Multi-talented ambitious and passionate author Zusiphe Didi recently published her first poetry book a month ago.
The 26-year-old is a career-driven graduate who has worked in various places doing different duties for different positions as working as a news anchor for two radio stations proves how dedicated she is.
Her book “Behind Love, Happiness and Sex, Lies Depression” is a way of her expressing her feelings regarding events she witnessed and experienced firsthand.
“ZUSIPHE is not the subject of every story in this book, but some were. Poetry is nice because it involves feelings. Even if it didn’t happen to you, you feel and see what you write while writing it,” she explains. She adds that one of the poems she wrote “She was raped but surviving” is a story that she was told by someone and decided to jot down how they were feeling.
Despite having challenges to get her book published that did not stop her from continuing and writing what she believed in and the message she wanted to convey on how black parents are so accustomed to the stereotypes surrounding depression that they fail to recognize that it is real and parents ignore the most significant events in their children’s lives.
“One of the motivations for writing this manuscript was pain. My first poem, “My Death, My Harmony” was written when I was on the verge of self-destruction and death appeared to be the only option. I tried to kill myself several times without success, but I didn’t feel bad about it. The only thing that made sense to me was to die right away.”
From all of this ordeal, Zizipho learned that depression is real, that you should check in with loved ones from time to time, and depression is a major cause of death.
“If you are sure that writing is your thing don’t sleep on it, do it right away. Don’t think twice about what you want to say, jot it down immediately,” she concludes.
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