THE INTERVIEW: VACHIKEPE: THE POET

Welcome to this one-hour listening session, where I share my life story-who I am, how I understand this world, and what keeps me moving forward. This is one of the most meaningful interviews of my artistic journey, spanning from 2006 to 2024. The interview is conducted in Shona, a language spoken by more than 15 million people in Southern Africa. Shona language has extremely shaped me into the Poet I am today. Through God’s Grace, many more interviews in English are on the horizon. A special thanks to Ambassador Langton Munyaradzi Chemhere for conducting this interview, to the Norton Residents: Zimbabwe for their Huge Support, and to the Global Sailors Community for standing with your Captain. More Love and Blessings! Tichingoti…To God Be The Glory! #zvachose In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ! Amen. More information about VaChikepe: The Poet is attached below:#Enjoy 😊 About the Poet  Takudzwa Chikepe, famously known as VaChikepe: The Poet, stands as one of Africa's leading Poets. Renowned for his all-around talents, VaChikepe wears many hats-international poet, prophetic-pastor-preacher, aspiring theologian, publisher, musician, dreamer, and visionary.   A two-time featured poet at the Bridgewater International Poetry Festival, VaChikepe achieved significant recognition in 2021 by winning The International Reggae And World Music Award (IRAWMA) for Best Poet in the Mutabaruka Category-a groundbreaking achievement as the first African recipient of this prestigious award. In 2022, he was further honored with Norton’s Medal of Honor, among other accolades.   VaChikepe has graced Duke University's stages as the guest poet for various events, including the Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts “Cries of Loss and Hope” concert (2022), Duke’s eighth annual Black Convocation and Reception (2022), and Duke’s Multicultural Affairs’ 50th Anniversary Celebration (2023).   In his own words, "My dedication to the art of poetry and music extends to nurturing more than 500 emerging talents from Africa, helping them refine their craft since 2016. I am also the founder of VaChikepe And The Hundred Sailors (VHS) and the publisher of “The Sailors Review” newsletter/journal." Learn more at www.1sail1art.org   A recent Master of Divinity graduate from Duke University, Takudzwa aspires to become an Elder in the United Methodist Church. He believes that poetry is a calling and utilizes various states of mind, music, and spirituality to define and express it. He also firmly believes that “Art is not just a subject but a financial therapy that can heal nations”.   As a recording artist, VaChikepe has over 50 underground songs and musical poems, with more than 20 officially published on all music platforms since 2021. “Poetry In Music” and “Using Poetry to Understand the Spirituality of Whistling” are some of the workshops he has hosted with Duke Arts at Duke University, and the journey continues…  https://pathways.duke.edu/modulepage/278 https://pathways.duke.edu/modulepage/356