African Poetry Chatroom

Mbizotheblackpoet Resume

2011-11-28T23:53:00.000-08:00

Mbizo Chirasha born in Zvishavane district [1978] ,is aninternationally acclaimed performance poet, writer, and creativeprojects facilitator and live literature producer. He was thepoet-in-residence: from 2001-2004 for the Iranian embassy/UN dialogueamong civilizations project; the United Nations Information Center -2001-2008; In 2003 Mbizo was the New Generation Poetry Delegate at TheGothenburg International Book Fair, Nordic African Institute WritersSeminar, Swedish Writers Union reading night in Sweden. He was anartist in resident in the Atelier Alexandra Art School in Egypt 2006.He was the Convener/Event Consultant THIS IS AFRICA POETRY NIGHT 2004- 2006; official performance poet Zimbabwe International Travel Expoin 2007, He is a regular guest performing poet at the Zimbabweinternational Book Fair, Harare International festival of the Arts,Zimbabwe German Society various programs.He was the poet in residence at the international conference ofAfrican culture and development/ ICACD Ghana November 2009; andofficial Poet SADC Poetry Festival, NAMIBIA September 2009. A delegateto the UNESCO photo novel writing project in Tanzania, Mbizo is theOfficial poet in residence for the ISOLA/ international conference oforal literature 2010 in Kenya. In 2010 Mbizo participated as a guestperformance poet at the Harare International Protest Arts Festival,Ukhubambana Youth for Peace Festival, Patsimeredu Buddyz Festival. Thepoet was instrumental in the celebration of the Black History Monthfor February 2011 organized by the Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights andthe United State Embassy Harare's Public Affairs Department. Mbizo wasthe guest poet of 2011 hosted by the US Embassy ,Harare on theinternational poetry day , He has curated and founded a number ofpoetry projects including, This is Africa Poetry Night2004-2006,African drums poetry festival-2007,The Young writers caravanproject 2003-2004,Young poetry conference -2006,Cross fertilization/poetry/visual arts project in collaboration with Zimbabwe Germansociety-2007He is widely published in more than thirty-five journals, magazines,and anthologies around the world in countries including Canada,Germany, Finland, South Africa, United kingdom, Ghana, Turkey,Grenada, India, United States, Norway, Zimbabwe among others.HeCo-Authored a poetry book with Sweta Vikram an indian born , newyorkbased author /poet[WHISPERING WOES OF GANGES AND ZAMBEZI],mbizopublished in more than 45 journals and anthologies ,websites andezines around the world.My book ,Good Morning president/ 2011 byDiaspora publishers in UK

Poetry Contributions by Mbizo Chirasha AKA BlackPoet to variouspublications around the world

South Africa / -Consciousness Magazine, Sibali Journal
Canada / -Ditch journal, Red fez entertainment journal, Paragon Press[Memorial University Creative Writing in Alberta2009] , Sun and SnowAnthology[Africa /Canada collaboration literary effort] , Wordgathering Journal.
United States /-Aids out Africa journal [2004 all Africa HIV/AIDS anti-stigma PoetryContest, Poem2day Critical Review, Velvet Illusion journal,Poetry.Com, Phathood Literary Magazine, Psychic Literature Review,Full of Crow journal, African Writer.Com Journal, World PoetryMovement Contest [2011,pending] , Cultural studies journal 2007
.Senegal- A Collection of Poems Radio Africa/ 2008
United Kingdom /- Forward Press Journals and Anthologies [2009-2011],Mazwi journal [2009]Wales /- Kushinda Arts Journal [2010]
Haiti/Great Britain/- Poems Lime Jewel [Haiti Disaster Solidarityfundraising poetry/stories in Anthology 2010]
Finland/- Collection of Poems in the Ovi Magazine [2007-2011]
India/- Poems in Posy of Poesy Anthology2009, Poets Paradise Anthology 2010 [Collections ofWorld Poetry in English/English Dept/JKC College in Guntur], - Whispering Woes of Ganges and Zambezi [Co-authored Poetryanthology by Mbizo Chirasha /Zimbabwe and New York Based Indian bornSweta Vikram/ a Cyber wit Press Publication August 2011]
Turkey /– BH, Samat Icsrilankastargate Journal April 2010Ghana/ - Poems in Volumes of One Ghana One Voice, Poem in ICACDJournal [Poet in Residence 2009]Norway /
– Poems SAIH Website [Norwegian student journal, 2002]
Germany /- Poems in Lyrik-line, Poems in Whispers of the ContinentAnthology for 2012
Zimbabwe /- United States Public Affairs Section Website 2011 [Poemsfor US Ambassador Charles Ray New Generation Poets/Black History MonthCelebration ] , Daily News in Zimbabwe Poetry Column[ April-July 2011], The Mail Newspaper [Africa Day Poetry Special 2011], United NationsInformation Centre Bulletins[2001-2008], Iranian Embassy magazines[2001 -2005] Poetry Bulawayo Journal,Budding Writers Association/Writer Scroll journal[2002-2003], NCAConstitution Journal [2004-2007] , Africa Poetry Chat room blog[2007-2011] ,MbizotheBlackPoet blog [2011], Poetry for Somalia blog,Collection of Mbizo Chirasha Face Book Notes[2009-cont], Motomagazine[ gweru 1997-98]

For more information about - Mbizo Chirasha, Profiles, Achievements,Programs, Festivals, Readings, News Interviews, Artists in residenceprograms and other published worksGoogle using -Mbizo Chirasha or the Black PoetFace booking - Mbizo ChirashaNavigate Mbizo Chirasha on the following Web Blogs,www.mbizotheblackpoet.blogspot.com www.poetrychatroom.blogspot.com www.girlchildcreativity.blogspot.com www.poetryforsomalia.blogspot.comEmail Mbizo Chirasha on the following emails,africapoetrychatroom@gmail.com mbizoc@yahoo.co.uk mbizotheblackpoet@gmail.comCall Mbizo Chirasha on the following number/ +263 734 33230

2011-06-22T02:33:00.000-07:00

Opening up Creative Spaces for the Girl Child
Culture - Inside Art
Monday, 13 June 2011 10:50
6Share

A new organisation focusing on nurturing creative talent in girl children has been launched. Named Girl Child Creativity, the group will focus on spotting and developing artistic ability in girls between the ages of 12 and 19 from all over Zimbabwe.
Co-ordinated by poet Mbizo Chirasha, the Girl Child Creativity and Motivational project is aimed at reducing female under-representation in the literary arts, creative writing poetry and performance arts.
^ Mbizo Chirasha addresses guests at the Girl Child Creativity launch. To the left is US Embassy spokesperson, Sharon Hudson-Dean.
Speaking at the launch held in Harare this week, the opulently vocal Chirasha said, “We want to teach the girls how to find opportunities with their talents and develop them. We want to avoid the syndrome in the country currently where people want to fly yet they can only crawl.”
The launch was attended by US Embassy spokes person Sharon Hudson Dean, Ambassador Hotel General Manager Gary Webstock, journalists and other invited guests.
The organisation will start its operations by hosting an all female motivational workshop to be held at the Chiedza Childcare Centre on June 15 and 16 and this will coincide with the Day of the African Child celebrations.
^ Guests at the launch which was held at the New Ambasador Hotel. The hotel’s general manager, Gary Webstock, gave the venue and refreshments at no cost as part of their support for the initiative.
Chirasha said, “The uniqueness of this activity is that twenty-five female students will attend a workshop which will be moderated by four female new generation poets and writers. This will help the girls to interrogate issues of self identification, talent realization, creative motivation and inspiration.”
The Girl Child Creativity team is made up of Mbizo Chirasha (Girl Child Creativity producer, coordinator), Agnes Gudza (Press Focal person), Rebbecca Zeggler-Mano (workshop participants Advisor), Rutendo Tapiwa Chigudu (guest poet, workshop facilitator), Thando Sibanda (Content editor), Primrose Dzenga (Advisor, facilitator), Eve Nyemba (guest reader, poet, girl child creativity motivator), Cynthia FlowChild Marangwanda (Guest poet, workshop facilitator)and Black Heat Deshanti (guest poet, workshop facilitator).
- Trevor Makonyonga for Zimbo Jam

creating creative spaces for girls

2011-06-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

Creating creative spaces for girls

MASIMBA BIRIWASHA, GROUP ONLINE EDITOR HARARE - Jun 14 2011 16:27

A new project, Girl Child Creativity (GCC), aimed at mitigating the under-representation and unbalanced participation of young females in the arts in Zimbabwe, was launched last week in Harare. The project which is brainchild of internationally-acclaimed performance poet and writer, Mbizo Chirasha and veteran filmmaker and broadcaster, Agnes Gudza, is aimed at enhancing the ability of girl children to develop themselves mentally and creatively.“The aim of this project is to reduce the under-representation of young women in the creative industry. We want to teach the girls how to find opportunities with their talents and develop them. We want to avoid the syndrome in the country currently where the girl child wants to fly yet she can only be allowed to crawl,” said Chirasha.“We are going to have motivational poetry and writing workshops. In future, we are going to have talent-realisation programmes where we are going to have accomplished writers, musicians and promoters talking to the girls on how to identify and nurture their talents.”Agnes Gudza, operations manager of the project and renowned filmmaker, said the project was aimed at empowering the mental capacity of young girls so they could become creative in all aspects of the arts and their lives.She added that the purpose of the programme is to reach out to a lot of girls especially in rural areas. Chirasha said GCC is working in collaboration with the US Public Affairs, the New Ambassador Hotel, Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe, as well as Chiedza Childcare Centre, to reach out to disadvantaged and marginalised girls in the country. He said the first part of the programme will be rolled out in Harare before moving to Gweru, Masvingo and the rest of the country.

Mbizo a Conscious Poet

2011-06-05T23:56:00.000-07:00

Poetry Profile: Mbizo Chirasha

Karabo Mkhabela
June 7, 2010

Mbizo Chirasha is an internationally acclaimed performance poet,writer and creative projects consultant has worked as a guest poet in Namibia Haiti presidential fundraising project. Poet in residence of international conference of African culture and development/ICACD 2009. Poet in residence United Nations information centre 2001-2008.Poet in residence for Iranian embassy/UN dialogue among civilizations project2001-2004. Official performance poet Zimbabwe International Travel Expo 2007. Media/Publicity Advisor inaugural Jibilika Dance festival Zimbabwe 2007. Festival Program Consultant Zimbabawe Peace festival 2006. Convener/Event Consultant THIS IS AFRICA POETRY NIGHT 2004-2006. Official Poet Sadc Poetry Festival,NAMIBIA 2009.

Mbizo is the Official poet in residence for the ISOLA/international conference of oral literature 2010 university of Nairobi,also the Guest poet at the Arts in Translation conference in ICELAND 2010 , OFFICIAL INVITED GUEST PERFOMANCE POET AT TAMBO INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL,CAMP MOZAMBIQUE 2010 AND THE DRUM CAFE PEACE FESTIVAL IN KENYA 2010.

The Following is Mbizo’s latest work
________________________________________________

Golgotha episode 911

ballot defecating shadows of hunger over

poverty creased napkins of my mind

slums farting anopheles into the gutters of my blood

long departed hunters urinated bullets into iron uterus of

war tired peasants

giving birth to atomic bombs

and suckling grenades

media wizards imbibing propaganda salami

and slogan pizza

hunger mandraxed rabbis licking fingers after chalk dust noon meals

i am a word dynamite fumigating corrupt economic bedbugs

sucking out the fertility of our sunshine

clouds of hungry bellies rumble with formulae

sunrise with virus graffiti scribbled on its forehead

moonrise with roaches corrupting its eczema eaten breasts

bread buttered with tustiville blood ,sanguages cheesed with

darfur wounds

gore dripping diamonds auctioned for flesh guzzling guns

brown teethed nights grazing green mealies before fingers

of dawn caress vendetta wounded minds

unrepentant Ngo bishops pimping vulnerables for fat cheque books,gong and bling

greenback lauretes double crossing peacecrats and warcrats in donor shebbens

economic whores dipping their sperm-ducts in diplomatic brothels

paparazzi gutters vomiting garbage of spray painted columns

slogan dogs parodying Hiroshima farce and bag dad comedy

greenhorns licking leftovers of propaganda braai packs after ballot arithmetic

undersized zealots fitting political g-strings in springs of delimitation

political morons mastering propaganda syllabus in their gimmick-

tired memories.

i am a poetic chlorine puritising political mental conveyor belts

from the crude oil of corruption

i am a metaphoric lotion peeling off eczema of the decade election hepatitis

- End -

DEMONS GRAZING 1/2

democracy does not heal the syphilis of apartheid

it never healed the hepatitis of racism

it is the ritual of the governed to govern

though they remain governed

democracy, a word of the corrupted learned

democracy, a fart of the bullet

signature of ballot

sting of the scorpion

blood boiling stomachs of darfur

darfur you smell Nagasaki

blood frothing hard rocky buttocks of Congo

Congo you sting Baghdad

hunger pornographing breasts in Somalia

ministers dangling bellies

poetry scattered in slums and ghettos

word stitched between bullet and ballot

grammar punctuated between slogan and vulgar

democracy an oxymoron of abacha’s machete and madiba’ bible

hyperbole of Guantanamo bay and robin island

- End -

DEMONS GRAZING 1/1

democracy

freedom unearthed from apartheid intestines

a legacy that carried sorrows since the days of yelping baboons

and yapping dogs

Monrovia blooming legumes of blood in superstitions

of blood harvesting

crocodiles basking in the east of political comfort zones

afghan with the heart burn for freedom

baboons laughing other baboons in political forests

politicians crushing poverty under their feet

polishing streets with the glitz of robots and rainbow sweet talk.

