Walter Chawanda

Chirikure Chirikure is a multi-talented Zimbabwean poet, writer and musician. He became popular in the 1980s through his informative which he performed in Shona and English languages. His first volume of poetry, Rukuvhute received honourable mention in the 1990 Noma Awards. He later fused his poetry with music and did an eight audio recording. One such collaboration was with the late mbira musician Chiwoniso Maraire in Poetry with mbira music.

In 2014, he collaborated with Albert Nyathi on a music album titled ‘Connected’. The album was launched at the Book Café. The album touched on many issues ranging from time management to water and electricity woes. It featured original and innovative poetry delivered in Shona, Ndebele and English against a backdrop of guitars, penny whistles, percussion and harmonies. The eight-track album is based on cultural solidarity was put together in an effort to unite people from all corners of the country. Some of the music he has dfone include the ‘Chisina Basa’ album (2011), ‘Chimanimani’, a duet he did with Chiwoniso Maraire (2011), the ‘Napukeni’ album of mbira music and poetry (2002) and many others. He is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe and an Honorary Fellow of University of Lowa, USA.