https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj <p>Open Mic developed out of a need for UWC students to find an appropriate venue to publish their creative work. The journal contains poetry and short stories written by undergraduate students. Students are encouraged to sumit their contributions in their first language or mother tongue with an English translation.</p> University of the Western Cape en-US Open Mic: A Creative Writing Journal 3105-6032 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3217 <p>editorial</p> Nosipho Gxekwa Tando Keke Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3247 <p>The editorial team consists of a group of students who have worked tirelessly to help develop the journal. This team helped develop the Open Mic and other events events, hosted by the library from which contributions to the journal are sourced. the team is supported by administrators from the Writing Center and the Library.</p> Mische Muller Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3227 Ntsako Lyn Copyright (c) 2025 Ntsako Lyn https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3228 <p>Reflection of an African Household</p> Lesego Kgatla Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3229 <p>Miseducation of a Gen Z</p> Omphemetse Matlou Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3230 <p>Lee-Ann Williams - Arts and Humanities, English Literature Department. Lee-Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and an Honours degree in English Literature from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).</p> Lee Ann Williams Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3225 <p>After the Thunder</p> Amohelang Mopeli Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3226 <p>Taught by Her Silence</p> Amohelang Mopeli Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3261 <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Test is a sculptural meditation on comparison, surveillance, and the extraction of value from Black identity. Its title reflects the ongoing examination Black bodies face from colonial instruments of measurement to modern policing of natural hair, beauty, and comportment.</span></p> Nomqhele Hlongwane Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3263 <p>Fragile Link</p> Mische Muller Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3265 <p>Lion Hearted</p> Prince Nxumalo Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3277 <p>Portrait</p> Prince Nxumalo Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3218 <p>Men Say No Too</p> Nsuku Mdau Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3219 <p>Speak Out</p> Khongelani Njomane Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3220 <p>Lee-Ann Williams - Arts and Humanities, English Literature Department. Lee-Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and an Honours degree in English Literature from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).</p> Lee Ann Williams Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3223 <p>Out Run My Shadow</p> Lwandiso Sijemlana Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3224 <p>The Un-Objective Human</p> Lwandiso Sijemlana Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3221 <p>I Refuse to Be Called a Black Woman</p> Ibongwe Mnguni Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3222 <p>Every few years the internet collectively happens upon a group of South Africans calling themselves coloured. In recent memory, South African singer Tyla’s identity was thoroughly scrutinized by the chronically online Americans; sparking contentious debate once again. At its essence; a divide exists, one group sees the term as racially prejudiced due to their historical relationship with it, while coloured South Africans proudly claim it as their identity, heritage, and culture. My orientation is simple; this is who I am and I am proud of it. The context of a word determines its meaning-and neither I, nor my experiences will be erased by people unable to conceptualize the importance of context.</p> Wendall Ockert Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3232 <p>International Day of Peace Open Mic and Dialogue</p> Oluwaseyi Agboola Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3233 <p>Senzani Na?</p> Miriam Tandiwanashe Mukonza Copyright (c) 2025 Miriam Tandiwanashe Mukonza https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3270 <p>The Culture of Peace</p> Oluwaseyi Agboola Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3262 <p>The 10-week Art &amp; Identity extracurricular workshops I offered on Saturdays on campus over the second semester, 2025, were a&nbsp; response to the vision of your rector, Professor Robert Balfour (UWC Vice Chancellor) – himself an artist and poet and aware of the cognitive and personal benefits of arts-based education.<br>A group of 16 participants were drawn from 113 responses to an open advertisement offering free participation in this initiative. The selection was made on a first-come-firstserve basis, and the workshops were to be held on Saturday mornings. The students represented diverse disciplines: Law, Linguistics, Natural Sciences, Economics and Management Sciences, Arts and Humanities and Linguistics. Very few of these students had been exposed to art education; some had never before picked up a brush to paint.</p> Fran Saunders Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3250 <p>Blessings in disguise</p> Lutan Griffiths Copyright (c) 2025 Lutan Griffiths https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3272 <p>Blue lightning flower</p> Lutan Griffiths Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3286 <p>Cover art</p> Mathapelo Khwinana Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3273 <p>Untitled line drawing</p> Mathapelo Khwinana Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3276 <p>Two figures</p> Mathapelo Khwinana Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3274 <p>Circles</p> Siphosethu Dyan Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1 https://epubs.ac.za/index.php/omcwj/article/view/3275 <p>African myth, colage</p> Siphosethu Dyan Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 2 1