Poetry in Music
Poetry in Music
In this workshop, students will be introduced to Leonard Dembo through his song, “Munovenga Mudzimai Wangu”, which translates to “You Don’t Like My Wife”. According to The Herald, documenting the growth of music in Zimbabwe without mentioning Leonard Dembo would be incomplete. Dembo, who passed away on April 9, 1996, at the age of 37, was one of the greatest musicians to emerge from the country. His music addressed societal issues, including love, unity, and peace. Dembo is arguably the best musician to grace the Zimbabwean music scene. Listening to the depth of the above-mentioned song, I asked myself a question, “Was Leonard Dembo a poet?” Students will have the opportunity to listen to Dembo’s song and extract abstract thoughts from it. They will also be provided with a translated version of the song and encouraged to create their own inspired written pieces. Students will then share their creations, and our guest poet will provide an interpretation of the song. This process aims to inspire students to discover poetry within music and all aspects of life, as a means to tap into the profound love that resides within us.
*This will be a community workshop open to all. Non-Duke users, please email anna.wallace@duke.edu to reserve a place in the class.
About the instructor
Takudzwa Chikepe (Taku), famously known as VaChikepe: The Poet, is one of the best writing poets from Zimbabwe. A two-time featured poet at the Bridgewater International Poetry Festival. In 2021, he won The International Reggae And World Music Award (IRAWMA): Best Poet in the Mutabaruka Category (the first African to win this Award) amongst other awards. VaChikepe is also the founder of VaChikepe And The Hundred Sailors (VHS), and the publisher of “The Sailors Review” newsletter/journal: https://www.1sail1art.org
The VHS operates in the vision of grooming more than 500 artists in becoming world leaders, in the poetry, publishing, art and different spheres of life. VaChikepe is currently studying for his Master of Divinity at Duke University in North Carolina. VaChikepe: The Poet believes that poetry is a calling; he uses different states of mind, music, and spirituality to define and express poetry; and he also believes that “Art is not just a subject, but a financial therapy that can heal nations.”
VaChikepe is a recording artist with more than 50 songs and musical poems published underground and more than 15 songs officially published on all music platforms from 2021 to date. Attached are some of VaChikepe’s works of Art: Enjoy:
1. VaChikepe’s Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vachikepe-the-poet/1602341698
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2BHk18AENPo0wqbMESkmVB?si=Yixxq5uWR7CcItUgOLxWQA
2. The Life of a Poet: Part 1:
https://youtu.be/-6Krv3B2BFU
3. The Life of a Poet: Part 2:
https://youtu.be/Y6jlwUUCJeg
4. Other Publications:
https://www.1sail1art.org/the-sailors-news
About this location
This workshop will meet in the Duke Arts House.
Address: 2101 Campus Drive, Durham, NC 27701