Smiley NTK Thefir5t is a Zambian multi-talented artist and Author, proficient in Spoken Word Poetry, Directing, note-taking and Script-writing; in other words he is always writing. That’s a lot of writes, right?

He was born Kondwelani Tembo Nguluwe from parents Peter Mwalumo Nguluwe and Royce Tembo Shawa-Nguluwe, on 5th December, 1994, in Lusaka, Zambia. Smiley Thefir5t’s love for the literary arts surfaced at tender age. While in his first grade, his teacher would call him to her desk, and ask him to create stories, in his own words, from images she would give him. Though the task was meant to keep him from sitting idly after a class task — he wrote too fast, as expected –, it would later inspire in him a Poet in 2013, when he wrote his first poem, ‘WISDOM’; Script Writer in 2015, he rewrote the play ‘WHO AMONGST US?’ originally by Lytton Phiri Jr.; Director in 2016, for Chazanga Primary School’s Drama and Poetry, alongside JR The Second; and now Author.

It is better to try and fail than fail to try; and when you do try, and fail, try again. Creation was not completed in a day!!!

-Kondwelani Tembo Nguluwe-

Growing up he attended Kizito Basic (Now Primary) School up to eighth grade, then moved to Twalumba Basic School in grade nine. He did his high school at Highland High (Now Secondary) School. Hailing from humble beginnings, he is an artist keen to explore and experiment in different avenues of art, and has love for Christ Jesus, aiming to inspire, motivate and exalt. His works draw inspiration from life itself and the world at large, for he prefers dynamic, outside-the-box thinking than to the confines of single mindedness. And he is not one that easily gives up on a good thing.

Smiley has made appearances on various platforms such as G.I.J’s POWER Of TRUTH Concert, Word Smash Poetry, The Poet Spring and The Cliquerz’s OPEN MIC KNIGHTS. Smiley NTK Thefir5t is founder and co-founder of E.P.I.C Motion Media and Blaak Roots Poets, respectively. He lives in Lusaka, Zambia, with his three brothers, and an overused notebook.

His debut book, MY CONFESSIONAL LETTERS, a poetry ebook, was released on 5th December, 2019.