- End -

DESTINY/FOR THE WORLD CUP

my Africa

, i see your tongue dripping the honey of sacred languages

tongues rolling in holy tones

the spirit of nerfetiti walking pyramids naked and free.

my Africa the breath of your life smell in Serengeti

while ngorongoro breathe fortune in your back

another night , another daylight

Kilimanjaro never slept last night , with breath of identity

bangamoyo smelling the scent of palms in the fluorescent of African Sunday

my Africa

the smoke of mosia tunya ,thundering

Zambezi vomiting fish

hippos dancing the light of the moonshine

‘crocodiles basking in glee of the sunshine

copper fields heaving with wealth untouched and unspoiled.

Namib desert pregnant dangling with diamonds

fish river canyon bleeding with hope ,not surrendering

skeleton coast ,

compressing the ribs of struggles won and history told.

Shafiishuna pushing the freedom cart up and down pan Africa

Valleys of rhythm

My africa

i see inyanga coughing the laughter of beauty mist

in the dawn of day

chimanimani giving birth to a newssun with joy

matopos welcoming the new ritual

after the storytelling of sleeping legends

mzilkhazi ,tshaka,nehanda and lobengula

times folded and unfolded

your memory written in the museum of revolution

after kinda love theater at vilanculos beach

i walk along bazaruto archipelago

my blood floating the warmth of cabora bassa

my Africa

in this journey to the destiny of soyo and luena

swazi kingdom,cleansing its feet in pongolo river

Princes and princesses dancing rain coming

another daylight

another moonshine

another rain season

another harvest

sunrise with the image of king moshoeshoe

in his trip in the mountain kingdom

walking down up his former kraal

africa rise again ,rise to your destiny

my Africa.

Mandela , the smile of Africa

the glee of the land

trudging through shakaland with his spears of freedom

after nights and days in robin island

spirit floating in soweto townships

soul breathing life in table mountains

kamuzu smoking imboza in the wind valleys

the mystery of mount mulanje

fish breeding generations in shire river.

my destiny

my Africa

, shine your forehead with Vaseline of freedom

caress your armpits with the lotion of wisdom

grease your thighs with soap of liberation

sing with me this song of civilization

enjoy the omelet of progression

- End -

seek yee not the kingdom of politics/His Excellency ,Charles Ray

2011-05-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

THe food for thought project is growing in leaps and bounds , it started as a small event , that was only to be attended by,
readers and students who come to the library and education advise , but now it have grown into a taljk of the town among diplomats ,philosophers , intellectuals , orators , poets , writers , politicians, media and others.
Tuesday the 10th of may was a memorable day to the people of zimbabwe , when the ammbasador gave his insight about the culture of voluntarism as he proved to be aworth diplomat , adviser and parent , he argued that voluntarism speak volumes in personality cleansing , mental development of this generation , it brings comunity consesnsus , cultural togetherness and provide space for people to express their love and feeling to socities.
The Ambassador gave an insight to those who felt politics can voluntarism , he gave a strong sense responsibitlity , aszimbabweans we mustnt seek and invlove our lives in filthy politics , but fight to develop ourselves , our identity , our talents , our abilities as people , which is strong statement that work to remind those who live their lives for others to live their own lives.
The programme was attended by peopple from different facets of lives , among writers was Masimba Biriwasha ,Dolorosa Mubvumba from Street wise Projects , Virginia a well known writer ,Black bird a widely reknowned female rap artist , Jessie manjome , a member of parliament .
the ambassador closed b y saying that he takes voluntarism as his lifestyle , and it is individual priority as a a person to take upon voluntarism , for voluntarism do not need a lot of resource , a mind that is mature and a heart that is responsible. I really have learnt a lot of things from the Ambassador.Lastly the event was spiced by a poem by one Thando sibanda , a young and vibrant poet from Zimbabwe , who gave a moving poem called [These are the other words] , the poem touched on various issues of life , politics and religion and other . The Ambassador is a writer , an orator and a poet.
by
mbizo chirasha
perfomances poet/writer/live literature producer
www.mbizopoetry.blogspot.com
wwww.poetrychatroom.blogspot

THE MAGIC OF CARL JOSHUA NCUBE

2011-05-11T02:12:00.000-07:00

If you see this unique artistic magician you think you are meeting a banker , an accountant or marketing officer of a big corperate , because of his cooperate outlook , smile and stature. carl joshua ncube is a professional nurse cum film maker /nyami nyami fame cum adiminstator cum commedian, carl acquired his fame when he took the reins of curating and producing the NAMA WARDS for morethan 2 years .He is well known for his powerful administrative and management skills.
Carl has grown into a big artist and proffesional creative personna in zimbabwe and abroad , on his last press conference , carl gave wide insight on his world tour which first of its kind to be done by a Zimbabwean in such a unique way . Carl said for preparatory and logistics accomodation he was sponsored by the NEW ambassador hotel in HARARE and the Director of the Hotel Mr Gary Webbstock confirmed that they sponserd Carl project because his mission is to be the artistic ambassador of Zimbabawe who is going to sell Zimbabwean Brand using culture/intertainment , creatiivity and arts.
Carl is starting his tour in Bulawayo on thursday , to Botswana in Selebi pikwe , Zambia where he is perfoming at a higly powerd wedding , Uganda , London , Austrilia and other countries, in Uk Carl is going to perfoma at arts cafe , stand up commedy nights and other events , his administrative team is juiced with proffesional ,one among them is rufaro who is his graphic speciaslist , his media specialist is wild fire events and his international public relations personna is taponeswa mavungwa.
Carl said he is also going to give cultural exchange , arts diplomacy and market zimbabwe as a destiny, He said ZTA was supportive to his endevours through othersd means of networking ,that give much confidence to identify himself with zimbabwe in his tour, hethanked all who helped him in developing the talent including the media , wildfire events , Zimbabwe Germany society , other commedians , artists and Rainbow Towers.
lastly the managing director of new ambassador hotel conccurred with carl that ,"zimbabwe is going to be a hotspot of tourism and hub of unique african exprience if it can marketed very well thorugh arts and culture and new ambassador hotel is prepared to prop the zimbabwean brand using arts as, he said selling zimbabwe brand is not only bringing artists but sending our own to the world"

KUBATANA.NET ENJOYED THE VERSES OF THE BLACK POET

2011-05-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

Poems are bullshit unless they teach

‘The Engagement Party’ is this year’s (2011) HIFA theme. The HIVOS Spoken Word Programme on Wednesday 27, April took time to engage Zimbabweans celebrating African expression as they listened to poems being recited by poets from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and Ghana. The theme for the day was, “Diversity in our Voices”. The occasion wouldn’t have been a success without the colourful and wonderful audience. Not only was expression done in poetry, but in song too, as witnessed by the performance by Zimbabwe’s beautiful jazz singer Claire Nyakujara.

Mbizo Chirasha, The Black Poet, was the first poet to perform. The themes of his poetry consist of children’s rights, politics, social lives, gender issues, praise and protest, culture and African pride. He took us on an expedition of the African names from the King Jaja of Opobo to Chaminuka with his poem was titled, ‘African Names’. Another local poet who performed was, Bhekumusa Moyo. He has several of his poems published in the Sunday News Poetry Corner and other publications. On this day he took to the stage two of his poems titled, ‘A poetic crusade’ and ‘This hand’.

Power to the sisters hey! T J Dema from Botswana was the only female poet who performed on this day. I must say her poems are truly engaging as she tackles life issues with her African voice. She performed ‘Neon poem’ and ‘First born Lullaby’. An extract from ‘Neon poem’ reads:

Poems are bullshit unless they teach
They serve absolutely no purpose unless they reach
The audience they are written, the ears they are meant for

Q. Malewezi from Malawi well known as Q, delivered his poem in heartfelt verbal bursts interlaced with humorous suggestions. He managed to invite the audience on an artistic journey in his alphabetic poem, ‘Journey to Q’. One would think it’s a journey of his life but no, he dwelled on all the issues in Africa in alphabetical order (A-Q of course) in an artstic manner, which was just superb. The other poem he performed was ‘Recycling Politicians’.

Quaye Kojo known as Sir Black from Ghana delivered the last poem. He tackles poetry more on a thought provoking note. During his performance he got inquisitive as he threw questions here and there to engagea the audience. Below is a quote from one of his poems:

If vegetarians eat vegetables
What should humanitarians eat?
~ Humanity in diversity~

To end the programme singer Claire Nyakujara showed her diversity by performing three songs one in Shona, Ndebele and English.

To listen to more of the poetic engagement do make a date with The HIVOS Spoken Word at the HIVOS Poetry Café.

Saturday (Coca-Cola Day) – 3-4pm
Sunday (Alliance Insurance Day) – 12-1pm

HIFA ENGAGES HARARE STREETS THROUGH POETRY

2011-05-05T01:52:00.000-07:00

POPULAR gospel acapella group, Shower Power, serenaded music fans with their powerful voices in a performance in Harare’s first street.

The group went through a repertoire of their spirit moving gospel music in a show that marked the weeklong Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA).

The five man band group sand their souls out to much appreciation from the approximately 200 people that gathered to watch the spectacle.

The HIFA street show opened with a performance by Zimbabwe College of Music’s brass brand. The programme also included spoken poetry performances by Elizabeth Muchemwa, Michael Mabwe, Shoes Lambada, Thando Sibanda and Mbizo Chirasha aka Black Poet.

HIFA Music Consultant, Melody Zambuko said that the aim of the street show was to promote an engagement between HIFA and the ordinary people in Harare who would otherwise never go to the festival venues.

“We’ve set up a first street platform through which we are trying to promote what happening inside HIFA to ordinary people in Harare. We’re trying to reach out to the public. We’ll do this every day of HIFA week, except on Sunday,” she said.

MBIZO ENGAGED WITH HAMUTYINEI AT HIFA SPOKENWORD FEST 2011

2011-05-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

By Richmore Tera and Rumbidzai Mashinge
THEATRE buffs are in for a treat when "Rituals", a play by award-winning playwright Stephen Chifunyise and produced by Daves Guzha, takes centre stage at the Standard Theatre as part of the ongoing Harare International Festival of the Arts today.
Show-goers will not rue parting with their US$6 to watch the play that until recently was on a tour of Zambia.
The tour, that ended on April 22, saw the cast holding 100 successful performances.
In the play, Chifunyise fuses drama and dance to depict community-initiated rituals of healing and reconciliation.
The star-studded cast of Mandla Moyo, Zenzo Nyathi, Silvanos Mudzvova, Chipo Bizure, Joyce Mpofu and Rutendo Chigudu makes "Rituals" a must-see production.
The play comes to Hifa courtesy of Rooftop Promotions, one of the leading theatre powerhouses in the country.
Rooftop Promotions has produced internationally acclaimed shows that have toured all over the world and have done outreach programmes with plays advocating peace, healing and reconciliation among other issues.
The play will be staged tonight at 9:15 at the Standard Theatre.
Tonight's performance is the last at this year's event after the premiere yesterday.
There will be free DVDs of the play for those who attend the two shows.
Meanwhile, various poets from the Sadc region and abroad are set to illuminate the "Spoken Word" slot of the festival, sponsored by Hivos in conjunction with Banc ABC, this afternoon.
Running under the theme "Rhythm in the Voice", the segment will feature the likes of Zimbabwean poets Mbizo Chirasha, Valerie Tagwira, Nevanji Madanhire, Bhekusa Moyo, Quaye Kojo (Ghana), Pikita Ntuli (South Africa) and Morten Sondergaard (Denmark), among others.
"Poets will be celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of languages. The slot gives a sense of inter-regional engagement of poetic voices from all over the world and this helps to bridge the gap among these countries.
"It gives a sense of communion, it is not only a diversity of languages but also a cross-pollination of thoughts and situations as well as a diversity in cultures," said Chirasha, one of the poets.
Chirasha said he was going to integrate his performance with some pieces by the late legendary Shona poet, Mordecai Hamutyinei.
"I am going to perform some of his poems that have got to do with the theme of engagement. He was a very outstanding poet, with a catalogue of poems that spoke a lot on issues to do with the African set-up.
"By so doing I am engaging society on issues they face everyday," said Chirasha.
The "Spoken Word" will continue tomorrow between 1-2 pm under the theme "Reflecting, Expressing!" with the likes of Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Pikita Ntuli, Quaye Kojo, Morten Sondergaard and Nevanji Madanhire doing their recitations accompanied by music from afro-jazz artiste Steve Chikoti.
Friday will be for the "Future in Our Hands" featuring both the young and old voices in the genre, while Saturday will be a tribute to the late poet Julius Chingono.
The closing day will see "Spoken Word" running under the theme "My Poetry is My Job" hosted by renowned poet Chirikure Chirikure.

