Madzitatiguru

---

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Madzitatiguru is a Zimbabwean Spoken word Artist with a rhythmic and witty use of language. He is a Harare based Slam-poet, Creative Writer and comedian whose content tends to lean towards social responsibility. Madzitatiguru has won multiple poetry slams on a number of major platforms.

 Madzitatiguru has been involved in a number of events including local festivals such as HIFA, Shoko Festival and Intwasa. Internationally, he participated in Edinburgh International Book Festival 2018, Poetry Africa 2012, The Kumusha Harare-Detroit exchange 2013, and toured Denmark in 2014 as a teaching artist. Madzitatiguru is also known simply as Tati Guru.

SHORTENED LIST OF MAJOR EVENTS PARTICIPATED IN

Madzitatiguru has been privileged to perform on Platforms such as :

•Edinburgh International Book Festival 2018, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

•Lafarge Poetry Slam 2018, Harare, Zimbabwe (Slam Champion)

• HIFA 2017, 2015, 2014 and 2013, Harare, Zimbabwe (Slam champion in 2015)

• CopenOpen Poetry slam 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark.

• Poetry Africa 2012, (South African Festival, performed at a Satellite Venue in Harare )

• Shoko Festival 2020, 2017 ,2016 , 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 and 2011 Harare , Zimbabwe. (back to back slam Champion 2015, 2016 and 2017 )

• Intwasa Arts Festival 2014, 2017 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

• Afro-Express Poetry Slam 2011, Johannesburg, South Africa, (slam champion)

• Ngoma Nehosho Live Sessions 2016, Harare, Zimbabwe

• 400 years of Shakespeare celebrations, Harare, Zimbabwe

•Word Guerillas Cafe 2018

• Media Diversity Campaign 2013, Harare, Zimbabwe

• World Poetry Day celebrations 2013

• Star Fm Poetry Sessions ( Listen here)

• Word Garden 2014 Harare, Zimbabwe (Team Poetry Slam champion with BlackPearl )

• Peace in the Hood, Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe

• Mlomo Wakho Naxional Poetry Slam 2017 (Slam Champion)

• Slam ZW 2020 

• DigiPoems Launch 2019

• In Good Company 2023

LONG BIOGRAPHY (Timeline)

Born Tendekai Tati,  Madzitatiguru grew up with a diverse background resulting from moving around a lot. He spent his childhood in a total of 8 Neighbourhoods, four cities, 6 high schools and 3 Primary schools. This is why his work consists of a mixture of dialects from different provinces of Zimbabwe. His professional career as an artist formally began in December 2010 as an open mic performer.

In September 2011, Madzitatiguru participated in the inaugural Shoko Festival Poetry Slam in Harare, Zimbabwe. This was his first major event. Two days later, he was on the line up for the Afro Poetry Express Slam in Johannesburg, South Africa where he emerged as the Slam champion. The slam had a number of participating countries including Botswana, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Kenya and Malawi 

In 2012 Madzitatiguru was one of the two featured poets From Zimbabwe during the 16th Poetry Africa Tour. He later Participated in Shoko Festival 2012 at an event themed "SunSet". This saw him debut the poem titled "Chazezesa", popularly known as the "magetsi poem". Madzitatiguru was also part of the Midlands Arts Festival 2012 that was held in Gweru. 

In 2013, Madzitatiguru made his debut HIFA appearance at the HIVOS Poetry Cafe as a host and as a performing artist. It was at the same event that saw the debut performance of "Bete Size Ten". as well as the poem titled "Mabasa". He, later on, went to participate in the Protest Arts international Festival Poetry Slam 2013 where he emerged as the Slam Champion. In December 2013, Madzitatiguru then released his debut Spoken word Mix Tape titled " T.S.I.NE - The S.tru.ggle is Necessary. It was also in 2013 that Madzitatiguru made his debut appearance at “Mashoko ne Magitare”, an annual event hosted by University of Zimbabwe medical students

In 2014 Madzitatiguru participated in an exchange program between Zimbabwean artists and artists from Detroit, the USA in an event titled "Kumusha". He then made his debut comedy performance at Zimbabwe Germany Society with Doc Vikela as the headlining act. His Second HIFA appearance was at HIFA 2014 in the Hivos Poetry Cafe. It was in 2014 that Madzitatiguru began writing his web-story series “Pfungwa Mugoronga” that was later adapted into a tv show concept. His Poetry was used as promotional material for Shoko Festival 2014 on ZIFM Stereo. It was during this promotion that a Zifm Stereo producer caught wind of his poetry and started playing clips from Bete size Ten during prime time radio.

In September 2014, Madzitatiguru made his debut appearance at Intwasa Arts Festival 2014 in Bulawayo and shared the stage with, Sir Black, Frank Langmark, Timothy Mwaura and Batsirai Chigama. This was the same team that he would later conduct poetry workshops within various schools and cities around Denmark (Europe).

In 2015, Madzitatiguru was once again named the Slam Champion at HIFA 2015. He performed at SoProfound's show themed "Pages from my Heart". He also made his 3rd appearance at Mashoko Nemagitare, as well as host Umind's show titled "Polka dot Moments". In September 2015, Madzitatiguru was part the KWAAI Tour 2015 and was the Poetry Slam Champion (again) at the Shoko Festival 2015 Poetry Slam.

In 2016 Madzitatiguru participated in 400 years of Shakespeare, a British Council event that had satellite shows all over the world. He was also part of Mix the Play, an event under the same theme around Wiliam Shakespeare. Madzitatigfuru then performed at Victor Kunonga and Norman Masamba's Deut concert in may 2016. Later on in that Year, Madzitatiguru was featured on BlacPerl's Hip-hop album, The Black Diary in collaboration with Sharky and beatboxer ProBeatz.

