Thembe M.

I am Thembe Mvula, a South African/British writer, poet, and creative facilitator passionate about storytelling and fostering connection. An alum of the Obsidian Foundation, Barbican Young Poets, and Roundhouse Poetry Collective, I have performed nationally and internationally at venues such as Tate Lates, Oslo Afro Arts Festival, Latitude, and Cheltenham Literature Festival. My poetry has been featured in anthologies like Part of a Story That Started Before Me (Penguin Random House, 2023) and Before Them, We (Flipped Eye Publishing, 2022), as well as in publications such as Magma and Propel magazines.

With a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford, specializing in screenwriting, I combine a love for the written word with visual storytelling. Over the past five years, I’ve led creative writing workshops for schools, charities, and community groups in partnership with organizations like the National Literacy Trust and Apples and Snakes, inspiring confidence and engagement through poetry.

As a TEDx speaker, I presented The Power of Poetry and Vulnerability, emphasizing poetry’s role in building empathy and navigating uncertainty. My goal is to make storytelling and poetry accessible and impactful, empowering others to use creativity as a means for connection and self-expression.