One of the greatest joys of my year-long dive into the pool of poetry has been engaging with several talented individuals from Zimbabwe. In this post, I'll introduce you to two of those poets and their work: Tatenda “Sibuco” Murangi and Mbonisi Zikhali Zomkhonto AKA Zomkhonto Gabadela.
Intro to Sibuco
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| Dr. Shamiso Madzivire |
Frankly, I don’t know how Tatenda manages it all...and at such a high level.
Originally from Norton, 40km/25mi from the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, Sibuco lives and studies in Cape Town, South Africa, where he’ll return after completing his program-related research in Giessen, Germany. In addition to his work with TSR, what initially caught my eye was the following excerpt from Sibuco’s self-description on his Facebook/Meta page: “My gift to the world is being myself.” Not only does he have the courage to be himself, but he has the wisdom to understand that that self is a gift to the world.
I could go on about the reasons I am impressed with Tatenda Murangi, but I’d rather you get to know him through his work. In the short video below, you'll find a small sampling of his music and poetry. Please indulge me in this introduction to the primary piece in the video, A Soldier's Dilemma, which was showcased in June on Poetry in Action- Africa on Reggae Nostalgia Internet Radio (episode: Poetry in Action, 13:22).
Intro to A Soldier's Dilemma
What of PTSD? We’ve been bombarded and blitzkrieged by images of bodies rended, of buildings and lives blasted into oblivion…the carnage of war.
The nimble, flexible minds of poets have made it simple for them to vault and somersault onto the mobile bandwagon despite its nature as moving target.
But there are others…others who eschew the imagery of destruction, who take a path untraveled by the bandwagon and its passengers.
Sibuco is one such other, one who stands atop a hillock with sweeping gaze eyeing not the carnage on the field, but the bloody tatters of the souls and psyches of those who wreaked the carnage.
Sibuco’s A Soldier’s Dilemma takes a more reflective path than the bandwagon and its jumpers. Though mentioned, the stench of blood only hints at the stink of guilt and the residue residing in the reservoirs of hearts and minds...their bloody secrets the seeds of trauma trees.
What happens when youthful talent and unfortunate circumstance vie for center stage? What price to pay for a chance to play your part in the distant dance of fame? Do you believe the sayers of nay or mine your depths for belief in self? The questions quiver beneath dancers’ feet, lean against dancehall walls, but there they are...nonetheless…in shadow.
I could go on about the reasons I am impressed with Tatenda Murangi, but I’d rather you get to know him through his work. In the short video below, you'll find a small sampling of his music and poetry. Please indulge me in this introduction to the primary piece in the video, A Soldier's Dilemma, which was showcased in June on Poetry in Action- Africa on Reggae Nostalgia Internet Radio (episode: Poetry in Action, 13:22).
Intro to A Soldier's Dilemma
What of PTSD? We’ve been bombarded and blitzkrieged by images of bodies rended, of buildings and lives blasted into oblivion…the carnage of war.
The nimble, flexible minds of poets have made it simple for them to vault and somersault onto the mobile bandwagon despite its nature as moving target.
But there are others…others who eschew the imagery of destruction, who take a path untraveled by the bandwagon and its passengers.
Sibuco is one such other, one who stands atop a hillock with sweeping gaze eyeing not the carnage on the field, but the bloody tatters of the souls and psyches of those who wreaked the carnage.
Sibuco’s A Soldier’s Dilemma takes a more reflective path than the bandwagon and its jumpers. Though mentioned, the stench of blood only hints at the stink of guilt and the residue residing in the reservoirs of hearts and minds...their bloody secrets the seeds of trauma trees.
Intro to Mbonisi
I’m going to allow Mbonisi Zikhali Zomkhonto’s own words to do most of the speaking for him here, but before I do that, I want to acknowledge the reason for this introduction. If you’ve had the good fortune to hear him deliver his poetic arias on Zoom or in person, you will understand when I say that Zomkhonto Gabadela carries a light that is hard to dim.
That light is in his work, in his sharing of that work, and in the megawatt smile that transforms his face and any space he inhabits. Given Mbonisi's background, it is no surprise that when it's his turn to speak, he delivers. Here he is in his own words:
“My name is Mbonisi Zikhali and Zomkhonto is my totem, which sets the tone for a series of my ancestral praise names that follow. I come from a region with a long history of writing the achievements of each successive generation of a clan. These praise names are an unending poem, such that every new birth is an opportunity to add to the totems, with the goal of preserving the memory of their journey through their collective lifetimes.
I was born in Makokoba, the oldest township in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, Africa. I currently reside in Windsor, Canada. I am a spoken word artist, storyteller, youth mentor, community services worker and mental wellness advocate. I won my first poetry award when I was eight years old, for a poem called "Mr. Bad Ears". That initial excitement turned over the decades into the man I am today. I consider myself an afro-empath and am driven to ensure that people find joy in the power of words and storytelling.
I am a member of Artcite Windsor’s Community Connector and Free Verse Poets, which both seek to incorporate poetry and drumming as a way to re-engage the community in artistic ways, while providing a safe space to share stories and support each other emotionally. My most recent engagement with Artcite Windsor was as a featured artist in 2021’s “Emancipate the Landscape,” a month-long exhibition featuring digital artists Kiki Symone and Talysha Bujold-Abu, which ran from August-September. It was a collaborative journey to celebrate the brilliant resilience and inherent elegance of everyday Blackness."
Like Sibuco, Mbonisi dabbles musically as well, playing djembe and Marimba. However, he acknowledges that he is no “musician” with the djembe, only playing that instrument for fun. But he also says, “My instrument is marimba.” Sadly (a special for adverb haters 😉), I couldn’t get a recording of his playing for you, but I do have Mbonisi reciting one of his poems in the video below.
That light is in his work, in his sharing of that work, and in the megawatt smile that transforms his face and any space he inhabits. Given Mbonisi's background, it is no surprise that when it's his turn to speak, he delivers. Here he is in his own words:
“My name is Mbonisi Zikhali and Zomkhonto is my totem, which sets the tone for a series of my ancestral praise names that follow. I come from a region with a long history of writing the achievements of each successive generation of a clan. These praise names are an unending poem, such that every new birth is an opportunity to add to the totems, with the goal of preserving the memory of their journey through their collective lifetimes.
I was born in Makokoba, the oldest township in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, Africa. I currently reside in Windsor, Canada. I am a spoken word artist, storyteller, youth mentor, community services worker and mental wellness advocate. I won my first poetry award when I was eight years old, for a poem called "Mr. Bad Ears". That initial excitement turned over the decades into the man I am today. I consider myself an afro-empath and am driven to ensure that people find joy in the power of words and storytelling.
I am a member of Artcite Windsor’s Community Connector and Free Verse Poets, which both seek to incorporate poetry and drumming as a way to re-engage the community in artistic ways, while providing a safe space to share stories and support each other emotionally. My most recent engagement with Artcite Windsor was as a featured artist in 2021’s “Emancipate the Landscape,” a month-long exhibition featuring digital artists Kiki Symone and Talysha Bujold-Abu, which ran from August-September. It was a collaborative journey to celebrate the brilliant resilience and inherent elegance of everyday Blackness."
Intro to We Thought We Were Not Enough
Mbonisi's We Thought We Were Not Enough masquerades as a tale of disenfranchised, youthful dancers. But it is a parable that two-steps and dos y dos its meaning well beyond the dancefloor. A storyteller born and true, with lyrical sense and performance penchant, Zomkhonto choreographs his play with a zeal that does not belie his philosopher’s sight. What happens when youthful talent and unfortunate circumstance vie for center stage? What price to pay for a chance to play your part in the distant dance of fame? Do you believe the sayers of nay or mine your depths for belief in self? The questions quiver beneath dancers’ feet, lean against dancehall walls, but there they are...nonetheless…in shadow.
croaking frogs decry the fear in feet- powerful words and a passion for freedom
ReplyDeletePassion and Mbonisi are practically synonymous 🙂👍🏾. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
DeleteHe strikes again:-)
DeleteI’m in Awe
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty special in my opinion too Chip👍🏾
ReplyDelete