BLACK POET GEARED FOR 2011 HIFA WORD FESTIVAL

2011-04-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

THE BLACK POET GEARED FOR THE HIFA WORD FEST.

In 2O11 the Black poet defined his voice , when he was hosted by the US Embassy, Harare on the International Day of Poetry on the 21^st of March at the Public affairs auditorium , reading and reciting a number of his poems published by ezines , journals , anthologies and university presses from around the world., the theme of the event was the rhythm of words and metaphors of voice. also the poet marked the end of his 2010 schedule by being a guest performance poet at Ukubambana peace festival ,Buddz arts festival , Harare international protest arts festival.

At the Hifa spoken word feast the poet, is going to perform at the fringe on the 26^th, and the 27^th at Hivos Poetry café . On this day theBlaCk poet will engage with the late shone poetry legend ModerKai Hamutyinei , who he mastered when he was seven at Zvegona primary among other poems that go by the theme of the day, a sample of the shone poem is

[ndainge ndiishe zvau muzvinanyika

Ndirindoga ,chikara kubva kudoro

Change chakandikiya kuti shwe ,hwahwa , hwamaichikuye chipanda.

And so on and so on

On the 30^th the poet will engage with other poets and publishers around the world , reading poems on socio-political issues published in anthologies from different corners of the world , Canada, States , India ,south Africa , turkey and Haiti, and the 30^th the theme is missing teeth a tribute to veteran writer Julius Chingono , who died in January this year. The poem s the black poet will read on the 30^th reflect on what is exactly missing in social , political, cultural and economic fabric of the world.

The other poets in the line up include Qaye Qojo from Ghana , who is the laureate of Ghana performance poetry ,Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, the vibrant and dynamic new generation poet from cultural hub of Kenya,Linda Gabriel , a well travelled energetic poetic angel from Malawi ,Pikita Ntuli,a veteran /international recognissed poet and artist from South Africa and others like Daniel Mandishona , Black heat Deshanti , Upmost,Aura .

The Hifa spoken word menu is produced by Chirikure Chirikure, veteran poet and acclaimed live literature producer, while this celebration of words is sponsored by Hivos.

Mbizo chirasha

www.poetrychatroom.blogspot.com

www.mbizopoetry.blogspot.com

africapoetrychatroom@gmail.com

CALL+263 0734332309

Summary of Bio /Mbizo Chirasha 2011

2011-04-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

Mbizo at Hifa 2011 Selection

2011-04-20T06:18:00.001-07:00

HIFA is a six day annual festival and workshop programme that showcases the very best of local, regional and international arts and culture in a comprehensive festival programme of theatre, dance, music, circus, street performance, spoken word and visual arts.

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The HIVOS Spoken Word Programme – Celebrating African Expression!

Curated by poet Chirikure Chirikure

Engagement is about communication, involvement, awareness and empowerment. It is about hearing each other speak. The HIFA 2011 Spoken Word programme provides a platform for engagement, to stimulate dialogue through the celebration of African expression. Spoken Word practitioners from across Africa, from Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Zimbabwe as well as a guest artist from Denmark.
Saturday is a special dedication to the late great Zimbabwean poet, Julius Sekai Chingono. On each of the other days, the programme focuses on a different theme, featuring different languages, styles, rhythms and patterns, poetry, prose, chants and soulful music. Each performer has the liberty to interpret the themes in their own way. That is the hallmark of dialogue, of free expression.

The artists are:

Ngwatilo Mawiyoo from Kenya, Quaye Kojo – Sir Black – from Ghana, Pitika Ntuli and Ewok, both from South Africa, Q. Malewezi from Malawi, T J Dema from Botswana, Morten Søndergaard from Denmark, and our own Daniel Mandishona, Valerie Tagwira, Nevanji Madanhire, Mgcini Nyoni, Bhekusa Moyo, Thanda Richardson, Blackheat deShanti, Linda Gabriel, Aura, Upmost, Mbizo Chirasha, and as a special guest, Outspoken.
Duets which combine Spoken Word and Music are presented by Phillip Svosve (saxophone) with Aaron Yafele (trombone), Charles Chipanga (marimba) with Namatai Mubariki (voice), while Clare Nyakudyara, Steve Chikotie and Andy Brown will all present pieces combining guitar and voice.

Ngwatilo Mawiyoo

A keen observer and devoted student of the written word, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo’s first book of poems “Blue Mothertongue”, published last year, is a collection set in Nairobi and the African diaspora. It explores the themes of home, loss and healing. Critics praised the work, describing it as “crafted with beautiful pace and intelligence” that it is “a worthy testament of her times.”
Ngwatilo has achieved serious acclaim and been dubbed “a priest of the art of performed poetry”. She presents her work at festivals across Africa and Europe and in 2010 she performed here in Zimbabwe and in Malawi on a tour that formed part of the 14th 2010 Poetry Africa Festival held in South Africa, run by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It is the biggest festival of its kind on our continent.
She also performed last year in Germany at the Frankfurt Book Fair. In her performance work, Ngwatilo sometimes experiments with the capacity of music, dance and video to read and tell, both to complicate and to simplify poetry, calling these techniques “Puesic” – pronounced pew-zic.

Qabaniso ‘Q’ Malewezi

Qabaniso Malewezi, also known as Q, was born in 1979, and set off on his creative journey in theatre and music in high school. He went on to study performing arts at the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) whose patron is Sir Paul McCartney, and later at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in London.
Though the focus of his training was primarily music, Q’s appreciation of the spoken word led to his own experimentation with poetry writing. He took to it, demonstrating serious talent and his poetry performances, titled “Sonrise” soon followed. These earned high acclaim and launched his career as a spoken-word artist.
His poetry is delivered in vivid, heartfelt verbal bursts which are interwoven with subtle humorous undertones. Thus, Q invite his audiences on an artistic journey. Using humour, and incorporating reflections on spirituality and life’s day to day experiences, Q’s message is one of hope. He explores burning societal issues and endeavours to give a voice to unheard and often marginalised communities.

Daniel Mandishona

Daniel Mandishona was born in Harare in 1959. He was brought up by his maternal grandparents in Mbare (then known as Harari Township). Expelled from Goromonzi Secondary School for what the headmaster called ‘habitual truancy’, he lived in London from 1977-1992. He first studied Graphic Design and then Architecture at the Bartlett School, University College London. He began writing in 1982 after reading Dambudzo Marechera’s House of Hunger.
His first short story, ‘A Wasted Land’ was published in Contemporary African Short Stories (Heinemann, 1992). Daniel was published in Writing Now (2005) and Laughing Now (2007). His short story collection, White Gods Black Demons is due out with Weaver Press.

Bekumusa Moyo

Born in Gwanda, Beku
musa Moyo completed his education at Nkulumane High School, where he discovered his talent for poetry. In 2006 he won the Power In the Voice Poetry Competition and was the country’s representative to the International Festival in 2008.
He was the youngest published poet in the poetry anthology “Its Time” edited by Ndaba Sibanda for Writers Get Together. Numerous poems of his have been published in the Sunday News Poetry Corner and other Publications and his has an album of performance poetry titled ‘Moments of Madness” under his belt. This is raw protest poetry.

Alice ‘Thanda’ Richardson

Alice ‘Thanda’ Richardson is an explosive young vocalist on the local Zimbabwe music scene, known for her passion and energy for dancehall reggae and ragga – what she calls “a fusion for the youth of the 21st Century”. In 2009, she performed in Harare and Denmark with hip hop group, Bikstok Rogsystem, and with youth festival Umoja. Thanda composes her own songs and is working on her debut album, Give Thanks And Praise, which features Only Jah, Jah He Knows - already an anthem among her fans.

Mbizo Chirasha

Mbizo Chirasha was born in 1978 in Zvishavane District and was inspired by his social surroundings at a young age. As a young man, Mbizo quickly gained prominence as a performing poet and writer both in Zimbabwe and internationally. The themes of his poetry include children’s rights, politics, social lives, gender issues, praise and protest, culture and African pride.
Mbizo’s poems can be read in print, but are even more powerful when performed by the dynamic poet himself. With a vision of using his poetry to promote peace, healing, stability, and cultural freedom, Mbizo is a poet with commitment, talent, and a desire to perform whenever and wherever he can.

Aura

20 year old Aura’s pursuit of a career in music seemed an obvious choice given her home life: “It’s kind of always been with me; even before nursery, my parents pushed me straight into it,” she states. While at college in her second year, her father was retrenched so fees could not be paid. Since then she has been the bread winner in her family. “The funny thing is that the money I make is out of doing what I love the most, which is the performing arts,” she says.
Aura started writing poetry at the age of 12, and as she grew older, realised poetry is not about words but about what you are saying. “I have a stronger message and I come across clearer now than I did when I was younger,” she explains. As for the themes within her poetry, her response is simple; “Love, love and love. Love for me is a fascinating topic because it’s not all roses and blue violets. There is a lot to love, and not just emotional or romantic love but platonic love – friendships and love between parents, other relationships”.
Regarding her music, she states, “I always say music is my husband. If music were a man, I could have had an arranged marriage a very long time ago. Music has influenced my poetry. I will also pay close attention to the way people, eat, walk and behave.”
Looking to the future, Aura says, “I want to see an opportunity to influence my people, I want to see an opportunity where my voice can be heard not just by a group of people at the Book Café but where artists are taken seriously and realise that we are voice that can be utilised. That we can make a lot of difference because the first thing a person will do when they jump into their car is switch on the radio and they will hear us before they hear the news.”
She continues, “There are a lot of people my age who want to make a difference in our country. We all want a better country. I think as a country we need to start realising that we have so much potential and that we are literally one of the greatest countries in Africa.”
Thanks to kubatana.net for the use of inputs from their interview with Aura.

Morten Søndergaard

One of a golden generation of Danish poets, Morten Søndergaard is as versatile as he is memorable. Having gained renown across Europe and the US for his organic adaptation of poetic form, his output over the last several years has been varied and remarkable. His humorous, sensory poetry is a major contribution to this art form in Northern Europe.
“I approach poetry and the world by making the two phenomena collide, and then see what happens,” he says, describing his creative process as the reaching of “an understanding of the world or myself by going on a detour through the language.”
Critics have observed in his work, a deliberate return to wide-eyed curiosity, and an observant humour. Søndergaard describes himself as being fond of scientific information and philosophical explanations of the world’s condition – of any intense attention to the things that surround us.
“Good poetry is an example of such intense attention”, he says. “As a child, you live with a wide-eyed curiosity, you see everything around you with open eyes and everything can go deep into you without filter. As a child, all senses are alert. The child is a scientist, shipwrecked, and a philosopher. As a child you discover that language is crucial. Poetry is language that require a particular kind of childish reading, a slow, intensely observant and playful reading. Just as you read the world when it was full of feelings of wonder.”

Nevanji Madanhire

Nevanji Madanhire, born 1961, has lived a varied life reflecting the restlessness of growing up in an amorphous fledgling Zimbabwe. As a teenager, during the war of liberation, most of his classmates ended up fighting on either one side or the other.
During the first two decades of independence he worked as a teacher, curriculum theorist, educational book publisher, public relations executive and a journalist.
He has published two books, Goatsmell, (1993) and If the Wind Blew, (1995) and was also published in Writing Still (2003).

