LoveArtLife Publishing is proud to celebrate the official arrival of a powerful poetic voice.

Sound of My Voice: Poetry From The Journey by Aafroqween (Fisiwe Zwana Freeman), is an evocative journey that celebrates identity, heritage, and self-discovery.

This collection is not merely a book; it is a lens into an "introspective migration," documenting the path of a voice finding its place from the Deep South to Southern Africa. Aafroqween describes the work as the organic progression of discovering her own voice, using poetry to hear and be heard as a Black woman.

PODCAST EPISODE 1: SUMMARY

In the debut episode of The Sound of Our Voices, host Tracy Wingfield sits down with vocalist, poet, and spoken word artist Aafroqween to celebrate the release of her poetry collection, Sound of My Voice: Poetry from the Journey. Aafroqween, who is also the co-founder and artistic director of Love Art Life TV as well as the curator of the virtual spoken word space The Sunrise Scribe, opens up about her personal and artistic journey.

Defining “The Sound of My Voice”

For Aafroqween, the “sound of her voice” manifests through poetry, writing, and singing. These artistic outlets serve as her primary means to explore her feelings, process lived experiences, and express herself with clarity and authenticity. While others may find their voice through painting or dance, her journey to self-recognition and self-expression relies on spoken word and music.

An Introspective Migration

Aafroqween describes her poetry collection as an “introspective migration”—a journey from places of silences to a place where her voice is loud and valid. She shares how her heritage spans two distinct regions:

• The American South: Her maternal roots trace back to Alabama.
• Southern Africa: Her father hails from Zimbabwe.

These distinct cultural landscapes shape her internal world and come through naturally in her writing.

Breaking Through Silence

Discussing the hurdles of finding one’s voice, Aafroqween highlights the experience of being silenced—both intentionally and unintentionally—as a Black woman. Systemic pressures, societal beauty standards, and gender expectations often suppress women’s voices.

In overcoming these barriers, she emphasizes the importance of balance: taking up space without reacting with bitterness or unnecessary belligerence, but rather remaining intentional about how one shows up in the world.

Poetry as an Outstretched Hand

Aafroqween describes poetry as “a hand ever outstretched,” representing a constant reach for clarity, understanding, language, and connection with other women sharing similar experiences.

When asked what line readers should hold onto, she highlights a passage from her poem “A Love Poem to Self”:

“And I love you, because if I don’t set the standard, who will ever love me like they should?”

She notes that setting this inner standard is essential for self-worth and ensuring one isn’t relying on external forces for fulfillment.

Growth and Finding an Organic Rhythm

Reflecting on how her voice has evolved over time, Aafroqween shares that her earlier writing was a reaction to being silenced—an urgent call to be seen. Over the years, as her life experiences expanded as a mother and artist, her voice grew more transparent, introspective, and honest.

To anyone beginning their own journey of self-discovery, she advises finding an organic rhythm rather than forcing progress based on societal expectations. Whether taking baby steps or making bold leaps, the key is confronting the fear of making mistakes and allowing oneself the space to grow.

Sound of My Voice: Poetry from the Journey by Aafroqween is published by Love Art Life Publishing and is available on loveartlife.tv.

Order your copy today at loveartlife.tv and join a community of travelers finding their truth. https://loveartlife.tv/product/sound-of-my-voice-by-fisiwe-zwana-freeman/

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