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/

The Shoes Lambada Experience

Shoes Lambada was part of the International Reprters Conference that took part in Munster, Germany in July 2011, and this is an interview he did during the conference. He also recorded a concert during this conference.

Tariro

This is a love poem by was written to challenge the issue of choices. In this poem, Shoes Lambada paints a scenario where his choices to marry a woman of his liking are not respected. The elders always found something negative about whoever he chose to be his wife. This was common in the shona culture as arranged marriages were respected and your choice was less important. However, the poem as much as it seems to be a romantic poem about a man who sticks to his choice of woman in the face of opposition from his relatives, the poem was written at height of political violence in 2008 and for one to be free you had to belong to one political party and not necessarily the party of your choice. This poem received mixed reactions when it was performed in 2008 and 2009.

Nonthando

The poem is filled with emotion and feelings. One of Shoes Lambada's old pieces. This is a love poem written by Shoes Lambada in 2007.

House of Stone

House of Stone you are my life
House of Stone you are my wife
My brother from another mother, my sister from another mister
My niece from another miss
House of Stone you are a mansion yet to some you are a dungeon
To the poor you are a sweltering red hot oven
Yet to the numerous ruling party cronies you remain a plush paradise like heaven
House of Stone you are my pride
House of Stone you were the chosen bride
Yet your own children have cursed you
With our stolen votes they peruse the city streets
In their elegant lavish limousines labelled ZIM what? Nonsense
Their irritating sirens reminding us for the umpteenth time
Of the wailing Grandmother in UMP Who has nothing but a morsel of dry almost rotten piece of chimodho To feed to the fifteen grandchildren yet when her vote they wanted
They promised her all agricultural inputs and the mother of all seasons (As if they are the rain makers) plus that futile monthly BACCOSI hamper that never was

House of Stone what disease has invaded you?
Which virus is gluttonously munching through your anatomy?
For you no longer know life but strife
You are no longer an epitome of freedom but the home of doom and gloom
I say look around you House of Stone
They claim to be happily married
They sleep under the same blanket and share the same narcissistic bed
Yet when night falls they draw daggers for each other
What then is the GNU when national unity remains a fragile yet cosmetic accord between three principals
I say look around you House of Stone, look around you House of Stone
From the once Sunshine City to now Shit of Harare
From the breadbasket of Africa to the basket case of Africa
From the Great Zimbabwe to the Zimbabwe Ruins
STILL House of Stone

Look around you House of Stone
From the National Water Authority to the No Water Authority
From the Electricity Supply Authority to the Electricity Shortage Authority
From the Grain Marketing Board to the Grain Massacre Board
STILL House of Stone

From Seretse Khama to Ketumile Masire to Festus Mogae to Ian khama Jnr.
STILL house of stone
From Nelson Mandela to Thabo Mbeki to Mohlante to Jacob Zuma and future leaders
STILL House of Stone
From Kenneth Kaunda to Fredrick Chiluba to Levy Mwanawasa to Rupiah Banda to Michael Sata
STILL House of Stone
Even abroad House of stone From Ronald Regan to Gorge Bush Snr. to Bill Clinton to Gorge Bush Jnr. to Barack Obama
Still House of Stone

I say look around you House of Stone
But that day is coming House of Stone
That day when the people’s will shall be felt
That day when the people shall TAKE CHARGE and pen their own constitution
That day when the people shall determine their own destination
For we have had enough of the dust of toil
From our failed Agrarian soil
And all we need is bread on our tables bread on our tables!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Tapfuma Ronald Jongwe
Tapfuma Jongwe is a Performing Poet who has performed at various local, regional and international platforms. He writes here in his own personal capacity.

Yomubatanidzwa

This poem is in shona. It is speaking of the Inclusive government in Zimbabwe. The poem is exploring gthe positives that the inclusive government brought rather than the negatives which are always touted in the newspapers. Poet Shoes Lambada mixes humour and deep language with energy to convey the positives being enjoyed by Zimbabweans. Taku Mafika on the mbira gives a jovial celebratory tune with a husky chorus that he sings to interlude the poetry.

OSAMA

This poem was written by Robson Isaac ShoesLambada soon after the death of Osama bin Laden.

Longer than expected he lived

But longer he remains dead

A female,

Bullet-holed all over her skin

Her body the bullet proof of the male combatant

Osama’s son being bombed to heaven

Just like the twin towers on Septmebr eleven

The globe spinning

The atmosphere changing.

Leaders changing, others falling

NATO Royal Airforce tornadoes targeting,

Libya’s dockyard facilities. Israel vowing,

Never to return to 1967 borders. Netanyahu to Obama in White House lecturing.

Gaddaffi’s military installations loosening,

SADC Troika on Mugabe tightening

Strauss Khan a hotel maid sexually assaulting:

The Next-French-President tag falling

Pakistan Taliban, Al Qaeda and Saudi Arabia brushing

Tears from their sombre mourning

Faces from morning till morning

Osama: The Afghan Tora Bora fugitive

Equator of democracy to idolatry

America’s headache since Bush

Now that he is dead

Al Qaeda is sad

In Abbottabad as the chopper pierced

The tense, masses fled

The dollar rose,

Oil fell

Stocks rose,

Gold fell.

Economics or Politics?

International law or law of internationals?

Bound to the Streets

I will miss you