Samm Farai Monro, better known as COMRADE FATSO, is one of the most popular and controversial poets in the Zimbabwe arts scene. His Toyi Toyi poetry – urban street poetry that mixes Shona with English – often attacks the Zimbabwe government for the injustices it inflicts on its citizens. Arrested in five different countries for his political activism and beliefs, Fatso has founded an activist network, a cultural network, and Zimbabwe’s first poetry slam in the struggle for justice.

He has performed in Kenya, UK, France, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Fatso’s poetry has appeared globally on BBC, CNN, SABC (South Africa), ZBC (Zimbabwe), KPFA (USA) and has been published in print media in various countries.

G.O.D. Obori (meaning spiritual healer, though the initials G.O.D. are an acronym for “gaining one’s definition”), whose given name is Biko Mutsaurwa, has pioneered a new, striking form of poetry. Marrying deep Shona with contemporary struggles, he effortlessly blends Shona culture with the Hip Hop generation. G.O.D. Obori’s style is powerful and rhythmic, strongly criticising oppressive systems in Zimbabwe and beyond. He has performed in Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa.

G.O.D. Obori is also a leading Hip Hop artist and community activist, organising alternative shows in poor communities where music is used as a tool for liberation.

Born Ngonidzashe Enos Tapiwa in March 1982 – MYBRUTHAZKEEPA started writing poetry at the age of eleven. He describes his poetry as “hip-hop orientated social commentary inspired by my own feelings and experiences.” With Outspoken he is a member of the hip-hop duo ‘Dialective Blue (TSU)’ and has performed at various international events including The Harare International Festival of the Arts (2007), The Zimbabwe International Book Fair (2007), INTWASA Arts Festival (2007) and African Poetry Night (2006).

Mybruthazkeepa has participated in the House of Hunger poetry slam at the Book Café since 2006 and has showcased his work at many local events. He has also part taken in the drama ‘Illusions’ at the Mannenberg theatre. He says of himself, “I aspire to write a hip-hop poetic theatre, which incorporates music, theatre, poetry and dance.”

Born on the 22nd September, 1983, Tongai Leslie Makawa – better known as OUTSPOKEN – has participated in numerous poetry festivals worthy of note in Zimbabwe. The last of four siblings, he is the projects facilitator for Magamba!, a network that focuses on spoken word fusion activities.

He is also a hip-hop mentor for Power in the Voice, a British Council programme, which seeks to better the performance arts by targeting talented youth and mentoring them in their various disciplines.

Trust Mutekwa, alias TICHA MUZAVAZI (teacher/talker) is a poet inspired by nature and human activity. He has taken his poetry to the Zimbabwe International Book Fair, The INTWASA Festival of the Arts in Bulawayo, SAAF, and The House of Hunger Poetry Slam.

Outside his poetic activities, Trust is a teacher in the special needs area of Blindness/Visual Impairment at St Giles Rehabilitation Centre in Harare. He is also a peripatetic teacher of mbira in schools and colleges.