Chirikure Chirikure

(Zimbabwe, 1962)

Biography

Chirikure Chirikure is perhaps best known as one of Zimbabwe's most talented performance poets and storytellers. His first volume of poetry, Rukuvhute (College Press, 1989) received honourable mention in the 1990 Noma Awards and was followed by Chamupupuri (College Press,1994) and Hakurarwi, We Shall not Sleep (Baobab Books, 1998).

Chirikure performs his poetry in Shona and in English and usually performs with DeteMbira, an mbira band of which he was a founding member; he has also worked with Oliver Mtukudzi, the Uya Moyo Jazz Band and with other musicians. Much of his poetry has been recorded for radio, and he and the DeteMbira band have produced one album, Napukeni.

Chirikure was born in 1962 in Gutu.

Also on this site
{id="5735" title="The poetry of Chirikure Chirikure"}
Essay by Mickias T. Musiyiwa.

{id="5727" title="An Introduction to Post-Independence Zimbabwean Poetry"}
An extensive introduction to Zimbabwean poetry by Kizito Z. Muchemwa.

Links
Chirikure Chirikure on Lyrikline

Poems

TO YOU, CHILDREN OF AFRICA "YES, YES" WE ARE HERE (AT PORTA FARM) HEROES DAY HOLIDAY WE SHALL NOT SLEEP NZVIMBO DZEMUMABHUKU TIME TO MOVE ON WHIRLWIND WE FOUGHT THE WAR THE UMBILICAL CORD

Poems

Poems of Chirikure Chirikure

Partners

LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère

Chirikure Chirikure