My homeland is my inspiration – writer Mosa Telford

– Do whatever you are naturally inclined to do

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, March 7, 2019

Mosa Telford has been a writer for the hit Guyanese radio drama show “Merundoi”, for thirteen years. The 36-year-old writer was born and raised in Buxton. When her father died, her mother raised Mosa and her three sisters alone. She credits her mother for her strength and her success in raising her and her sisters to morally uprooted women.

Telford said being a Buxtonian, has enabled her to be the Guyanese writer she is today. The political climate in Guyana, during the period 2001-2008, added profound turbulence in her hometown. The death and gang violence which occurred in Buxton grieved the writer and ultimately inspired the themes in her work.

“Being a Buxtonian, I was deeply affected by that because a lot of the people that I knew were killed and some were involved in gangs, so we were deeply affected by that.”

Her poem, “Buried Voices” illustrated the social issues that affected Buxton at the time. Since then, her works have been constantly emulating the social issues in Guyana.

Growing up, Mosa did not know writers who made a living out of the craft. After graduating from North Georgetown Secondary school, she pursued Communications at the University of Guyana. Later she realised that journalism was not her passion.

“I wanted to do Performing Arts”, she exclaimed. Consequently, she was provided with the opportunity by her aunt and uncle to migrate to England and pursue a Diploma in the Performing Arts. When she returned to Guyana, she was selected to be one of the writers for the radio serial Merundoi. “It [Merundoi] opened the windows for so many other things,” Mosa remarked.

Though her career in Guyana is not substantially providing for her financially, the writer remains devoted to her passion, “I believe in being true to yourself and doing whatever you are naturally inclined to do.”  She encouraged other aspiring women in the Arts by saying, “Once you’re happy that’s the most important thing.”

Some of her successful theatrical plays are “Children of Baby” “Before Her Parting” and “Sauda”. These performances embodied themes covering domestic violence, death and the afterlife, mysteries, and other social issues affecting Guyana.

“There are so much to write about in Guyana,” she said.

Telford is a mother of two daughters, Kinaya and Mapenzi ages five and seven respectively. In ten years, envisions herself as a published author.

Alleya Hamilton.

Images: Giovani Gajia.