In April 2011, I found myself flying back home to Zimbabwe. The last time I had flown back from Melbourne, was in November 2010, during which my mother sadly passed away after a 7-year battle with cancer. In February 2011, my father fell critically ill and I made an emergency trip back. He is much better now and I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with family and amongst my roots. Despite the tough past months that I have had, my outlook on life is to always make the most of seemingly negative situations.
Being a creative spirit, I have met so many inspiring, creative and talented individuals whilst I have been here. I have also taken the opportunity to continue the growth of the Elizabeth Chanakira Cancer Trust and to learn how the Zimbabwean Fashion Industry works by being involved in photo shoots, fashion shows and networking with so many different people. It only seems right to share these experiences in some form.
From this week, I will be featuring snippets of the positive events I am attending and short interviews of inspirational people I have met whilst in Zimbabwe.
The first featured person is the positive-minded Outspoken (known as Outspoken Alpha Intellect), an Underground Hip-Hop Emcee and Spoken Word artist and front runner to his band, Outspoken and the Essence. He is also the Co-Founder and Projects Facilitator for MAGAMBA! The Cultural Activist Network, an organisation which aims to counteract social and political injustice through avenues such as its spoken word events. One of these events is the powerfully-charged MASHOKO! Spoken-word event, which I attended last month and will be happily attending and blogging about this Saturday 18 June 2011.
Outspoken has too many accomplishments to mention here, but his resume includes performing at close to all Zimbabwean international Arts Festivals, including more recently at the Harare International Arts Festival (HIFA) 2011. He has toured worldwide - from South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Denmark to America. He has shared stages with talents such as Pops Mohammed, Kwani Experiance, Likwid Flo, Tamika Harper(Georgia me), Imani Woomera, Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka. He has also organised and hosted skills sharing workshops in schools and has been a mentor for the British Council program: POWER IN THE VOICE, as the Hip-Hop mentor for Harare.
On being asked how he became a Hip-Hop emcee and Spoken-Word artist, Outspoken said that he found the need for self-expression from a tender age. “My marriage to hip-Hop came about when I was introduced to it through my older siblings and I realised how it gave voices to people who had words stuck in their throats. My inspiration stems from me being an observer in life and applying it into a personal perspective. My beats and words then become a mere extension of the feelings and emotions I find myself exposed to.”
Arguably, there is still cultural and social stigma in Zimbabwe attached to being involved in the Zimbabwean Creative Arts Industry, thus creatives’ work is often not taken seriously. And Outspoken’s view on this? “The biggest drawback is in us as artists and our intended audience in not realising the seriousness that should be considered in this very serious business of self-expression.” However, I agree with Outspoken that on a positive note, there is still hope on the horizon – “we are still a very young and untapped market that has the potential for greatness.”
It is essential to inspire and pass on any wisdom to the youth because they are our future, so I asked Outspoken what his advice would be to youth wanting to pursue a similar path. “Don’t give up your day job, or at least get one until you feel that you and your art are capable of taking care of each other. Never take what you intend to do for granted, because if you do, others will follow suit!” He has been equally inspired by the work of artists such as Metaphysics, Laygwan Sharkie, Kingpinn, Upmost, T-Shoc, Lupe Fiasco, to mention just a few.
Having a vision for your life is equally important. Outspoken hopes to be involved in more community-based activities, mentoring, pursuing his dreams as a chef, those of running a festival in the outbacks and more producing. “But most definitely I see myself remaining in the pursuit of happiness and spiritual growth”.
Outspoken is currently on the SPEAKZIMLOVE TOUR in America, will be touring Denmark later this year and is finishing off work on his debut album with his band, Outspoken and the Essence. He is also working on several video projects.
**LISTEN TO & WATCH A PERSONAL FAVOURITE OF HIS POEMS, 'Miss Homegrown' AT www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TNKndYW2hw
**VIEW MORE OF HIS WORK & SUPPORT
www.myspace.com/outspokenthealphai
www.youtube.com/idakeptbrutha
*Learn more about the Writer, Teurai at www.teurai.com and www.elizabethchanakira.org. Click here to support ‘Teurai Chanakira Model’ on Facebook.
