The Tour of the Word
Positive things can also happen. A flower can spring from the shit. I'm just finishing a short European tour that has taken me from the Slam Poetry World Cup in Paris to the UK and from there to the Poetry International Festival in Rotterdam, Holland. I moved with the word in my front pocket. And hope in my voice.
The Poetry Slam World Cup was flooded with all the world's national poetry slam champions. I won the first three rounds, beating the US, the Candian and Polish champions. My word was my weapon as my Shonglish poems from the struggle and streets of Harare enthralled the judges and crowd alike. Once in the semi-finals though, I spent too long introducing a poem and went over the time limit. I was penalised, losing two points with which I would have made the finals. Without them I didn't. It was an enjoyable event nonetheless. I got alot of respect from the poets there and also used the opportunity to do loads of media interviews for TV and radio about the struggle in Zimbabwe. And I also signed a record distribution deal with an independent label in France. So House of Hunger is now readily available in Europe.
I have just returned from Rotterdam where I performed at the Poetry International Festival. Me and Josh Meck did our powerful poetry-bass collaboration that sees my words of toyi toyi wrap around his melodious bass riffs. It was a different way of communicating the truths about Zimbabwe to an international audience: through poems that are the people's stories, through hope and humour, through showing that humanity always wins. It was broadcast live on the internet. And House of Hunger is now also being played on Radio Netherlands...
Now Southern Africa is calling. The Presidential Run-Off is two weeks away. So with Magamba! we are organising the the MAKE SOME NOISE Tour - Concerts For Freedom in Zimbabwe that will tour from Zimbabwe to South Africa. The tour aims to mobilise South Africans into action on Zimbabwe. It culminates in an explosive concert at the House Of Nsako in Jo'burg where leading SA and Zim artists will be united in their stand against oppression. Featuring the likes of Pops Mohammed, Kwani Experience, Comrade Fatso & Chavondoka and Outspoken we believe we'll definitely get everyone to make some noise!!
To read an article about Fatso in the French press and to listen to the interview and his music click below:
http://www.leblogde21.com/article-19755362.html
To read the article by John Mokwetsi about Fatso's participation in the Slam click below:
To read about Fatso @ Poetry International and to listen to some of his poems click below:
http://zimbabwe.poetryinternationalweb.org/piw_cms/cms/cms_module/index.php?obj_id=11655
To download Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka's new album simply go to:
