Samkelo Xolani Mhlongo is a South African poet from Osabeni, KwaMaphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, currently based in KwaMashu. He began writing and performing poetry at age eight at Umphumulo Primary School. His work seeks to amplify unheard and overlooked voices while exploringthemes of identity, spirituality, human consciousness, and lived experiences in isiZulu and English. Influenced by Professor D.B.Z. Ntuli’s view of imagery as “the cornerstone of poetry,” Samkelo uses vivid, layered imagery to make ideas and emotions tangible. He is a two-time Poetry Africa Boardroom Slammers champion and a Top 10 finalist in the 2024 Let The Poet Slam and 2026 Poetry Africa’s National Slam Jam.
