"WENA!" is Ntsiki Mazwai's first book of poems. The word "first" is used with intent, because this immensely talented young lady is barely on the threshold of what is clearly going to be highly creative career.

The collection of poems is an intriguing reflection of the sometimes tortuous evolution of inner self which so many "new" South Africans face as they struggle to find who they are in a multi-cultural society that espouses the values of traditional culture while reaching for the promises of a global community. Thus the blend of Xhosa and English as she strives to merge her modern views with cultural roots. Ntsiki feels strongly the need to reclaim her culture and language and blend them within the context of a cosmopolitan society.

The poems arch from her earliest memories to dreams for the future. They speak of her love - her love for life, for a deeper understanding of the whys and hows and her objection to what she considers unacceptable. They challenge and question and yet are full of flirtation and laughter. There are poems of contemplation and pain, while others swagger almost mockingly across the page.

She captures the "vibe and energy" of young South Africa and its blossoming as well as its quandaries. Ntsiki does not hesitate to deal with controversial and painful issues, such as rape, and her work challenges the reader to stop and think, really think. The quest for self-expression and self-understanding echoes throughout the book and through it, she exhorts the reader to have the courage to explore and understand himself. Underlying many poems is the unspoken but burning desire that by telling the truth, she will create possibilities for others to do the same.

In many ways, "Wena" is a celebration of life. They brim over with Ntsiki's own desire to drink to the full and then go out there and pour love and life out into the world. The manner in which she distils meaning and value from the negative is perhaps best expressed in her own words, from the poem, "I choose life"

"I choose life
because today's sadness,
must pave the way to
tomorrow’s gladness."