Published by the government of Zimbabwe
4 August 2008
Harare — GIFT Gwariwa, a Chitungwiza-based performance poet popular for his tribute poem Tamirira Mharidzo dedicated to and featured on sungura musician Cephas Mashakada's album, Zita Rine Zvarinoreva, has done it again.
Gwariwa (43) is set to go a mile further after the Minister of Policy Implementation in the Office of the President and patron of the Zimbabwe Union of Musicians, Cde Webster Shamu, recently expressed interest in one of his poems titled Ndarangarira Gamba.
The poem, first written in 2005, is dedicated to the late dendera music founder Simon Chimbetu.
"Minister Shamu expressed interest in the poem after I had told him about it during the Chitungwiza Central Hospital fund-raising gala held recently. The minister told me that plans were currently underway to hold a memorial of the late Simon Chimbetu and said he would love to have me as part of that programme," said Gwariwa.
Gwariwa said he first decided to write biographical poetry about musicians and other luminaries after being inspired by their lifetime achievements and touched by their deaths.
"This kind of poetry was first triggered by the death of Simon Chimbetu.
"I decided to name the poem Ndarangarira Gamba after one of his (Chimbetu's) songs that talks about the heroic exploits of a freedom fighter, but in this context it is a musical hero who has passed on leaving a yawning void," he said.
Apart from Tamirira Mharidzo and Ndarangarira Gamba, Gwarimba has also composed two other poems on Oliver Mtukudzi and the Zimbabwe Warriors football team, respectively titled Wedu Wadadisa and Hapana Chokumbotya Apa.
"All this stems from my deep passion for music and respect for local musicians. For instance, I showed the poem on Simon Chimbetu to his son Sulumane and although he was too busy, he expressed interest in it."
The poet singled out Wellington Jonga -- popularly known as Biggie Zhanje in entertainment circles -- for showing him direction.
"I was at ZBC radio studios for a poetry programme the other day when Wellington Jonga heard and liked Ndarangarira Gamba.
"That is when he advised me to write a poem on Mashakada who had been hospitalised then for diabetes and I did just that leading to the poem's inclusion on Mashakada's album.
"The musician was delighted.
"Although I don't earn anything in terms of royalties as a result of having my poem featured on Mashakada's album, the only positive thing is hearing my poem on radio.
"I didn't write it for financial gain. In fact, I am not bitter, although I am still struggling to get a copy of the album," he said.
Gwariwa, who has written more than 20 poems, believes poets have to be innovative in their efforts to publicise and market their work.
He believes that apart from having their works published in book form, poets have to resort to other avenues such as radio and television to project their talents.
"Poetry is still looked down upon. However, let's be innovative, let's not do the ordinary. Let's not just talk about subjects that have been exhausted by other writers," said Gwarira, who is also into cross-border trade for sustenance.
He was born in Mutoko and was educated at Zengeza 1 High where the poetry bug first bit him. He idolises fellow performance poet Chirikure Chirikure.
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