Thando Fuze is a poet, performer, curator and cultural activist whose work explores identity, sexuality, gender justice, politics and the complexities of contemporary Black womanhood. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, she has established herself as a compelling voice in thrilling spoken-word performances and socially engaged creative practice.
Deeply invested in community building and youth empowerment, Fuze founded the SHEfted Minds project in 2016, creating a platform to amplify the voices and creative work of female artists. She has also worked extensively with schools and colleges as a peer educator, using poetry platforms as supportive, transformative spaces for young people to reflect on their often-difficult social realities.
Fuze has featured at major local and international festivals and events, among them the Göteborg Book Fair and the Queer Art Festival in Sweden, the All African Women Poetry Festival in Ghana and both Poetry Africa and the Essence Festival: Articulate Africa, in South Africa. Her poetry has been published in anthologies, including Home Is Where the Mic Is and #Hashtag. Fluent in the Language of Burial is her debut poetry collection.