Limpopo Poet Soetry Ramatswi Wins National Slam Title

Limpopo-born poet Solly “Soetry” Ramatswi has been crowned South Africa’s Slam Champion after delivering a powerful performance exploring freedom and the experiences of a generation born after apartheid.

Ramatswi claims national title

Ramatswi took first place at the Poetry Africa National Slam Jam at the Durban Playhouse on Tuesday night, winning the competition with his poem “Born Free.”

Raised in the village of Pollen in Limpopo, the poet used his performance to examine what freedom means for South Africans who were born after the country’s transition to democracy in 1994.

Poetry reflects on freedom

Through “Born Free”, Ramatswi draws on powerful symbols associated with South Africa’s struggle for freedom, including the “Amandla!” chant, the raised fist and images of people waiting in voting queues.

He then shifts the focus towards the realities experienced by younger South Africans, questioning whether the freedom fought for by previous generations has translated into the same sense of liberation for those who came after 1994.

One of the poem’s central lines captures the contrast between generations: “She voted, I slam.”

The performance uses spoken word to explore social challenges, memory and identity while giving voice to the experiences of young people navigating post-apartheid South Africa.

Victory credited to community

Despite winning the national title, Ramatswi said the achievement was not his alone. He credited the people around him for helping him reach the national stage.

“I am a testimony of what community is. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for a lot of people,” he said.

The poet added that although he walked onto the stage alone, the support of his loved ones had played an important role in his journey.

Japan awaits in 2027

Ramatswi’s victory comes with a R20,000 prize and an opportunity to represent South Africa internationally.

As national champion, he will travel to Japan in 2027 to compete at the World Poetry Slam Championship, taking his spoken-word work onto the global stage.

The international opportunity adds another chapter to a career that has already seen Ramatswi establish himself within South Africa’s poetry community.

Established spoken-word performer

Ramatswi is a former Word N Sound Poetry League champion and the founder of Soetry Media and Project Translation.

His work includes the development of the “Sign-In” Slam, which combines performance poetry with South African Sign Language. The project has helped create a space where spoken-word performance can be experienced through both poetry and sign language.

His poetry has also explored themes such as black boyhood and masculinity, using personal experiences to examine wider social and cultural issues.

Poetry Africa celebrates 30 years

Ramatswi’s national victory formed part of the 30th edition of Poetry Africa, an annual international poetry festival presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The national slam competition also saw Glen Mokoena finish as runner-up, while Tsholang Bodibe claimed third place.

Limpopo celebrates local talent

Ramatswi’s success has drawn attention to the growing creative talent emerging from Limpopo. His journey from the village of Pollen to a national competition demonstrates the reach of spoken-word poetry and its ability to connect local experiences with broader national conversations.

With Japan now ahead, Ramatswi says he plans to continue developing his craft and pursuing his ambitions.

“I will continue dreaming. I will grow,” he said.