Pitika Ntuli

Pitika Ntuli combines a vast store of African mythology and history, a keen awareness of the contemporary and an astonishing ability to improvise in his evocative poetry. A South African sculptor, poet, writer and academic spent 32 years of his life in exile in Swaziland and the UK. A Master of Fine Arts (Pratt Institute in New York) he also has an MA in Comparative Industrial Relations and Industrial Sociology.
While in exile in the UK he helped establish one of Europe’s leading poetry circuits, Apples & Snakes in London, where he also lectured in Fine Art and English Literature. He taught at Camberwell College of Art, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, the London College of Printing, Middlesex University and the University of East London. Since returning to South Africa he has taught at The Universities of Witwatersrand and of Kwa-Zulu, Natal (UKZN), and is currently a professor at Tshwane University of Technology.
He has exhibited in several individual and group exhibitions in many countries in Europe and in the USA, and has organised numerous international art and cultural events in Britain. His sculptures are in several collections and some of his public sculptures can be found in the Swaziland National Bank, Matsapa International Airport and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lobamba.
Pitika Ntuli is an expert in African indigenous knowledge systems. He is a regular political and cultural commentator on SABC 2. He is a well-known poet and speaker who has been a keynote speaker at numerous high profile events and has read his poetry in many fora.
He was the main organiser of the KwaZulu-Natal Millennium Parade and a key figure in the African Renaissance Annual Festivals in Durban. A frequent guest on TV and radio, he was also a judge for the Sunday Times Literary Awards (2009). He recently chaired the 2010 Task Team that advised the Minister of Arts and Culture with regard to cultural programmes associated with the World Cup, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
While in London he also worked closely with Amnesty International and Index-on-Censorship. Ntuli sits on several boards including the Universal Creative Arts and Artists for Human Rights. Pitika Ntuli has performed his poetry with leading musicians like the late Dudu Pukwana, Mervin Africa, Julkian Bahule, Lucky Ranku and Eugene Skeef.
BancABC Day, Tuesday 26 April, $6, 3 – 4 pm – Programme 1
Here we go! Opening the week of poetic celebrations, a taste of what’s coming.

Hosted by Chirikure Chirikure
Featuring: Pitika Ntuli, Valerie Tagwira, Bhekusa Moyo, Thanda Richardson, Namatai Mubariki and Charles Chipanga.
CABS Day, 27 April, $6, 3 – 4 pm – Programme 2

Theme – Rhythm in the voice – Celebrating the vibrancy of our diverse languages.
Hosted by Aura
Featuring Q. Malewezi, T.J. Dema, Quaye Kojo, Mgcini Nyoni, Mbizo Chirasha and Clare Nyakudyara

Stanbic Bank Day, Thursday 28 April, $6, 12 – 1 pm – Programme 3
Theme – Reflecting, expressing! Looking deep down the inner soul, with sincerity.
Hosted by Blackheat deShanti
Featuring Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Pitika Ntuli, Quaye Kojo, Nevanji Madanhire, Mgcini Nyoni, Steve Chikotie, Morten Sondergaard

Lion Lager Day, Friday 29 April, $6, 4.30 – 5.30 pm – Programme 4
Theme – Future in our hands! The younger voices, mature now, gearing for tomorrow.
Hosted by Upmost
Featuring Ewok, Q. Malewezi, Bhekusa Moyo, Thanda Richardson, Blackheat deShanti, Clare Nyakudyara
Coca-Cola Day, Saturday 30 April, $6, 3 – 4 pm – Programme 5

Theme – Vende – Missing tooth! Tribute to Julius Sekai Chingono
Hosted by Linda Gabriel
Featuring Pitika Ntuli, Morten Sondergaard, Daniel Mandishona, Mbizo Chirasha, Aura, Phillip Svosve and Aaron Yafel
Alliance Insurance Day, Sunday 1 May, $6, 12 – 1 pm – Programme 6
Theme – Basa sebasa – My poetry is my job. Celebrating the worker!
Hosted by Chirikure Chirikure
Featuring Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Quaye Kojo, Morten Sondergaard, Q. Malewezi, Upmost featuring Outspoken, Linda Gabriel and Andy Brown

HARARE POET OF HOPE

2011-04-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

Harare’s Poet of Hope

Written by Stephen Tsoroti

Friday, 15 April 2011 13:11

HARARE - Take a charming black prince, add decadence and straight face, and you have an unforgettable time and twisted stories of a country. Mbizo Chirasha is an iconic performance poet who has earned himself the title ‘The Black Poet’. (Pictured: Mbizo Chirasha, ‘The Black Poet’.)

Born in 1978 in Zvishavane District in Zimbabwe, Mbizo was inspired by his social surroundings at a young age. As a young man, Mbizo quickly gained prominence as a performing poet and writer both in Zimbabwe and internationally.

The themes of his poetry include children's rights, politics, social lives, gender issues, praise and protest, culture and African pride. Mbizo's poems can be read in print, but are even more powerful when performed by the dynamic poet himself. With a vision of using his poetry to promote peace, healing, stability, and cultural freedom, Mbizo is a poet with commitment, talent, and a desire to perform whenever and wherever he can.
On March 22, 2011 The United States Embassy hosted Mbizo Chirasha for a discussion of the ‘metaphor of voices and rhythm of words’ featuring a scintillating recital of his works to mark World Poetry Day.
“The Embassy is pleased to mark this important day. Poetry calls forth those voices in society that would otherwise go unheard and gives them a powerful tool for expressing their deepest feelings, thoughts and beliefs. Poets have the power to influence hearts and change minds,” said Michael Brooke, Public Diplomacy Officer at the US Embassy in Harare.
In typical poetic form, Chirasha told his audience, which included students from Westridge High School in Harare, that, ‘metaphors are the lotion drying political syphilis from the manhood of the state, my pen is a broom sweeping vendetta pebbles from talk tables, and my ink is a detergent cleansing political stains from parliament overalls.’
Chirasha, whose work is featured in over 40 journals and anthologies around the world, says the common theme in most of his poems has been respect for women and recognizing their suffering and endurance.
Chirasha read some of his published works, including ‘Identity Apples’, ‘Anthem of the Black Poet’, ‘Decade of Bullets’, ‘Haiti My Generation’, and the popular ‘African Names’.
Asked why he preferred publishing outside the country, Chirasha bemoaned the lack of structures to support writers in Zimbabwe, saying, ‘We lack that administrative connection in terms of writing. We lack consensus as writers, and publishing houses are closing shop.’ Contributing to the discussion, another poet, Thando Sibanda, said the study of literature should be made compulsory at all levels of education in Zimbabwe so as to promote an environment that supports writers and poets.

black oranges

2011-04-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

xenophobia my son
i hear a murmur in the streets
a babble of adjoining markets
your cosnscience itching with guiltness like
genital leprosy
your wide eyes are cups where tears
never fall
when they fall the storm wash down bullet drains
and garbage cities
come nomzano with your whisper to drown,
blood scent stinking the rainbow altar

darfur ,petals of blood spreading ,
perfume of death choking slum nostrils
slums laden with acrid smell of mud and
debri smelling like fresh dung heaps
fear scrwaling like lizards on darfur skin

kibera ,i see you scratching your mind like ragged linen
smelling the breath of slums and diesel fumes
the smoke puffing out through ghetto ruins is the fire dousing the
emblem of the state

belly of zambezi ache with crocodile and fish
villages piled like heaps of potatoes aganst the flank
of eastern hills
farmlands dripping golden dripping dew
sunshine choking with vulgur mornings
dawns yawning with vendetta filled redemption songs
drums of freedom sounding fainter and fainter , blowing away in the wind

when streets rub their sleep out of their eyes
villagers scratch painful living from the
infertile patches of sand on this earth whose lungs
heave with copper and veins bleeding gold
ghetto buttocks sit over poverty,kalinga-linga
corruption eating breakfast with ministers,kabulonga
with shrill cries of children breaking against city walls

shire river tonight your voice rustled dry , like the scratching of old silk
politicians grow everywhere like weeds
land of ngwazi,yesterday crocodiles breakfasted on flesh
owls and birds sang with disginated protocol
ngwazi your cough drowned laughters and prayers
your breath silenced rivers and jungles

mozambique
the belief and gift of my poetry
sweat wine poured to absent , long forgotten gods and godesses
soft kiss spent on golden virgins before they aged into toothless grannies
the rhythm of samora
heartbeat of chimurenga
drumbeat of chissano
today mornings blight in corruption
a social aneroxia

abuja guns eat you more than disease
iloved you before you absorbed poverty as sponge
soaking out water
before rats chewed your roof
before you concieved men with borrowed names and totems
ghost of abacha guzzilling drums of blood and galons of oil
wiwa chasing shadows of babangida past delta of treasures

bugand cruelty is a natural weapon of a dictator
poor lives buried under rubbles of autocracy
pregnant mothers with eyes gouged out by bullets , pushing their guts
back into their bellies

luanda
a roar of old trucks
a whine of motor cycles
arumble of dead engines
america frying its fingers in oil pans of your kitchen
where europe fry , america roast
angola , if you cough , america catch a fever
angola quench my parched lungs with a spoon of oil

i see the naked thighs of your desert hills
barosteland sestwana
a servant positioned with trust
american green bloomed your desert shrubs
your loyalty is sold to she who offers the next meal
barotseland of seretse

somalia
yourlips burnt brown with exposure of rough diet
you are muffled voice , cursed and drowned into deep silence
the smell of aged incesnse and stale coffee
a tune piped by the sheperd on moutainside,only
to be half heard by and quickly forgooten by villagers

ghana
the anthill of black seed
coast blessed with gold
once a tyoung girl full of sap and strength
once perfumed with richmess and sacredness
you shared your salt and sweat fro freedom
today you a like a woman who sleep with a pillow
between her legs anticipating a miracle of man

coast of ivory
i see faces tight as skin of drum in moonlight
ivory coast, once the smoke and smell of human excitement
tonight bullet burrow into your belly like rats into sacks
of thai rice
you are the broken pot we patch to put on shelf again.

flesh of children roasting in your belly , darfur

MBIZO PRODUCED AFRICAN DRUMS POETRY FESTIVAL

2011-04-13T01:22:00.000-07:00

Art & Advocacy in Zimbabwe

Mbizo Chirasha has expressed satisfaction with the recent Zimbabwe poetry festival. In an email, Chirasha shared information about future plans for similar events, one of which can happen as soon February 2008. What was obvious at the December 10-12 festival, he added, was the hunger for the arts that the participants showed. He also expressed his gratitude for the participation of distinguished speakers. One in particular, the Australia-born Celia Winter Irving, presented a paper entitled “The Arts As a Tool for Advocacy in Zimbabwe”.
In this paper Irving argues that artists in Zimbabwe “have a strong relationship with society, taking their bearings from their local community.” So, it seems, talk of an artist being a loner and not caring so much about what the society thinks would not stand a chance here. The issue of social responsibility appears in different art forms.
In a bold statement, Winter Irving states, “Today because of the situation (in Zimbabwe), artists have no time for dreams and schemes; they want results.” Irving works with artists as a consultant at the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, a position which often involves travelling to all provinces of Zimbabwe to work with artists ranging from poets, sculptors, actors, singers and others. Her essay catalogues these experiences and makes a case about how art is a form of advocacy.
The full text of the paper may appear under the Essays section of Munyori Poetry Journal

Update: Festival Attracts 60 Poets

The Herald of Zimbabwe has given the following report about the Zimbabwe Poetry Festival:
THE African Drums Poetry Book Tour – a poetry gala attracting some regional artists – was on Monday inaugurated at Alliance Francaise in Harare ending this evening.
More than 60 poets are taking part in the festival that is running under the theme: Celebrating the Energy and Culture of Words.
A brainchild of poet Mbizo Chirasha, the festival which seeks to promote collaborative efforts among Sadc artists, has also attracted some big names in Zimbabwean literature as guest speakers.
“This programme is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe by young poets who want to see the culture of appreciation and growth of poetry in Africa.
“This is the time for poets and writers to be innovative, progressive, idealistic, creative, ” said Chirasha.
Susan Haimbala, a performance poet from Namibia, said the festival was instrumental in integrating regional poets.
“I am very excited to be taking part in this festival that helps in building relationships among regional artists. I have learnt at this festival many things that I did not know,” said Haimbala who doubles as a musician.
Haimbala, who performs in Oshiwambo, said she hoped to persuade some Namibian artists to come to Zimbabwe using her own initiatives in order to collaborate with some locals when she returns home.
Simon Longwe, a University of Zambia student, who hailed performance poetry as an expressive genre of art, echoed similar sentiments.
“Performance poetry is one genre of art that helps in educating and informing people about what is happening in their societies,” he said.
He praised the state of poetry in Zimbabwe saying in Zambia, it was beginning to take shape.
Longwe also described Zimbabwe as peaceful despite negative media reports meant to tarnish the image of the country.
Some of the guest speakers who deliberated at the festival since Monday include Musaemura Zimunya who spoke about the response Zimbabwean literature and his poetry has garnered abroad.
Dub-poet Albert Nyathi tackled the issue of originality in relation to performance poetry and how it has developed in Zimbabwe.
He also handled the issue of choreography as a necessity in performance poetry.
University of Zimbabwe lecturer and social commentator Dr Vimbai Chivaura deliberated on a broad spectrum of issues that include the relevance of culture in poetry.
Tonight, more than 35 artists will perform under one roof at Alliance Francaise as the curtain comes down at 10pm.

