adminperceived as an art reserved only for the academia, yet it is an important element in the entertainment industry.
“We had a challenge in this sector as people thought that it (poetry) was only meant for the educated.
“However, a lot of people appreciate the genre as an important form of entertainment and we fought hard to get rid of that kind of thinking,” said Nyathi.
Nyathi also revealed that the coming in of a new generation of artistes has given the genre a lifeline.
“New artistes like Nqobile Malinga have changed the face of poetry and their artistry is clear testimony of how the genre has grown,” he added.
A number of talented Zimbabwean poets have made great strides both locally and internationally.
Batsirayi Chigama and Tinashe Muchuri seem to be enjoying a purple patch and they recently attended the Sadc Poetry Festival in Gaborone, Botswana.
Nyathi made a name for himself after his early 1990s hit — “Senzeni Na?” — a song fused with traditional instruments and a soulful female voice.
The artiste also released “Echoes from Zimbabwe” in 2010, and due to public demand he will be reprinting some copies of the book again this year.
Last week, Nyathi got the nod to perform at the investment promotion concert organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion in Johannesburg and recited the poem “Zimbabwe”.
Other forces to reckon in the poetry genre include Memory Chirere, Chirikure Chirikure and Mbizo Chirasha, who have featured prominently on both local and international anthologies.
Online Reporter