Zainab Soyfoo, teacher and slam poet: “Our roots help us reach the sky”

You took part in “Enn zour dan enn pei.” What stood out to you in this experience?

For me, it was simply extraordinary: an immense moment of learning and sharing. I led a masterclass with teenagers, but also storytelling sessions for the little ones. The fact that it was an initiative jointly supported by several organizations and directly involving the Ministry of Education is rare, and for me, as a teacher, it’s an incredible opportunity to open that door for students… and even for teachers.

How did you design and run your masterclass?

Together with my colleague Christabelle Duhamel, we designed a full day for young people aged 13 to 16. We began by discussing what a story is and the ones they already knew. Then, I gave them the beginning of a tale, and each had to invent their own continuation. I was amazed: nine participants came up with nine completely different versions! They had no hesitation - just spoke their minds, used multiple languages… This time, they mainly chose French and Mauritian Creole.

What did you personally take away from this workshop?

It reminded me that I, too, still have so much to learn. Their spontaneity was impressive! We adults often have hang-ups: we compare ourselves, we doubt… They just go for it. Their creativity flows like a river.

Was this a first for you in this format?

Yes. It wasn’t slam, but storytelling, with exercises to develop imagination: creating a collective story, sentence by sentence, and showing that a narrative can be built through multiple voices. The possibilities are endless! Some of the stories produced through the project will be published in the secondary school foundation programme.

And how did the storytelling sessions go?

They took place on a Saturday morning, with children aged four to five. It’s a beautiful initiative: it reconnects young people with orality, a tradition we are losing. Stories are our roots. And it is these roots that help us reach the sky.

You are first known as a slam poet. How did this artistic journey begin?

For me, slam was born out of pain, in the form of poems written during lockdown. One day, in my garden, I wrote in Creole: “Mo enn zenfan lanatir…” From there, everything came. I often tell stories in slam, so the transition to storytelling was natural - like a butterfly taking flight.
In 2023, I took part in the Slam League. It was intense: two texts per month. I wanted to quit, but I held on. In 2024, in Réunion Island, I received the "Coup de cœur" distinction during the “Koktèl Fonnkèr” event. But I prefer sharing over competition: I want to speak from the heart.