US EMBASSY HOST MBIZO CHIRASHA ON WORLD POETRY DAY

2011-04-01T02:42:00.000-07:00

U.S. Embassy welcomes the Black Poet to celebrate

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Mbizo Chirasha

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Mbizo Chirasha

“My pen is a broom sweeping vendetta pebbles from talk tables.”

Harare, March 22, 2011: The United States Embassy hosted Mbizo Chirasha, popularly known as ‘The Black Poet’ in performance circles, for a discussion of the “metaphor of voices and rhythm of words” featuring a scintillating recital of his works to mark World Poetry Day.

“The Embassy is pleased to mark this important day. Poetry calls forth those voices in society that would otherwise go unheard and gives them a powerful tool for expressing their deepest feelings, thoughts and beliefs. Poets have the power to influence hearts and change minds,” said Michael Brooke, Public Diplomacy Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Harare.

In typical poetic form, Chirasha told his audience, which included students from Westridge High School in Harare, that, “metaphors are the lotion drying political syphilis from the manhood of the state, my pen is a broom sweeping vendetta pebbles from talk tables, and my ink is a detergent cleansing political stains from parliament overalls.”

Describing his works, Chirasha said the common theme in most of his poems has been respect for women and recognizing their suffering and endurance. “It’s a coincidence of creation and creativity, that’s what I believe in,” said the poet whose work is featured in over 40 journals and anthologies around the world.

However, Chirasha’s poetry cuts across issues to include children’s rights, politics, social lives, gender issues, praise and protest, culture and African pride.

Chirasha read some of his published works, including “Identity Apples,” published by the Memorial University English Department in Alberta , Canada; “Anthem of the Black Poet” and “Decade of Bullets,” published in India; “Haiti My Generation,” published in United kingdom; and the popular, “African Names.”

“This poem reshuffled cabinet; the rhythm resigned the president and its metaphors adjourned parliament,” said Chirasha reciting his poem, “Letter to my daughter,” published locally.

Asked why he preferred publishing outside the country, Chirasha bemoaned the lack of structures to support writers in Zimbabwe, and said he was thinking seriously about writing his poems in Shona for local audiences.

“We lack that administrative connection in terms of writing. We lack consensus as writers, and publishing houses are closing shop,” he noted. Contributing to the discussion, another poet, Thando Sibanda, said the study of literature should be made compulsory at all levels of education in Zimbabwe so as to promote an environment that supports writers and poets.

World Poetry Day is celebrated on March 21st, as declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements."- ZimPAS © 2011

ZimPAS is a product of the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section. Queries and comments should be directed to Sharon Hudson Dean, Public Affairs Officer, hararepas@state.gov Website: http://harare.usembassy.gov

Tribute to African writers published in Poem2day creative review.

2011-02-15T04:38:00.000-08:00

Tribute to African Writers by Mbizo Chirasha, Zimbabwe

Tribute to African Writers

For I wrote so long a letter to Mayombe and Anowa
That I will marry when I want
For the beautiful ones are not yet born
While we wait for the rain
In the coming of the dry season
Behind the anthills of Savannah
Milking the cows of Shambati
Gathering good bits of wood

And the fortunes of Wangarini
In that forests of a thousand demons
A sleep-walking land, for things had fallen apart
We faced the wrath of the ancestors
Bones and shadows
For it was not any easy walk to freedom
With Farai girls, Nehanda and the son of the soil
In that long journey of Popynongena
We met Matigari
And the tycoon from Peter Maritzburg
And the poor Christ of Bomba

We saw the devil dangling on the
Cross and his blooming petals of blood
We had the arrows of God
We wanted to kill the mangy dog
In the river between, was this a war of freedom?
Indaba my children
We sang the song of Lawino and Ocol

Walking down Second Avenue
Fighting to decolonize the minds of the people
We became the house of hunger
In the country of our own
The butterfly was burning
In the summer season
we never ate the grain of wheat
For we harvested thorns
Cry my beloved country
Country of my skull
For Nehanda still snores
Even after the struggle of Zimbabwe

MBIZO CHIRASHA is an internationally acclaimed performance poet. He worked as a guest poet in Namibia-Haiti presidential fund-raising project. He was also Poet-in-Residence for the United National Information Centre from 2001-2008, and for ISOLA/International Conference of Oral Literature this year. He is the founder of Writers' Caravan, a creative writing initiative in Zimbabwe.

Mbizo Poet appears in Kushinda Wales arts journal

2011-02-15T04:29:00.000-08:00

k!8 ~ ‘I have eaten my poetry’ ~ Mbizo Chirasha

It has been a full three months since k!7 but worth the wait to have the privilege of publishing these new works by Zimbabwe’s Mbizo Chirasha. A performance poet and writer of international acclaim, Mbizo’s achievements include Guest Poet of the Namibia – Haiti Fundraising Project and Poet in Residence at the International Conference of African Culture and Development 2009. He has also founded or been centrally involved in many creative and young writers’ projects and his work has appeared in print many times in Africa and elsewhere. You can read more of his work at his African Poetry Chatroom blog.

LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER

this poem reshuffled cabinet
the rhythm resigned the president
its metaphors adjourned parliament

my daughter
awaken sleeping patriots eating peanut in slogan darkness
rise dozing voters in the warmth of political acid
awaken struggle heroes in graves tired of wrong epitaphs and fake eulogies
awaken fat cats puffing zanunised propaganda burgers in slumber

rise green horns drinking much talked herbal tea of change
grandfathers of patriotism to bring back
truth drowning in potholes of grief
god fathers of change to bring back my vote choked in drums of new renewed
corruption

bring red hot charcoal to roast political bedbugs sucking our blood in daylight
bring a word scientist to burn the justified injustice in poetic sulphuric acid

my daughter
this poem reshuffled cabinet
the rhythm resigned the president
the metaphors adjourned parliament.

LUNCH TIME

i have eaten my poetry
i stuffed my metaphors for lunch
imagination my cool drink
empty bag of my stomach blowing tornado,
frustrated
a gunshot passed through my chest
another frustration

STINKING BREATH OF MY PEN

greasy propaganda apples for peasants
bourgeoisie for sweating corruption omelet
villagers for cassava and diet coke
streets for hip hop and toy guns
school uniform for PhD studies and bible for my daughter
wreath for saint valentine
roses for saint Paul

revolutions changed and revolutions unchanged
canister for fat breakfast
bullet for big supper
i am fasting the supper and breakfast

sun born with Vaseline on its forehead
moonrise with cancer on its breasts
tender skin of stars split by ghetto politics
kindas blowing condoms with lung wind
elders blowing balloons with broken hearts

another revolution
another liberation

another slice of politics
another rumble of hunger
another for the priest.

sweat drops, raindrops, tear drops
raindrops, teardrops, sweat drops
the breath of my pen stinks

Poems and Photo ⒸMbizoChirasa2010

poet mbizo profiled in one ghana one voice 2011

2011-02-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

Author Profile - Mbizo Chirasha

Biography:

Mbizo is the official poet in residence for the ISOLA International Conference of Oral Literature 2010 at the University of Nairobi. He is also the Guest poet at the 2010 Arts in Translation conference in Iceland. He was Africa's 100Best Books delegate at Swedish cultural book/cultural centres and the Goteborg Book Fair in 2003. Mbizo founded the Writers Caravan, a creative writing initiative in Zimbabwe. He is also the founder of an amateur poetry conference, a poetry festival and other projects.

He is a widely anthologized poet, published in more than 35 journals, magazines and anthologies around world.

Five Questions with Mbizo Chirasha:

1. The title of this poem suggests the interaction between page ("pen") and performance ("breath") poetry. Do you write your poems primarily for the page or to be performed aloud? Do you think a poem can succeed at both equally?

I believe poetry I write can be performed and read successfully, for I believe the impact on written work can affect readers the same way it does to listeners in a spoken word session.

2. If you write your poems to be performed, how do you feel about your poems being displayed in print, with no audio component? Do you think something is lost when your poems aren't heard as spoken from your voice?

I used to think this, when I was still young in this art/craft. Now because I have grown strongly in this industry, I am understanding the dynamics of the voice we get both in readership and listenership.

3. When you perform your poems, do you have them memorized, or do you read them from the page?

Most of my performances are memorized works 'cause the audience reads, so when you read in front of them, they think that you aren't be a performer, but a writer or a reader. Sometimes in commissioned events I will read, but I must say the greatest performer must perform his poetry by head.

4. You are one of our "poets on the ground" in Zimbabwe. What do you have to report on the current state of the country? Of the country's arts community?

The leadership must stop take chances with people. The unity goverment must bring proficiency and efficiency in the state of affairs. We need a leadership that respects nurses and teachers. One thing that I don't understand up to now is having seventy-six ministers and their deputies: for what?

While the country fails to raise money for power and water as well infrastructural needs, I have my own pan-Africanist views. But pan-Africanism mustn't be the support of the ideologies of those who bring countries from struggle. It must have a name tag of respecting people who are ruled and those who advocate for change. The local government has become corrupt with residential stands and hefty salaries while cities are bathing in sewer. I wonder where is change?

5. How have Zimbabwean artists been responding to the country's struggles?

A lot of things have been happening: discussions, poetry sessions like Poets for Human Rights, and book cafes have offered platforms for voices of freedom. Visual exhibitions are being curated that try to articulate the state of the nations. But some artists don't participate because they feel the impact, they do it 'cause somebody is sponsoring them, or they become voices of those who have agendas for resources and other political reasons.

While I agree that corruption brought us down, other political forces also played part in the fall of the country. Politicians must remember to leave pure legacies and those from outside who say they beliveve in human rights must not do things with double standards, but instead with a focused vision to build Zimbabwe. We as Zimbabweans will also help find the solution if we put hands together here in the first stage of the unity government. I trust it will work for the good for the people of this nation.

Contact Mbizo:

Email: mbizoc(at)yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.mbizopoetry.blogspot.com/

mbizo poet heads for East Africa 2011

2011-02-11T03:47:00.000-08:00

Mbizo Chirasha Heads for Kenya

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 06:30

Local poet, Mbizo Chirasha, a.k.a The Black Poet will once again represent Zimbabwe poetically when he performs at the Drums Café for Peace Festival to be held in Kenya from December 12-14 this year.

This is not the first time that Chirasha has been invited to take part at highly honoured events. He was poet-in-residence at the International Conference of African Development in November 2009 in Accra, Ghana where he says he was the only person titled “Mr.” as all the other participants were either “Prof” or “Dr.”

^ Mbizo Chirasha 'The Black Poet' performs at HIFA 2009.

“It is always an honour to be given such a high profile opportunity to perform in the motherland (Africa),” said Chirasha who traces his literary beginnings to the now defunct Midlands Budding Writers Association. The poet with a roaring voice was also one of the founders of the short-lived Writers’ Caravan.

“I am working on another book called I am a Revolution having had seen the success of the first one,” he said.

Asked what his vision is, Chirasha said he wished to be “the best tomato on the market” and vowed to mentor aspiring artists in the future.

However, he was quick to bemoan the status of the arts in the country, saying the sector is being neglected and left only to a very few outgoing people.

“Poetry is a medium, a form of rehearsing the future. It is not as comic as many people, including artists, are taking it to be. It is a class of its own,” said Chirasha.

