Poets set Tartwort Poetry Slam Ablaze

Zimbabwean poets Robson Isaac Shoes Lambada and Michael Mabwe set the Tartwort Poetry Slam on fire on 13 July 2012. They appeared as guest performers at a slam that had 15 local poets competing in front of an audience of more than 200 poetry lovers at a restaurant and bar named Cuba Nova in Muenster, Germany.

The poets belted out their protest pieces to the audience with energy and eloquence that sent the whole house into frenzy as they went through their verse. They performed pieces from their new album, “All Protocols Observed” which they launched in Harare on 14 June 2012 at the Jazz 105. Shoes Lambada recited “Dollar for two” as an opener to the slam. This poem celebrates the stabilization of prices as a result of the dollarization of the Zimbabwean economy through the introduction of the multi-currency regime.

 “Never in my life did I hear of a for-two in commerce

Never in my life did I hear of a for-two in business

The only of a for-two I ever heard was in sickness

 Two paracetamols twice a day

 Two salbutamols for two patients in May” recited Shoes Lambada. 

The poem went on to observe a phenomenon where we have many products costing $0.50. However, the poem mourns the unavailability of coins. Instead of being given a coin when you buy a product for $0.50 you are requested to buy them as a pair hence the pricing of all $0.50 products as dollar for two.

“…Crispy, chocolate creams curled by courteous cookers all for dollar for two

 twenty packed cancerous cigarettes tested and toasted all for dollar for two

pink pants for a poor partner professionally and purposefully in Peru butterfly printed all for dollar for two

Shake-shake beer bets brewed better than any brown beverage all for dollar for two” went on Shoes Lambada. 

Michael recited his famous “Animalistic Behaviour” just before the start of the second round of the slam. The well thought out poem observes similarities between the behaviour of animals and humans when they are faced with challenges. 

“ …some will develop into rabbits as they continue with their habits,

they see themselves filled filled with wisdom, but when faced with challenges they simply run away

some will develop into ostriches

 in the face of challenges they bury their heads into the soil forgetting that the rest of the body is exposed,

equally stupid are those who develop into tortoises

 in the face of challenges they hide their heads into their shells forgetting that the shell is also part of the body” retorted Michael Mabwe.

The poetry slam had 25 poets performing. The Tartwort poetry slam is slightly different from the popular House of Hunger poetry slam we have ion Zimbabwe. In the House of Hunger poetry slam, we have only 5 judges picked randomly from the audience whereas at the Tartwort slam everyone who pays their money to watch the poets is given a judging sheet and judges every poet. At the end of each round, the judging sheets are collected and the results are collated to determine the winners.

The duo is due to launch their album to the global market on today (14 July 2012) at the Schiller Gymnasium also in Muenster, Germany at the Annual Inter-Cultural Summer Party. This annual event is hosted by The Global Experience and the first Zimbabwean to perform at this function was the late mbira prince, Takunda Mafika in 2010. In 2011, Takunda Mafika also performed at the event together with Shoes Lambada. We are so glad to have social entrepreneurs from Zimbabwe performing at this year’s closing event of the Youth Forum on Digital Participation, We invited Michael and Rob because we partnered with the Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights. We do hope to maintain this relationship as we seek continuously seek to improve our communities through digital means.” commented Carina Schmidt who is The Global Experience Director.

LIve and unedited

A poetry performance that was a hybrid of two poems: Bound to the Street and Do You Remember. This was recorded at Tartwort Poetry Slam in Muenster, Germany on 7 July 2012. Congratulations Poet Shoes Lambada

ZPHR to officially unveil poetry album in Germany

HARARE - The Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR) is set to officially unveil their newly-released musical poetry album dubbed All Protocols Observed to the European market in Munster, Germany on the July 14 at a global intercultural event to be hosted there.

The album which has received a warm reception by the Zimbabwean audience after its successful launch at a colourful event at Jazz 105 in Harare is set to put the work of the militant word spoken movement on the European radar.

“The intercultural night is an annual world event that brings together people from different continents who are making a difference in their countries. We are happy as ZPHR to have been identified as people who are making contribution to our country by sparking and keeping debate alive on different issues affecting our people through the use of our artistic work,” said Robson Shoes by phone from Germany.

Their hard-hitting eight track album takes a look at various political, socio and economic issues that are affecting ordinary Zimbabweans.

ZPHR will perform alongside other cultural activists from across the globe that include but are not limited to cultural activists from Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, England, Iraq, and Germany among many others.

“For us this is a seal of approval of our work by the world and recognition of the strides we have made in contributing to the national question since our inception as ZPHR,” said Michael Mabwe ZPHR co-founder."

robson shoeslambada (left) and michael mabwe performing in Harare's first street

“It is an affirmation of why we are called weapons of mass instruction as a movement and this inspires us to continue writing about anything, everything and anyone as long as it has something to do with the issue of human rights in Zimbabwe.”

The album includes such tracks as the comic Dollar for Two, Maopareshoni naMakomishoni, the famed Todiniko Neavo, Press Freedom, Dirty Dirt and What Shall We Say And Do among others.

During their stay in Germany Robson Shoes and Michael Mabwe will also conduct workshops in schools on how to use poetry in addressing human rights issues. They will also feature as guest performers at the Muenster Poetry Slam.

ZPHR was established in 2007 to address human rights issues in a simplified but entertaining way that delivers messages to people’s door steps in a language that they enjoy listening to.

Since its inception it has made a great impact and managed to demystify the human rights discourse.

http://www.dailynews.co.zw/index.php/entertainment/37-entertainment/10585-zphr-to-officially-unveil-poetry-album-in-germany.html

Poets launch album in Harare

Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR) has launched an eight-track album entitled “All Protocol Observed” that addresses social ills and human rights abuse.

The launch featured established guest performers such as Mbizo Chirasha — popularly known as the Black Poet — ZBC news anchor Nqobile Malinga and Mutumwa Pavi. The poets recently performed at Jazz 105. Mbizo Chirasha set a resounding pace for the night with his piece that rebukes corruption and racial discrimination and applauds black empowerment.

Marlone Macebo Magwaza managed to sustain the excitement with his poem I Am Tired, which expresses deep repulsion of a “constitution that ties down” rights of citizens. He questioned if black empowerment really empowers the general citizen.
Pavi followed with Shona pieces that related to most of the listeners. His voice adjustment during his poem that advocated for freeing the voice left the audience in awe.

One of his poems, Chigaro, outlined utmost creativity by the use of metaphors.

Samuel ‘Semalod’ Mahutse did his part in a poem that applauds Nelson Mandela with a creative use of Harare’s street names.

Nqobile Malinga closed the list of spectacular performers with his piece on the Day of African Child entitled Soweto. Clad in a school uniform, the talented poet did a touching piece on child abuse.
Robson ‘Shoes’ Lambada and Micheal Mabwe backed with the ZPHR band ended the show with a spirited performance. In an interview with NewsDay, Lambada said they started the project with an aim of encouraging young people to participate in national issues.

“Decision-making has been done by old people while young people have been left out. We want to spread the message to young people who avoid participating in national issues such as voting and constitution-making,” said Lambada

“We have no bright future because some people spoilt it for us, so let’s stand and fight so as to correct the wrongs that have been done and build a better future for our children.”

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2012-06-17-poets-in-human-rights-campaign/