EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH VACHIKEPE

By Tanya. R. Kwerengwe (Miss Fit)

Becoming a worthy winner takes the ability to be a gracious loser. Thus is the story in the case of 2021 IRAWMAward winning poet, Takudzwa Chikepe.

When asked about how he would react to losing, the 34-year-old said, he would “revert to working hard and being helpful for a better tomorrow,” continue to study himself and to understand what society wants to offer him as well as share himself with society.

Popularly known as, VaChikepe, the poet credits his art to the Almighty as seen in what he termed his would-be “losing” speech. Simply, *”Thank you so much God my Father, our Father”* Takudzwa talks about the corporate world having failed to understand artists’ yearning for a helping hand in realizing their vision, but the award gives him a platform to knock on even the President’s door for attention and conversation. He says, “If anyone asks me who are you? I will say, I am that Award winning poet from Jamaica”

For his art, VaChikepe’s award more fans, friends and family, plenty collaborations in and out of Africa and above all a prestigious identity to carry wherever he goes. According to him, he now has to out compete himself so as to out compete his award and win more awards.

The Norton based poet says everything has changed since scooping the award. “It is like I have been given a new piece of land and asked to develop it to my liking. Definitely this land will be developed; to what becomes a story for another day”.

Inspired by the eagerness to read, write and share his thoughts and perceptions, the poet says these have remained the constant vibe driving him. However, over time he has added some deep research to that list. But above all, the Bible and trying to understand Divinity have overtaken everything else.

One would find it easy to extend a hearty congratulations to this artist who has succeeded in raising Zimbabwe’s flag high as one of two Zimbabweans to be nominated and win an award in the competition, being the only one in his category, the Mutabaruka award for best spoken word artist.

One often wonders what perks come with award winning, and what better way than to hear from the horse’s mouth what it really means. VaChikepe describes it as a graduation from one level of relationship with poetry to another. He believes the fact that everyone is paying attention to knowing him more means God will use him and his art to convey His message to His people.

The award in terms of the industry means there is great potential to develop. Chikepe has gone through the hardships of being an artist but it has not broken his love for art. He says, “in my brokenness I have managed to link more than 400 artists from Africa to USA and Jamaica.” How much more now that he’s fixed?