The Zvishavane-born poet also pointed out that government needed to set up an independent Ministry of Arts and Culture which will be directly responsible for all arts and culture matters unlike now where art is incorporated with education and sport.

Mbizo’s visit to Kenya will boost his 2010-2011 plans to “brand” his name. Chirasha has shared the stage with the veteran local poet Chirikure Chirikure, Jamaican dub poet Mutabaruka, and others of his generation such as Ishkold, Linda Gabriel, Tinashe Muchuri, and Nqobile Malinga. He performs at major arts and culture functions in the country and has recently collaborated with an Indian-born New York based poet, Sweta Vikram, to publish a book called “Whispering Woes Zambezi and Ghanjees.”

- Trevor Makonyonga for The Zimbo Jam

mbizo chirasha participating black history month 2011

2011-02-11T03:35:00.000-08:00

Zim poets commemorate Black History Month

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Chirasha

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Chirasha

Harare, February 2, 2011: Top Zimbabwean poets say poems by African Americans are still relevant to present day Zimbabwe and are a source of inspiration for many young Zimbabweans desiring positive social change.

“Mental images of racial prejudice and other social injustices still exist, and the struggle for emancipation of the human being is still ongoing. In America right now they are talking about health reforms, and in Zimbabwe we have our political differences that result in prejudice of one form or another,” said Mbizo Chirasha, a veteran poet, during an interview after a riveting Food for Thought poetry recital and discussion session at the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section auditorium on Tuesday.

The event was organized by the Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights to mark the beginning of numerous poetry events in Harare dedicated Black History Month. The next event is a House of Hunger poetry slam competition at 2pm on Saturday, February 5, at the Book Café, Fife Ave Shopping Centre at which the winning poets will receive awards from the U.S. Embassy.

“Commemorating Black History Month is important because it makes members of the public remember what happened in the struggle for civil rights in America. It is more important when it is echoed by poets, because words stay longer than bullets,” said Chirasha who recited two poems, “Anthem of the Black Poet” and “African Names,” during the event.

In the first segment of the two hour discussion, the poets recited and discussed poems by African Americans in the civil rights movement including Maya Angleou, Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks.

“The work of individuals like Langstone Hughes, Maya Angelou and Martin Luther King Jr rekindles important messages and inspires many young Zimbabwean poets,” said Shoes Lambada of the ZPHR.

In the second segment of the poetry session, various poets recited pan African poetry.

“I stayed late to hear snores of the tired sun, I awoke early to get footsteps of the new sun in its royal march towards dawn but I couldn’t find the answer to why our idea of a good name is borrowed,” retorted Poet Dapi echoing in Chirasha’s “African names.”

Poet Dzaoma’s “Zimbabwe was never here” revealed the author’s sentiment that most Zimbabweans feel they are still living in a different place other than the one envisioned prior to the country’s independence in 1980. Tino Acme’s “Pages” told audiences that people should focus on making history today. “You can make history today, not necessarily looking at the past but looking at the present as well,” said the poet during a discussion.

Meanwhile, Police State Poet’s “Rhythms of Defiance” took audiences down memory lane focusing on the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and colonial oppression in Zimbabwe. “In rhythms of defiance we speak to break the silence…I’m vegetarian but I have got beef for the system…the Kingdom suffers violence and we stick to our resistance. The revolution starts in the streets of our slums…toyi toyi to resuscitate black dreams,” said the protest poet.

Poet Semalo’s recital honored former South African president Nelson Mandela and had the audience in stitches with what he called “a prostituted version of ‘I have a dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles- slavery, prejudice, poverty- as well as their contributions to global cultural and political life.

In 2009, the inauguration of Barack Obama, America’s first African-American president, lent Black History Month a special significance. In his inaugural address, President Obama acknowledged the historical importance of a moment in which “a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”

Black History Month was the inspiration of Carter G. Woodson, a noted scholar and historian, who instituted Negro History Week in 1926. He chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial. President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” ZimPAS©2011

Blak poet-blak poetry/iam a revolution

2010-02-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

DAWN RISING

i see many voices rising with the sun

sharp spears of the sun ,undulating with coming freedom

mother was there during liberation

i will be there for the other liberation

a revolution of million voices

voices of children of song

children of the soil

children unborn ,children born

voices of hunger in the gutters

voices in memory of those gone by the wind of madness

voices of vendors whose tomatoes squashed in days raids

voices whose taxes perished on talk tables

voices riddled by sanctions

voices roasted by imperialism

one million voices

from a country whose spirit is chimurenga

whose breath is nehanda

whose scent is the mist of matopos

voices of freedom coming

voices tired of honey coated promises

iam one of voices freed by my poetic words

drinking from poetic grape fruit

born with sugar and salt words on my tongue

iam mother africa raving metaphors

iam a slave of my verbal bravado

iam singer of africa untold

iam the blak poet

the bread of revolution

the rose blooming liberation

million voices sing me a song

i dedicate this satire to you

Iam a revolution

tongues of their guns kissed the bottoms of our country walls

sand of corruption sedimented our banking malls

bishops munching rainbow chicken bones

,singing political verses

violence is a black disease

racism is a white disease

xenophobia is epidemic

blood spilling is endemic

dissidents studying theology

eunuchs graduating criminology

afghanistan ,earthquake of religions

pakistan,volcano of political legions

corruption natural lotion applied in armpits heavy weights

extortion vaseline shining on thighs on high offices

iam not revenging freedom of expression

iam bubbling with freedom of expression

iam constitution of word identity

iam poetry butter and bread

i see children blinded by propaganda peri peri

i see blinded nations

they ate the last supper joburg

their departure never came ,

even when the rainbow sun rose

iam in the drama of the state

my temper of dignity rise and sink

my children drank the apatheird poison

iam diagnosing them with freedom passion

iam tired of academics who loot

and intellectuals who shoot

luther is my tight comrade

iam a cheer leader

iam an african phonologist

i was born fron african sound

iam renaissance home bound

propaganda is the jingle of peasants

verdict is the slogan of exiled

iam a brand of poetic tomatoes

iam diving in trees of political apples

doubtful metaphors still dance out night in the glory of african sun

barometer of poverty boxed by Khoisan

rainbow streets bling with ghettoes

so what the fuss,motorcades

no longer drive ,village dust highways

rhythm of rainbow eaten by dogs

blood rhymes of freedom born frees sucked

by bed bugs

daughters depleted by social anorexia

babies whipped by cultural diarrhoea

we are suffering from freedom malnutrition.

INSIDE MY POETIC BROTHEL

inside my poetic brothel

condoms are holy bibles of time

verses of the holy book flushed down garbage sewers

slogan nicotine d,politicians ,

sugar tongued camaradas

vaticanized nuns,priests,

americanized sex lords and sex tenants

english bitched poetic toddlers sip

from cinamoned,chilled

,sugared ,fizzling mugs frothing poetic wisdom

in unison , english mandraxed ,

utopian toddlers chant like koranic congregants

,enchanting , chanting,mind tilting verses

of paradise lost

blood rending Canterbury tales

macbeth pulsating monologues

mind blasting militant sattires

of black ink sanguaged with oxfordized instincts and michiganized impressions

yes drunks and prostitutes

with vowels and verbs condomized

in conscience sustaining imagery,

sodomized in apartments of revolutionary

doped symbolism

and castrated in bedrooms of

missionarism cocained irony,

anthrax free blades of sarcasm ,

circumsize baratone voiced toddlers,

soprano gifted babies ritualized in roasting furnaces of syntactic invasion and choking glycerene

glistening assonance

metaphor inflicted alcoholics and bitches skeleton-ed by alliteration transmitted blisters

blisters stink and rot like festering roses

sometimes ghostly blisters bloom

into poetic grapes and

wisdom wine is sieved into refrigerators of time

brothel convicts punished in rhymed nudity

stripped of their viagra hawking licenses,

rehabilitated into silent wards of poetic justice

AHOY.

DREAM OF RAIN/

this is the land that fed our dreams

wind suffocated by yellow smoke of wheat husk

our fields crimson red and gray with millet sheaves

pans hissing with oil baking bread

gleaming thighs of our days

sweating under the rain season sun

,that bloomed the flamboyant flowers

weeds of hunger already been exiled.

POLITICAL CINEMA

somalia walking through doors of statism

refugee camps swelling from sting of scorpions

blog sites congested with obituaries and epitaph litteriti

politburos exfoliated by fissures after sprees of wines and malt whiskies

warlords seeing through lens of holocaust

bring ngugi and keita

to give biting lyrics and deep rooted sense of belonging

we belong here

parliaments choked with propaganda toxin-ed emails

i saw las vegas walking side by side with khayelitsha through the heart of tali ban

corruption smiling through half smoked cigarettes of cartoonists reading wilkpedia and encyclopedia

literists tasting the bitter taste of vietnam disidents,dissidents

dumping consciences in garbages of politrix

paparazzi dipping nostrils into broken pavements

where politics is pizza,celebrity is diet and royalty is nutrition

i see shikota and khoikhen gupling white wine

and gorgonzola sauce in surbubs of pont de- lama

i see magic slogans of ruffians welding pks,ak47s in mydan villages

heavy smell of diarhoea whipping our faces

the heartbeat of warizstan

literary doyens writing rude graffiti on eczema eroded walls

pundits shitting in ballot boxes

bandits urinating every where in the name vendetta.

TUTSIVILLE

kuwait of africa

you my disease!

senators feast blood in feilds of wealth

digging diamonds out of your intestines

rise and see your wounds

politics the hot dog of newspapers

gossip the the beverage of newsrooms

the toungue of money is rough , its grammar is vulgur

exotic bees drink the nectar of your sweat

maggots feasting the bitterness of your enduerene

you carry wombs for others to celebrate birthdays

rocks of poverty farting the smell of religious myth

you are groaning under the feet of your struggle

your reason sticthed together by the clatter of the gun and

thunder of burden

you are roasting in hissing pans of bullets

country of dust and hunger , ilove you

with your shrivelling hopes blooming.

DEMONS GRAZING

democracy doesnot heal the syphilis of apatrtheid

it never healed the herapatitis of racism

it is the ritual of the governed to govern

though they remain governed

democracy, a word of the coruppted learned

democarcy a , a fart of the bullet

signature of ballot

sting of the scorpion

blood boilng stomaches of darfur

darfur you smell nagasaki

blood frothing hard rocky buttocks of congo

congo you sting bagdad

hunger ponographing breasts in somalia

ministers dangling bellies

poetry scattered in slums and ghettos

word stitched betwen bullet and ballot

grammar punctuated between slogan and vulgur

democracy an oxymoron . of abacha' machete and madiba' bible

hyberbole of guatanamo bay and robin island

DEMONS GRAZING 11

democracy

freedom unearthed from apatheird intestines

a legacy that carried sorrows since the days of yelping babboons

and yapping dogs

monrovia blooming legumes of blood in superstions

of blood harvesting

crocodiles basking in the east of political comfort zones

afghan with the heart burn for freedom

babboons laughing other baboons in political forests

politicians crushing poverty under their feet

polishing streets with the glitz of robots and rainbow sweet talk.

ETHOPIA

see talking slums

silenced tongues

freedom silenced

hope killed

a bling of ghettos

collapsed humanity

mothers weeping ,

under the compression of religion

trees dripping trears

ethopia your festering open wounds

you are my anger!

children burn in smouldrering carnisters of hunger

time opened new wounds of memories of old scars

chained on rocks of ignorence

you need a compass of decence

my poetry is a catalyst fermenting your injustices

into beverages of justice

you are my sadness!

your hearbeat bleached in political fermentations

rhythm gavanized in furnances of cultural myth

laughter imbibed by the rude stomach of the gun

culture crushing under the weight of globalization

ethopia , you are my wound!

CHILDREN OF CHIMURENGA

trapped between digital civalization

and chimurenga revolution

iam a poet fromthe land stones

iam a writing from the bush of trees

justice is not the shape of our noses

freedom is not the size of our breasts

morning children of chimurenga

belly of the struggle carried you to war and back to your cananan of mixed flowers

your ears are not wounded by bullet , but by gun sound

your minds stitched together by marxist propaganda

you married liberation and divorced oppression

erasing the dust if centuries of peripherilization

born out of blood filled centuries ,

living in centuries refilled with blood

where the sun rise with blood on its thighs

trees weep at dawn

sorrow dangling in the mist of your wronged faces like drying biltong

good morning children of chimurenga

LETTER TO FLORIDA

florida!

iam drunk with the sting of your tongue

iam drenched with the bitterness of your lips

iam dopped with the smelling scent of my sweat

florida!

black smell is lingering in the botoms of your conveyor belts

spirits of my children dancing your coffee shops

sight trapped in your coca-cola barrels

scent floating in the rude rhythm of hip hop

florida!

my children

with civalization scarred faces

with their slavery wounded hearts

florida bring back my children

come out lets fight

florida.!

