Zimbabwean poet VaChikepe draws on Jamaican influences
Intrigued by mystery since his youth in Zimbabwe, VaChikepe brings a sense of the unknown to his writing.
An ordained minister of religion, his work is inspired by Jamaican roots heroes like Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Mutabaruka. Poems like The Spiritual Quantum: Teleportation of The Heart and Hunting And Gathering, sum up his approach to writing.
“It is deeply rooted in intentionality and a desire to connect with both the spiritual and the everyday realities of life. I strive to craft poems that resonate with the human soul and spirit, offering reflections and meditations that are theological, poetic, musical, and relevant to the 21st century,” he told Observer Online.
From Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, VaChikepe’s poems are also steeped in the Shona language of his homeland. He became even more immersed in Jamaican culture after meeting dub poet Richie Innocent at the Bridgewater International Poetry Festival five years ago in Virginia.
They became fast friends, and VaChikepe performed on Richie Innocent’s ‘Friends’ show in Queens, New York last September.
He recently earned a Masters in Divinity from Duke University in North Carolina. However, citing God as his savior, has never limited his influences.
“Bob Marley remains one of the greatest mysteries of my life when I think of Jamaica. Most people know him as a musician, but I believe he was a poet gifted with the power of music. I believe he saw a lot, questioned a lot, and tried to express it all in a very careful and unique way. That care touched the soul and gave life to the spirit,” said VaChikepe. “Growing up, I also thought Mutabaruka was a Zimbabwean who became very famous in Jamaica because his name sounded so Shona. I even composed a song at the age of 10, which said, ‘I am the young brother of Mutabaruka’. Only later did I realize that Mutabaruka is the great poet of our times, based in Jamaica. When I won IRAWMA Best Poet in the Mutabaruka category in 2021, I was both shocked and extremely happy. But my spirit wasn’t surprised, it felt like a prophecy fulfilled.”
Marley performed in Zimbabwe in April 1980 as part of celebrations marking the country’s transition from the racist, renegade state of Rhodesia. VaChikepe hopes one day he will get to share his message in Jamaica.
“I can’t wait to visit Jamaica for the first time. This has been my wish for the past three years and I pray that the Jamaican government will remove visa requirements for Zimbabweans. In the spirit of Bob Marley, who came to liberate Zimbabwe from colonial rule and celebrate with the new Zimbabwe, let these visa requirements be removed. We are one big family, and that should be known, lived, and celebrated,” he said.
