Spoken word artiste Tendekai Tati who is popularly known as Madzitatiguru is set to represent Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Slam Poetry to be held in Chad later this year.
Madzitatiguru got the greenlight to represent Zimbabwe at the continental showcase after winning the local qualifiers held in Bulawayo last year.
A Naxional poetry slam was held in Bulawayo in November 2017 as a qualifier for the African Cup of Slam Poetry and prominent poets from all over Zimbabwe were all invited.
“For Zimbabwe, the Bulawayo based Mlomo Wakho Poetry Slam undertook the qualifying process, being directed and organised by Tswarelo Mothobi and I was the winner,” he said.
“Qualifier competitions are still being held across the continent, with countries such as Congo, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast and Morocco having already confirmed who their representatives would be.”
The competition is expected to be multilingual.
With his colloquial rhythmic use of language, Madzitatiguru has been part of the spoken word and poetry culture since 2011, beginning his career at the House of Hunger Poetry Slam.
Madzitatiguru is well known for his works which include; ‘Mapete’, ‘Chazezesa’ and ‘Mabasa’ all of which have gone viral on social media.
He has already performed at a number of poetry events which include; HIFA, Shoko Festival and Intwasa Arts Festival.
In 2012 he was part of Poetry Africa and has travelled as a teaching artiste in a few places around the world.
Madzitatiguru has won the Afro Express Poetry Slam 2011, Shoko Festival Poetry Slam 2015, 2016 and 2017, HIFA Poetry Slam 2015 and the 2017 Mlom Wakho National Poetry Slam.
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