DIZZY POEM

my poetry is bitter break fast of propagandcrats

my poetry is grenade planted in the hearts of corruption crats

it is an enzyme of justce,fermenting potbellies of fat cats

it is hunger crushing tummies of ballot tired peasants

it is food feeding phds with theories of fanon and Malcolm x

it is reason of freedom sipped in coffee cafes

diz poem

is sanguaed between 1980 and 1966

it is the the medulla of voters drunk with their blood

metaphor of communities drunk with ambition

it is an oxymoron of osama and obama

it is haiku of gushungo , madiba and nkurumah

it is a sonnet of vietnam,bagdada, pentgon, afghan,tali ban,congo,Darfur

rwanda

soweto,shaperville , Georgia and televise

it is a hyperbole of bagdad scarlet and sharpeville crimson

it is a ballad of Nefertiti,Randi, nehanda

, nomzano and maphela,bronzing

and other prophetesses

it is a lament of sadam,slobadan ,

bokasa, dada,abacha, babangind a and kamuzu

it is an obituary of samora ,fanon, kuti , luther , sarowiwa

, kimathi , marechera , hani , mahlangu , tongogara

it is a juxtaposition of pagan and christian

parody of characters danc ing 1994 genocide theatre

it is a farce of stooges of slices and tea

bitter sacarsim of coup detats and juntas

IAM A POET

my tongue taste spices of jargon

my saliva taste cinnamon diction

my words are a service station of visions

against vagaries of wrong ambitions

my words do not die ,

they wilt with seasons

, they germinate and bloom with every generation

grinding greed hearts with crushing metaphor

iam roaring spring that move stagnant streams

memory is a weapon of mind

history is stenciled memory

iam a poet , the identity of memory,

the dignity of purpose

SQUANDAMANIA

i never saw hatred

iam taught hatred by memories of history and savages of centuries

blood of shapeville

death of elizabethville

colonialism is not stencilled by color or pencilled by race

it can be erased by reason and thought

squandamania

aluta continua

struggle continues

humanity lost in the graffiti of shebeen walls

strength of flags sold for eagles to loot

we laid beacons of freedom

now we drown in do ldrums of commotion

i see disciples hired to burn lives in election fields

,election skeletons

become souvenirs for mothers to cherish

we are no longer monkeys chattering your propaganda

we are no longer donkeys braying your slogan.

squandamania!

DIS FREEDOM

picking up crumbs of passion

like in cotton fields

passion thrown in dungeons of greed

pavements stinking bandages

robots yawning wounds

corruption bad breath suffocating lungs of our concrete jungles

extortion superglue of high executives

red lights of the dis freedom

our freedom calabashes frothing with bubbles of red missions and red ambitions

iam raised by breasts roasted by acids of plutocracy

iam raised by hearts tortured by pigmentocracy

iam raised by palms strangled by ropes of time

i have an appetite of laughter that is richer than grape fruit

iam a poem , the dignity of my pen.

FART OF TIME

souls squashed between cables of internet

and aids budget

children losing hands in jungles of google

children losing passions in forests of facebook

burning their tongues in dungeons of english

generation sanguaged between bluetooth and drumbeat

swallowed by cellphones and bullet

villages killed by commerce and bling

poetry cooked with borRowed language

its rhythm fermenting in calabash of borrowed culture

cultural oppression a tattered rag dangling on edges of pseudo civilized walls

dignity the balanced diet of freedom and pride

FART OF TIME 11

iam a descendant of placards and madness

home shabeenizing flags in exchange with gin and dope

daughters adopted by ford foundation and donor syndromes

hunger famous like Picasso

poverty known like Shaka

fear popular like dickens

sun rising toxic HIV/graffiti on its face

africa you are burning in the sun of internet

computers your fortune tellers

walkman your storytellers

bring back our ghosts

bring back our bones

for indians praise Nehru

moslems praise imam

zulu praise Shaka

english praise cecil rhodes

MY RHYTHM

Shaka zulu shaking the assegai spear

in england they sin shakespeare

i do not owe my dignity to the

bling street lights

to the bling of robots

to the gong of car horns

i owe my humanity to the

rhymes of valleys

to the scent of our flowers

to the rainbow colors of sahara sunset

to the rhythm of kalahari sands

to the sweet melodies from brown lips of zambezi

the misty thighs of inyanga

to the drum sound in the fontanelle of matopos

iam among patriots whose placentas descended from Shaka ,

dlamini,dombo,mutapa

,murenga and tavara,zimuto

iam a descendant of the roaring shangani

the grammar of my tongue , do not stammer my tongue

iam bantu.

DECADES BULLETS

Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou, Ouagadougou

See a procession of young mothers chattering their way

From water fountains in grenade torn sandals

And blood laced bras

Somalia, Somalia, Somalia

See the moon disappearing in a mass of gun smoke

Guns splitting the stars from the skin of night

Rwanda, Rwanda, Rwanda

This is a wound from which the pus of grief flows freely

Meandering through rock masses into the valley that lost its freedom

Timbuktu, Timbuktu, Timbuktu

I hear a rush of footsteps of sorrow

Rugged peasants carrying their compounds

to far away valleys of flowers.

Blak poet and Publicity

2010-02-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

Blak poet and Publicity

Broad casting

Interviews/Profiles

Radio/tv

-radio africa /senegal

-namibia radio stations

-zimbabwean radio stations

-swedish radio stations

-ghana broadcasting

-zambia broadcasting

-voice of people south africa

-free speech /america

-ghetto radio /kenya

Newspapers and Websites

-herald

-daily news

-zimbabwean

-financial gazette

-namibian economist

new era

the namibian sun

-ghana press

the sunday mail

swedish press

egyptian press

-kwayedza

-the standard

oneghana one voice

ovi magazine

-munyori.com

-wealth of ideas

-africawriter.com

Contact the Blak Poet

2010-02-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Contact the Blak poet

URL-www.mbizopoetry.blogspot.com

-www.poetrychatroom.blogspot.com

EMAIL-africapoetrychatroom@gmail.com

PHONE- +264 81 464 9245

Blak poet -Projects Founder

2010-02-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Blak poet Projects Founder

Africa Poetry Chat room

2007-
-online youth poetry concept

Ning social governnce insights

2009-
-online governance/

creative social network

African Drums Poetry Festival
2007-
-4 country sadc poetry festival

Paumba Visual Arts /poetry project

2006-2007
-collaborative arts project

Artist project

2007

-arts cross fertilization project
Zimbabwe German Society

WritersCaravan Project

2004-
youth creative writers

-rural expansion project
young poetry conference-upcoming writers workshop series.

Creative projects Africa

2009-

-creative arts/interventions

Blak Poet-Awarded

2010-02-07T09:11:00.001-08:00

Blak poet Awarded/Recognized

Readers favourte poet

2007
One ghana one voice magazine

Aids Out of Africa contest

second prize

2004
Hiv/aids poetry contest

Blak poet-Poetry/ Creative Writing tutor/facilitator

2010-02-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

Blak poet-poetry/ creative writing tutor/facilitator

Namibia polytechnic
-mass media third year students

poetry as a medium of communication

Writers caravan
-rural schools talent

creativity discovery project

Budding writers Association
-community writers skills

performance skills workshops

Book council of Zimbabwe
-reading culture moblization project

schools workshops

Stellenbosch university
-poetry perfomance skills

Swedish coperartive centre
-theatre arts as amethod of rural awareness

,community education and change

Zambia women writers
-strategic planning workshop

Ghana contemporary art

-capacity advising seminar

Schools writers club
-poetry skills tutorials

Catholic Relief Services
-using theatre and poetry

on nutriotion awareness on Hiv/Aids management

Blak poet-anthologized/published poet

2010-02-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

Blak poet anthologized /published poet

Agenda south africa
-gender rights magazine

Agenda zimbabwe
-constitutional assembly magazine

Budding writers voices
-poetry/story anthology

writers scroll/zimbabwe

-writers/poets magazine

Saih website/Norway

-students association webzine

Stephen gill website/Canada
-poetry projects blog

LyriK-line Germany
-poetry webzine

Ovi -magazine/Finland
-poetry journal

posy poesy India
-anthology of world poets

Kohinoor-India

-international literary magazine

Lyrical calabash
-poetry ezine

Velvet illusion/Alabama
-international poetry magazine

Namibian economist
-bussiness tabloid

Namibian women summit

-website

Arts Initiates,Zimbabwe
-website for arts news ,poetry and fiction

poetry.com/America

-poetry publisher

Aids out of Africa/Kenya
-poetry contest project

Pulsar Magazine Uk
-poetry webzine

Iranian embassy/Zimbabwe bulletin
- political ,diplomatic and arts

United Nations bulletins

-diplomatic,humanuitarian and arts

African Writers.com

-poetry blog

Story-Time

-world fiction publisher

Beloit poetry journal

-pending

Open wide magazine

pending

ICACD report ,Ghana

Blak poet-Creative Interventions/Projects Consultant

2010-02-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

Blak poet-creative projects consultant

Catholic Relief Services

2006
-nutrition and HiV/Aids

-rural creative awareness project

Swedish Cooperative Centre

2006
-drought mitigation,

-arts mobilzation/awareness project

British council/Budding writers

2008
-power in the voice

- provincial contest judge

Africapoetry night

-2006
Project and events consultant

Social Marketing Association/Namibia

2009-2010
-peer education plus program

- creative intervention documtary project

Zebra publishing house/NAMIBIA

2009-
-english/english literature commissioned writer

-fiction editorial consultant

Mrs Namibia Pageant

2007
-media strategist

Jibilka Dance festival

2007
-public relations/media consultant

Natioanl arts council /Namibia

2010
-artsits capacity building consultant

Africa wise projects

2010

projects consultant

Blak Poet -The Poet-in-Residence

2010-02-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Poet in Residence

ICACD conference

2009

Iranian embassy in zimbabwe

2001-2007

-house poet

Embassy of palestine in zimbabwe

2001-2003

-house poet

United Nations Information Centre

2001-

- in house performance poet/artist

Zimbabwe German Society

2006-2007

artist project

-a residency programme

Zimbabwe chamber of commerce
-2009-

-Budding writers associatioon of zimbabwe
2001 -2003

Zimbabwe writers union
-1998-2001

Blak Poet Tributes

2010-02-07T08:18:00.001-08:00

Blak poet Tributes

Legacy of Kofi Annan

2006

-United Nations day

Sam Nujoma the legend

2009
Nelson Mandela legacy

2010
Legend Hendrik wetbooi/

2009

Hero of Namibia eulogy

2009

Barack obama
victory 2009

African kings/queens

2002

-poetry on african kings/queens
-africa my wonderland

-a narrative of african of african legends

Haiti my generation

2010

Blak poet/collaborative projects

2010-02-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

Collaboration Projects

Time and images/

globalization connection arts exhibition-germany

2009

-poetry voice over on documentary of the project

Digital Poetry FrancoNamibia culture centre

2009
-visual /digital poetry

Artist project with

Zimbabwe german society

2007

-visual arts/poetry cross fertilization

Paumba/ Hifa project

2006

-hand in hand project

-visual images/poetry

-ceramics/graffiti

Finland cultural exchange project

2009
-poetry video

Blak poet-guest visits

2010-02-07T08:03:00.000-08:00

Guest Visits-Blak Poet

Goteborg book fair

-2003 ,
delegate of zimbabwe book fair/ Sida

Swedish writers union

2003

-delegate Zimbabwe book fair/Sida

Zambia women writers

2007
-visiting poet

Malawi writers union

2007
-visting poet

Ghana/ICACD conference

2009

-poet in resident

Stellenbosch university

2004
-visiting artist

Artschool egypt

2006
-exchange poet
Franco Namibia culture centre

2009

-Guest poet/Word festival

Namibia youth council

2010 ,haiti project

-guest poet

Blak Poet professional appointments 1998-

2010-02-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

Blak poet Professional Appointments 1998-

Budding writers association

2001-2003
-performance poet in residence
-membership drive officer

Zimbabwe writers union

1998-2001

-Midlands projects/events assistant

Zimbabwe international book fair

2003
-assistant perfomances coordinator

Zimbabwe international book week

2001
-reading out reach agent

Zimbabwe german society

2007
-artist project resident programme coordinator

/artist in residence organizer

Writers caravan

2004-2006
-programmes director

-founder

Africa poetry night

2006
-project consultant

African drums poetry festival

2007
-festival founder

-creative director

Creative Africa projects

2008-

-managing projects consultant

-projects development advisor

-creative projects director

Blak Poet Performances/Appearances 1996-

2010-02-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

Blak Poet Performance Resume

Zimbabwe internantional book fair

-book launches,
live literature centre,
great indaba and official openings

Harare international festival of arts
-UN poetry cafe,
-HIVOS poetry cafe,

HAND IN HAND visual art and poetry project

Zimbabwe writersunion festivals

-readers conferences ,
-book launches,writers clubs
-launch , writers circles launches

