Interview With Nono The Poet About Her Poetry Book “Soul Vagina”!

When asked how she thinks her book, Soul Vagina: In Between Sex and God, Who Am I? will be received for years and generations to come, Nomxolisi Ndlangana carefully considers the question before answering, “Depending on which part of the world we’re talking about…this is a book that might be banned. And if that is the case, then I have done something very right.” Ndlangana, known as Nono The Poet, hopes her debut poetry collection will contribute to the movement and progression of women.

In just a few months of its release, Soul Vagina has caused a stir with its bold title, which led to Nono and So Booking Cool discussing why vagina is a controversial word. Even at the book’s launch, a gentleman in the audience admitted that saying or hearing the word “penis” makes him uncomfortable. Women have been able to relate to the book, especially regarding the highs and lows of relationships. “You can expect a lot of sex, yes, but I use it as a medium to explore different ideas about sexuality, self-identity, and the intricacies between two people in a relationship,” the author said.

Ndlangana, 30, has been writing for most of her life. She was born and raised in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and relocated to America nearly a decade ago, fulfilling her dream of coming to New York. She earned her B.A. in Media Studies at Hunter College. While performing spoken word and eventually crafting her EP, Wet Paint, she studied the journey of successful women, such as Oprah. In doing so, she realized there is no straight line to success, which helped her to not be so hard on herself.

Interview With Nono The Poet About Her Poetry Book "Soul Vagina"! by So Booking Cool

In fact, she  discusses how those in her life who are moving up the corporate ladder and have the house, car, etc., have been supportive and are amazed with what she’s accomplished thus far. “They could not be more proud and feel they are lacking next to me, which is crazy because I don’t have half of what they have. But I realized that everybody wants to do what they love…most of the time we settle instead of going after our dreams.”

Listen to our complete interview to learn more about Soul Vagina, Ndlangana’s approach to writing (does she prefer writing with a pen or on a keyboard?), the book that recently made her cry, the importance of having a manager and team, her advice for other fellow writers, developing confidence, her next EP, and more! Visit her official website for more information.