ON SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES?
WANGARI: My style is emotional and direct, with strong imagery. I try to paint pictures with words—ones that linger in the mind and stir something in the heart. I often write in rhyme, but I focus more on the feeling behind the words. I want readers to see themselves, or someone they know, in my work.

WA: WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHILE WRITING YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS COMPETITION?
WANGARI: Revisiting buried emotions and memories was difficult. Writing Oppression felt like peeling off old scabs. But I knew I had to do it—not just for myself, but for anyone who has ever felt trapped in silence.

WA: HOW DO YOU THINK POETRY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA?
WANGARI: Poetry reaches people in ways facts sometimes can’t. It speaks to the heart before the mind. In Africa—where storytelling is deeply rooted in our culture—poetry can educate, inspire, and even spark revolutions. It gives the voiceless a microphone.

WA: IN WHAT WAYS HAS PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION CHANGED OR BROADENED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS?
WANGARI: It reminded me how universal the struggle is. Learning about other poets and their work made me realize that we are all fighting for something—justice, safety, identity, freedom. It gave me a sense of solidarity and purpose beyond my personal story.

WA: WERE THERE ANY OTHER POEMS OR POETS IN THE COMPETITION THAT PARTICULARLY MOVED OR INSPIRED YOU?
WANGARI: Yes. The title “SILENCE NEVER EVEN SAVED US” stayed with me. It felt like a mirror to my own story. Reading other entries showed me that despite coming from different countries, we carry similar burdens—and similar hope.

WA: WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR POEM?
WANGARI: That silence is not safety. That even in darkness, there is a spark of resistance that can grow. And that unity, empathy, and speaking out are our strongest weapons against oppression.

WA: HOW HAS THIS COMPETITION HELPED SHAPE YOUR GROWTH AS A POET AND AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE?
WANGARI: It affirmed that poetry is not just a personal art—it is activism. This competition helped me step into the role of a poet with purpose, not just pain.

WA: DO YOU BELIEVE POETRY HAS A UNIQUE ROLE IN CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES? WHY?
WANGARI: Yes, absolutely. Poetry is accessible, emotional, and powerful. It breaks down complex issues and makes them feel real, raw, and urgent. That’s why it is such an important tool for awareness.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE COMPETING WITH POETS FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES?
WANGARI: Beautiful. It feels like being part of a large creative family, with each person bringing their culture and truth to the table. I’ve felt inspired, seen, and deeply connected.

WA: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THE THEMES YOU EXPLORE IN YOUR POETRY?
WANGARI: My poetry is deeply personal. Much of what I write comes from lived experiences—things I couldn’t say out loud when I was younger. Now, I turn that pain into words, hoping they resonate with others and maybe even help heal a few hearts.

WA: WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR POETRY WILL HAVE ON BOTH AFRICAN SOCIETIES AND THE GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT?
WANGARI: I hope my poetry challenges people to see what’s hidden, to listen to quiet cries, and to act. Globally, I hope it reminds the world that African voices deserve to be heard—not as victims, but as storytellers, survivors, and change-makers.

WA: HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE USING POETRY AS A TOOL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY?
WANGARI: I plan to share more spoken-word pieces online, publish a collection, and collaborate with advocacy groups focused on mental health, gender equality, and child rights. Poetry is my voice, and I intend to keep using it.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE ENTRANTS OF THIS COMPETITION?
WANGARI: Speak your truth. Don’t water it down. Your voice is valid, your story matters, and your words can move mountains. Even if you’re afraid—write anyway.

WA: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY UPCOMING POETRY PROJECTS OR PUBLICATIONS YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
WANGARI: Yes. I’m working on a poetry collection titled “ASHES IN BLOOM.” It explores survival, growth, and reclaiming power after pain. I also plan to launch a video poetry series on TikTok and Instagram under MissHighWrites to reach more people through visual storytelling.

Wangari Margaret Wanjiru, known creatively as Maggie Shiroh or MissHighWrites, is a Kenyan poet and spoken word artist whose work centers on healing, identity, justice, and mental health. She began writing as a personal form of expression and has grown into a powerful voice advocating for social change. Her poetry draws deeply from lived experience, often blending emotional vulnerability with bold calls for truth. Maggie shares her work through performances and digital platforms, using her art to shed light on unspoken pain and the resilience of the human spirit. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, she speaks on her journey, purpose, and poetic activism.