Nyathi scouts for young talent

Supported by the British Council, Nyathi seeks to promote poetry through training groups of children in different schools.
The students are asked to choose a topic on climate change and then write poems in Shona, isiNdebele or English.
According to Nyathi, he has worked with schools such as Eaglesvale, Mbare High and George Stark among others.
“What we are going to do is that all the poems will be published on a website soon to be launched. People will be asked to vote for the best poems that will receive prizes courtesy of British Council,” Nyathi said.
Born on November 15 1962 at Kafusi in Gwanda, Nyathi is a poet who is particularly famous for the song “Senzeni Na?” which he composed following the assassination of Chris Hani.
The British Council appointed Nyathi, Alexio Kawara and Leandar Kandiero as the climate ambassadors in 2009.
Nyathi has since devoted his efforts on school children.
“Children are the future so we have to build them from the beginning. I feel that children are being left out on climate change discussions.
“Climate change is an issue that affects us all and there is no reason to leave children out. Let’s include them and hear what they have to say concerning the subject,” he said.
Nyathi said he was getting support from the British Council as well as the participating schools.
“The project is a collective effort whereby I guide the children on what they want to write and then hand over the poems to other experts like Ignatious Mabasa who edit them,” Nyathi said.