Budding writers association reading events
-Writers chapters mobilizations
-writing kills workshops
-programmes launches-
-reading evenings

Zimbabwe book develoipment council
-reading week official launches
-reading tents projects
-readership culture mobilization projects

Iranian embasy in zimbabwe

-Iranian culture projects
-dialogue among civalizations initiatives

Palestian embassy in zimbabwe

-DAY of the palestinepalestinian cultural projects

This is africa poetry night

-poetry projects ,reading night series

House of hunger poetry slam \

-every month slam events in zimbabwe
-taking place around zimbabwean main cities

Book cafe events

-arts festivalspoetry evenings
-boccapa academy events
-literary evenings
-book launches

Harare chamber of commerce

- brand launch dinners
-business wards-
-business conferences

Writers caravan projects

-storytelling nights

-poetry nights
-writers clubs launches
-rural poetry expansion projects

African drums poetry explosion

-a perfomance poetry festival of 4 countries

United nations days

-UN évents

Mambo press book publishing
-book launches

Zimbabwe germany society

-2006 end of year celebration of arts
-book launches

-artist resident project

Alliance francaise-
-book launches
-franco phone weeks
-poetry/reading evenings-
-world poetry day

British council

- cross borders writers projects
-writerscircles series
-power of the voice project
-book evenings and readings

National aids council

-mobilzation projects

-rural hiv/aids projects
-world aids day

jibilika dance festival-
official launch of the regional dance festival

National culture week

an event that celebrate

zimbabwwean culture and arts

National arts merit awards-
-official openings-
-press conferences
-awards ceremony

International day of peace
- UN event

International day of human rights-
-UNevent
International day of child rights
-UNevent

Safaids

-perspectives /TV series launch

Mustle africa festival

- official launch

Jesuits aids project

- schools HIV/AIDS projects

International institue of chartered accoutants
-graduation ceremony

Paumba project
-national gallery

-a visual arts poetry collaboration project

Zimbabwe women summit

-evening of arts

Kwekwe polytechnic

-writers club launch

International womens day

- official openings-celebrations

World aids day

in zimbabwe-
celebrations

Poets for human rights project
-Poetry nights series

Live literature centre zimbabwe
-Reading events

Zimbabwe union of journalists
-mobilzation projects

World press day

- Press freedom poetry

Ethno -based writers project /zimbabwe

- creative writers projects for academics

Harare polytechnic
-launch of students aids initiative

Nordic african institute/
-sweden reading evening 2oo3

Rinkeby library
-sweden-literary night

Goteborg book fair- Sida pavilion

Swedish international library association
-book launch

Swedish writers union-africa
/sweden poetry evening

Sida diplomatic luncheon

-sweden-a seminar of writers
, youth and diplomats

Internatinal conference of africa culture and development

/ICACD,Ghana
-official opening
-awards night
-poet in residence on sessions

Artschool ,

Egypt,arts / cultural exchange
-official opening

Zambian women writers
-reading evening

Malawi writers union
-reading series

Stellenbosch university

-perfomance night

Franco namibia culture centre
reading fest/book

and reading night

Spoken word october poetry festival

-namibia poetry festival/zenzo lounge
.windhoek

Spoken word series,namibia
-monthly namibia youth poetry nights

Fnland.Namibia culturalexchange project

-artist exchange project performance

Namibia women summit
-gala dinner
-awards night

.Bobmarley commemoration Namibia
-perfomance evening

Warehouse 20th anniversary Namibia
-celebration night

Cota carnival namibia
-perfomance arts

Free your mind Namibia
-poetry and comedy series

Polytechnic of namibia
-performance

- tutorial evening

Africa fashion show
Pambili

-fashion awards/-celebration night

Hendrik Wetbooi/ Hero of Namibia
-memorial evening

America culture centre /namibia
-book launch

Haiti fundraising NAMIBIA

-galadinner

-fundraising concert

Unesco

-photo novel project/tanzania

Blak Poet ACTIVITIES/PROJECTS

2010-02-07T07:13:00.001-08:00

Poetry For Development

-poetry as creative interventions

-poetry as therapy and healing

-poetry for readership culture

-poetry for literacy

-poetry for community awareness

-poetry for mobilization

-poetry for entertainment

Poet- in -Residence

-performing at conferences

-festivals

international workshops

-seminars

-retreats

-performing for diplomats

-gala dinners

POETRY EDUCATION

-poetry classes/tutorship

-poetry performance skills

-poetry edutainment

-poetry for culture and African pride

-poetry community workshops

-poetry editing

Praise Poetry

-poetry for tourism

-revolutions

-legacy of heroes

-tributes

Creative ProjectsConsultants

-poetry capacity building workshops

-goal and talent management

-creative designing

-events and festivals management

-media and communications projects

-creative interventions on organizational projects

-public relations and media strategies

-projects development and designing

Blak poet and Publicity

2009-12-05T02:30:00.000-08:00

Blak poet and Publicity

Broad casting

Interviews/Profiles

Radio/tv

-radio africa /senegal

-namibia radio stations

-zimbabwean radio stations

-swedish radio stations

-ghana broadcasting

-zambia broadcasting

-voice of people south africa

-free speech /america

-ghetto radio /kenya

Newspapers and Websites

-herald

-daily news

-zimbabwean

-financial gazette

-namibian economist

new era

the namibian sun

-ghana press

the sunday mail

swedish press

egyptian press

-kwayedza

-the standard

oneghana one voice

ovi magazine

-munyori.com

-wealth of ideas

-africawriter.com

-radio africa- senegal
-free speech radio - united states
-swedish radio stations
-namibian radio stations
-ghana broadcasting
-zimbabwe broadcasting
-zambia broadcasing
-voice of the people insouth africa

[14]ContactsMbizo chirashawww.poetrychatroom.blogspot.comwww.mbizopoetry.blogspot.commbizoc@yahoo.co.uk africapoetrychatroom@gmail.comgoogle/mbizo chirasha

About the African Poetry Chatroom

2009-01-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

The African Poetry Chatroom is a brain child of an African poet who wishes to celebrate life through poetry and the use of words in uniting young poets from Africa.

Mbizo Chirasha is a poet, writer, perfomer, arts coordinator and creative director for festivals. He also does consultancy jobs on arts and writing.

The chatroom contest project will include workshops, seminars, competions, readings and information on media relations. The project was born out of the 2007 African Drums Poetry Festival, which saw poets from Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia come together.

This project will celebrate ourselves using poetry. Running from 2008 to 2015, it will involve a lot of activities in the near future while working with community based organizations, schools and others.

contest news

2008-12-28T05:45:00.000-08:00

hello contestants.

the deadline of the contest is march 2009 , shifted fron december 2008

Meet the Judges

2008-08-11T03:05:00.000-07:00

Emmanuel Sigauke is a prominent literary guru and a poet. He is the editor and founder of the widely read Munyori Poetry Journal. His poetry has been published with various international ezines and magazines and he is a professor of English in Sacramento, California. He was born in Zvishavane district, Zimbabwe.

Rob Taylor is one great creative character. He is a writer, a poet, a website content editor and an ezine and blogs designer. He is also a creative arts consultant. Rob is the co- founder of Ghana's only poetry magazine, One Ghana, One Voice, which he founded with the other literary expert and business man Julian Adomako-Gyimah. Rob was born in Vancouver, Canada.

Contest Timeline

2008-05-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

Stage 1

Poetry entries are sent to the producers for screening from August until December, 2008.

Stage 2

The judging process kickstarts from December 2008 to February 2009. The results of 10 winning poets from 10 countries are announced in March 2009.

Stage 3

Winning poets are invited to a 2 month poetry residence programme/mentorship programme on situational writing, media relations, perfomance poetry and the crafts of perfomance poetry, arts management and administration from April-May 2009.

Stage 4

Publication of winning poems, project catalogue, cdroms, poetry reading festival and distribution of published material.

Stage 5

Organising comunity based poetry/writing projects in each winning country, winning poets as a agents of coordination. Continuity of poetry tour events, festivals and publications.

Themes

2008-04-11T02:18:00.000-07:00

Themes of the contest include:

HIV/Aids, democracy, corruption, culture, social life, economic hardships, human rights, gender, child abuse, and domestic violence.

Each winner will be selected from writing on these themes, so each theme and the winning contestant represents a country of winner origin, the winner will working with others in workshops and resiedence programes in order to improve africa through poetry. The judges are international poets with repute and understanding of themes and subject matters as well are well read people.

Submission Guidelines

2008-04-11T02:13:00.000-07:00

To be applicable to the chatroom contest:

-you need to be 16-33 years of age, writing in English.
-send entry before December 2008.
-write on 1 of the 10 themes.
-give your contact details, phone, email, address, website.

Submissions can be sent to africapoetrychatroom@gmail.com or artofpoetrytrain@yahoo.co.uk. Please address submissions to Mbizo Chirasha, with the subject line "AFRICA POETRY CHATROOM CONTEST".

africa poetry celeb chatroom poetry competition

2008-01-30T02:52:00.002-08:00

THE african drums book and poetry tour intiative project in 2008 is africa poetry chatroom , calling for poets from 10 countries poetry writers to participate in a contest that will lead to a poet in residence programme in any african country to the winners of the contest.details to be furnished soo n.
mbizo

Under Construction

2008-01-30T00:24:00.002-08:00

*Content will be posted here shortly*

African Poetry Chatroom

Mbizotheblackpoet Resume

creating creative spaces for girls

Mbizo a Conscious Poet

Poetry Profile: Mbizo Chirasha

seek yee not the kingdom of politics/His Excellency ,Charles Ray

THE MAGIC OF CARL JOSHUA NCUBE

KUBATANA.NET ENJOYED THE VERSES OF THE BLACK POET

Poems are bullshit unless they teach

HIFA ENGAGES HARARE STREETS THROUGH POETRY

MBIZO ENGAGED WITH HAMUTYINEI AT HIFA SPOKENWORD FEST 2011

BLACK POET GEARED FOR 2011 HIFA WORD FESTIVAL

Summary of Bio /Mbizo Chirasha 2011

Mbizo at Hifa 2011 Selection

HARARE POET OF HOPE

Uk retailers

black oranges

MBIZO PRODUCED AFRICAN DRUMS POETRY FESTIVAL

US EMBASSY HOST MBIZO CHIRASHA ON WORLD POETRY DAY

U.S. Embassy welcomes the Black Poet to celebrate

Tribute to African writers published in Poem2day creative review.

Tribute to African Writers by Mbizo Chirasha, Zimbabwe

Mbizo Poet appears in Kushinda Wales arts journal

arts kushinda!

k!8 ~ ‘I have eaten my poetry’ ~ Mbizo Chirasha

poet mbizo profiled in one ghana one voice 2011

Author Profile - Mbizo Chirasha

mbizo poet heads for East Africa 2011

mbizo chirasha participating black history month 2011

Zim poets commemorate Black History Month

Blak poet-blak poetry/iam a revolution

Blak poet and Publicity

Contact the Blak Poet

Blak poet -Projects Founder

Blak Poet-Awarded

Blak poet-Poetry/ Creative Writing tutor/facilitator

Blak poet-anthologized/published poet

Blak poet-Creative Interventions/Projects Consultant

Blak Poet -The Poet-in-Residence

Blak Poet Tributes

Blak poet/collaborative projects

Blak poet-guest visits

Blak Poet professional appointments 1998-

Blak Poet Performances/Appearances 1996-

Blak Poet ACTIVITIES/PROJECTS

Blak poet and Publicity

About the African Poetry Chatroom

contest news

Meet the Judges

Contest Timeline

Themes

Submission Guidelines

africa poetry celeb chatroom poetry competition

Under Construction