Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE literary arts scene in Zimbabwe is witnessing remarkable growth, with Chioniso Tsikisayi, the multi-award-winning creative force from Bulawayo, firmly establishing herself as one of the country’s leading voices. Tsikisayi was recently crowned the winner of the inaugural Harare Review of Books Zimbabwe Speculative Poetry Competition.
Her compelling work, Alternative Transport, captivated the judging panel and secured the top honour in a contest designed to ignite local engagement with futurism and dystopian themes rooted in Zimbabwean folklore.
Speculative poetry refers to any poem that diverges from reality, often blending science fiction and fantasy elements with traditional poetic craft. Although Tsikisayi admitted that speculative fiction is not her usual domain, she embraced the challenge presented by the competition.
“Speculative fiction is not my favourite genre to write in. It’s very popular and I’ve seen it with West and East African writers. I think the competition was to try and nudge us down that direction since we don’t have a lot of writers in that kind of genre. The key thing is that they wanted us to write about these dystopian kinds of time using Zimbabwean folklore. Though I don’t usually write that kind of stuff, I decided to shoot my shot,” she said.
That calculated shot proved to be unerringly accurate. For her victory, Tsikisayi received a prize of US$100, alongside a signed copy of The Process of Poetry edited by Roseanna McGlone and a signed copy of Soon Come by Kuba Shand Baptiste.
The judging panel offered glowing praise for Alternative Transport, highlighting its technical brilliance and deep cultural resonance. Judge Tinashe Tafirenyika described the poem as “one of the best poems I’ve ever read. It captured the essence of Zimbabwe in a way that someone who has never walked these streets or a tourist could never even dream of. I saw myself in all these places as I read it, truly transported. The technical skill was astounding. The poem felt like a song.”
Fellow judge Zai Zanda emphasised Tsikisayi’s mastery of craft, stating that the poem won for several reasons.
“They are clearly a seasoned writer, dexterous in their use of metaphor, simile and imagery. Their storytelling is compelling, drawing together the sacred and the everyday. Their compression of time into an intertwining of past, present and future registers an appreciation of Zim Spec Poetry as a genre rooted in Bantu philosophies of being.”
This latest accolade adds to Tsikisayi’s already impressive list of achievements. She was named the 2023 Roil Bulawayo Arts Award Outstanding Poet and is nominated for a 2024 National Arts Merit Award (Nama).
Her creative reach spans multiple disciplines, with work in film, theatre, music and literature. She has performed at major international events, including the 65th Grand Slam Africa in Kenya, the All African Women Poetry Festival in Ghana, Poetry Africa in South Africa, TEDx Borrowdale in Zimbabwe, Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo and Sofar Sounds in Harare.
Her cinematic vision is also gaining global recognition. Her experimental short film Bureau De Change (2025) was showcased at the 16th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival in San Jose, California, following her 2024 film Queue For A Dream. An alumna of Creative Writing from the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study, Tsikisayi exemplifies Zimbabwe’s growing cross-disciplinary artistic talent.
The competition also celebrated other talented voices. Hebe R Manyepxa secured second place and US$60 with Zvapera Mumunyu, while Nyika Reloaded x Tapiwa Constance claimed third place and US$40 with Nyika Reloaded, winning a copy of Die With Me by Hope Masike.
Tsikisayi’s victory underscores the vibrant potential of Zimbabwean speculative fiction, proving that stepping outside one’s creative comfort zone can yield extraordinary, award-winning results. She recently participated in the Music Connects Africa programme (formerly Scripts and Bars), collaborating with a mix of artistes from across Zimbabwe — including Bulawayo rappers Noluntu J and Brintz, and Harare-based talents Melyssa, Paintafresco, Masa Caroleen, Danai Clay and Raven Duchess — to unveil Volume 1 of the compilation album 8 Piece Combo.
Tsikisayi’s work continues to resonate locally and captivate audiences globally, establishing her as a powerful voice shaping the future of Zimbabwean storytelling.—@MbuleloMpofu