Being a creative spirit, I have met so many inspiring, creative and talented individuals whilst I have been here. I have also taken the opportunity to continue the growth of the Elizabeth Chanakira Cancer Trust and to learn how the Zimbabwean Fashion Industry works by being involved in photo shoots, fashion shows and networking with so many different people. It only seems right to share these experiences in some form.
From this week, I will be featuring snippets of the positive events I am attending and short interviews of inspirational people I have met whilst in Zimbabwe.
The first featured person is the positive-minded Outspoken (known as Outspoken Alpha Intellect), an Underground Hip-Hop Emcee and Spoken Word artist and front runner to his band, Outspoken and the Essence. He is also the Co-Founder and Projects Facilitator for MAGAMBA! The Cultural Activist Network, an organisation which aims to counteract social and political injustice through avenues such as its spoken word events. One of these events is the powerfully-charged MASHOKO! Spoken-word event, which I attended last month and will be happily attending and blogging about this Saturday 18 June 2011.
Outspoken has too many accomplishments to mention here, but his resume includes performing at close to all Zimbabwean international Arts Festivals, including more recently at the Harare International Arts Festival (HIFA) 2011. He has toured worldwide - from South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Denmark to America. He has shared stages with talents such as Pops Mohammed, Kwani Experiance, Likwid Flo, Tamika Harper(Georgia me), Imani Woomera, Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka. He has also organised and hosted skills sharing workshops in schools and has been a mentor for the British Council program: POWER IN THE VOICE, as the Hip-Hop mentor for Harare.
On being asked how he became a Hip-Hop emcee and Spoken-Word artist, Outspoken said that he found the need for self-expression from a tender age. “My marriage to hip-Hop came about when I was introduced to it through my older siblings and I realised how it gave voices to people who had words stuck in their throats. My inspiration stems from me being an observer in life and applying it into a personal perspective. My beats and words then become a mere extension of the feelings and emotions I find myself exposed to.”
Arguably, there is still cultural and social stigma in Zimbabwe attached to being involved in the Zimbabwean Creative Arts Industry, thus creatives’ work is often not taken seriously. And Outspoken’s view on this? “The biggest drawback is in us as artists and our intended audience in not realising the seriousness that should be considered in this very serious business of self-expression.” However, I agree with Outspoken that on a positive note, there is still hope on the horizon – “we are still a very young and untapped market that has the potential for greatness.”
It is essential to inspire and pass on any wisdom to the youth because they are our future, so I asked Outspoken what his advice would be to youth wanting to pursue a similar path. “Don’t give up your day job, or at least get one until you feel that you and your art are capable of taking care of each other. Never take what you intend to do for granted, because if you do, others will follow suit!” He has been equally inspired by the work of artists such as Metaphysics, Laygwan Sharkie, Kingpinn, Upmost, T-Shoc, Lupe Fiasco, to mention just a few.
Having a vision for your life is equally important. Outspoken hopes to be involved in more community-based activities, mentoring, pursuing his dreams as a chef, those of running a festival in the outbacks and more producing. “But most definitely I see myself remaining in the pursuit of happiness and spiritual growth”.
Outspoken is currently on the SPEAKZIMLOVE TOUR in America, will be touring Denmark later this year and is finishing off work on his debut album with his band, Outspoken and the Essence. He is also working on several video projects.
**LISTEN TO & WATCH A PERSONAL FAVOURITE OF HIS POEMS, 'Miss Homegrown' AT www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TNKndYW2hw
**VIEW MORE OF HIS WORK & SUPPORT
www.myspace.com/outspokenthealphai
www.youtube.com/idakeptbrutha
*Learn more about the Writer, Teurai at www.teurai.com and www.elizabethchanakira.org. Click here to support ‘Teurai Chanakira Model’ on Facebook.
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