Popularly known as Surprise in his Soweto home town, Itumeleng Segaloe, a poet, writer, speaker and publisher, started writing and performing poetry in his teens as a means to inspire, motivate and educate his audience.

His detention during the student riots in 1985 at a tender age of 16, inspired and sharpened his creative writings and protest performances. He used his creative ability to reflect on the situation he found himself in as a youth activist. In 1987 he founded The Vivid Poets, a group of young people in Soweto who produced, won poetry awards, and performed at various events including Arts Alive, Vita Awards, Market Theatre, SABC TV, and World Council of Churches.

His protest poetry just before the transition to democracy in the early 1990s, was well received at the University of Durban-Westville where he studied Psychology, English, and Political Science. A famous poet and student leader at the then University of Durban-Westville in the early 1990’s, he published his first protest anthology, Have A Look, in 1993. This was followed by Come Closer To Yourself (2012) and its audio book version (2022). In 2015 the SABC televised his poem, Take The Next Step, in commemoration of 16 June 1976 Soweto Uprising. He released his single audio poem “Over Over” in 2023. The 30^th Anniversary Edition of  ‘Have a Look’ was published in 2023.

Itumeleng has grown to be an avid reader, writer, learner and strategist, with Master of Business Administration and number of certificates in digital technology, graphic design and executive programs. In 2023, the Dobsonville Heritage Foundation honored him and was inducted in the Roodepoort Museum for his contribution in uplifting and inspiring learning for young people. His purpose is to open doors, unleash potential and inspire change to advance God’s Kingdom. He is married with two adult daughters and lives in Johannesburg.