Chirikuré Chirikuré was born in Gutu, Zimbabwe, in 1962. He is one of Africa’s well-known performer of lyrical poetry.

Chirikuré is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe and an Honorary Fellow of Iowa University, USA. He worked with one of Zimbabwe’s leading publishing houses as an editor/publisher for 17 years, until 2002. He now works as a cultural consultant and freelance editor and translator. He was also involved in several theatre productions as an actor, poet and performer.

Chirikuré has published three volumes of his poetry: “Rukuvhute” (1989), “Chamupupuri” (1994), “Hakurarwi – We Shall not Sleep” (1998). He has contributed some pieces in a Shona poetry anthology, “Zviri Muchinokoro” and to CD-projects against political repressions in Zimbabwe. Chirikuré has also written and translated a number of children’s stories and published some educational textbooks.

Chirikuré performs mostly with musicians and traditional African instruments, often with Chiwoniso Maraire or Okay Machisa. His performances at the Rotterdam and Medellín poetry festivals were celebrated in equal measure by the press and the public. His works are significant for the unique link between traditional African poetry and song forms with non-African, avant-garde departures.

His first three poetry books received first prizes in the annual Zimbabwe writer of the year awards. In 2004 his book "Hakurarwi - We shall not sleep" was voted as one of the best 75 Zimbabwean books of the century and as one of the best five books published in the Shona language in the last century.