Tariro neGitare stole the show at the Slam the Page performance at the HIFA Hivos Poetry Lab on Thursday, April 30, 2015. She proved why she is one of the most celebrated female musicians in Zimbabwe. Joining Tariro were Mandi from South Africa, PAN from Bulawayo, and Flow Chyld (Cynthia Marangwanda), and DJ Aerosol.
The Poetry Lab (or Poetry Café as it was formerly known) is a staple feature at the annual Harare International Festival of the Arts. This year the new “Lab” moved to a bigger gazebo space, fitting of the popularity the daily poetry performances have garnered over the years.
Tariro performed some of her jams, like ‘Chipo Changu’, and what seemed to be the crowd’s favorite, ‘Uripi’ (Where are you?). Uripi reflects the love that a young lady has for a certain man but he is mysteriously unavailable, despite the fact that he is promised to her in marriage. Rap lyrics, mixed with her guitar provided the audience with an intoxicating concoction.
First to appear on stage was Mandi. Her piece was the voice of the voiceless girl child who has no power to stop being forced into marriage.
“You can’t walk down the aisle with a girl who is supposed to say her vows at the school ground…” This was one of the powerful sentences in her poem, as she expressed anger and disappointment at fathers who sell their children into marriage.
Flow Chyld (Cynthia Marangwanda), was the second poet to appear on the stage, and read a small selection from her new poetry publication, “Shards,” which won a NAMA award earlier in 2015. This is a story about a mad girl who encounters mental difficulties and she out of loneliness can only take her frustrations to her art.
“Diseases of our thoughts had us clomped to the throat…” one of the moving lines she read from her book.
“Money is slave that chains the master…” chanted PAN, a poet and spoken word artist from Bulawayo. He read an anthology from “a couple of guys from around Africa.” His poem, House of Hunger, a reference from Dambudzo Marechera’s book, was the most powerful of his poems.
PAN was accompanied by DJ Aerosol on the decks, and they kept the crowd in high spirits.
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