It was in 2016 that Madzitatiguru embraced his comical side even more by participating in Maestro's Comedy Wednesday, Bustop Tv's Anniversary comedy show and Lit Fest's event titled Laughing it out. Between April and September 2016, Tendekai was working as a Copywriting intern for a Private hospital Madzitatiguru ended the year with a Performance at Ngoma Nehosho Live sessions in collaboration with Probeatz the beatboxer.

2017 began with Madzitatiguru performing as a guest poet at the revival of the House of Hunger Poetry Slam. He made his fifth appearance at Mashoko NemaGitare. He also Made his Fourth Appearance at HIFA 2017 on the Hivos stand. Madzitatiguru got more involved with the comedy scene by Performing at the Jazz 24/7 comedy nights, as well as the Chez Zandi Comedy nights multiple numbers of time. He was part of Simba the Comic King's live comedy TV show. In September 2017, Madzitatiguru performed at the Shoko Festival 2017: Mind-Blast Poetry Slam and emerged as three-time Slam Champion. He then performed at Ammara Brown's Album launch for the album Ammartia in November and also participated in Mlomo wakho Naxional Poetry Slam in Bulawayo during the same month. November also saw the beginning of Madzitatiguru's regular facebook video column called MaRhymes Kuchipisa whose concept consisted of writing, memorising, recording and releasing a poem during the same week. In December, Madzitatiguru joined Prosper the Comic pastor on his comedy show called Panel of Fools.  2017 ended with Madzitatiguru performing at Intwasa Extra which was a spillover program from the main Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo that takes place every year during the month of September in the city of Bulawayo.

In 2018, Madzitatiguru relaunched the #MaRhymes kuchipisa series.

February 2018 Saw Madzitatiguru make his first appearance at First Fridays, a regular event that happens at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. He was the Headlining Act. He also made a guest appearance on  Prosper the Comic Pastor's Monthly Comic Awards. In June, Madzitatiguru released an audiobook titled "Twumaphilosphy twangu twekupenga". In the same month, he went on to become the Lafarge Poetry Slam Harare Champion after battling a mixed class of poets including NAMA award-winning poets and Star Brite finalists.  Madzitatiguru was the Debut Headlining act for the Red Cafe Poetry Mondays launched on the 25th of June. 

In August 2018, Madzitatiguru travelled to Scotland for the Edinburgh International Book Festival where he performed in an event titled "In Light Of What We Write" which featured artists from Southern Africa and Scotland. Upon his return, He Performed at Cosy Cushions and Word Guerillas Cafe.  He was on the line up for Chikwata 263's show on heroes day.

In 2019 , Madzitatiguru performed at the launch of the British Council, ComExposed and Page poetry Alive partnership titled "Digipoems" that had various poets and visual artists from Africa and the UK collaborating in creating poetry with visuals. 

2020 Saw Madzitatiguru participate in Slam ZW which was a Digital Poetry Slam that happened in April During the Covid-19 LockDown. He also performed during Shoko Festival 2020 Phoenix Edition which was also a digitally broadcast programme. The Shoko Festival performance included a collaboration with Zimdancehall Artist Poptain and Zim Hip-hop Artist BlacPerl. 

In May 2023 Madzitatiguru at  Poetry , Love and other Potions at Ela the Garden. He then later Performed at In Good Company the same year, an event organised by Intentionally Daring. 

In March 2024 , Madzitatiguru performed at For the culture , in a poetry battle versus Banshee 

He also perform at the inaugural event of Word Kulcha at Alliance Francaise in May 2024.

 EXTENDED LIST OF EVENTS PARTICIPATED IN

• Poetry Africa 2012

• Afro Express Slam (South Africa

• HIFA 2013 ,2014 ,2015 , 2017

• Shoko festival 2011 ,2012 , 2013 , 2014 ,2015, 2016, 2017, 2020

• Intwasa Arts Festival 2014 (Bulawayo)

• Intwasa Extra 2017

• The House of Hunger Poetry Slam

• Breaking Barriers Poetry Slam

• Protest Arts International Festival (PAIF) Poetry Challenge Slam

• Kumusha (Harare-Detroit Exchange)

• Harare International Book Fair Live literature 2012

• Media diversity Campaign (With Magamba NetWork )

• Midlands Arts Festival, (Gweru)

• Mashoko (Multiple Appearances)

• Star Fm Poetry Sessions (Multiple appearances)

• Star Fm BreakFast Show

• ZiFm stereo Shoko Waves

• Peace in The Hood (Multiple appearances)

• World Poetry Celebrations 2013, Harare

• CUT Arts Forum Launch 2011

• Chinhoyi Jam Thursdays (Multiple Appearances)

• Harare Agricultural Show Power FM stand

• ZBc tv's YGT

• Ma1 (Television feature)

• Step Up 2 HIV

• Mashoko NeMagitare

• Poetic prophecy

• Doc Vikela Presents: The Love doctor

• Doc Vikela Presents: Trust Me I am a Doctor

• Simuka Stand Up Comedy show

• Simuka Comedy Fiesta

• Word Garden (Multiple appearances)

• Chinhoyi Africa Day Celebrations, (Organised and Performed)

• Bin It Campaign

• Faith Wear fashion show

• Tree of Life community Healing Concert

• Bang Bang Comedy show

• Zim comedy Live

• InSong InWord

• Dream elevation Movement, Chitungwiza

• Gallery 19 (Multiple appearances)

• HALA Comedy night

• High School Workshops with Pamberi Trust, CKU and Magamba network
• Ngoma Nehosho
• Bustop Tv 2nd Anniversary comedy show
• Short time Comedy

•Lafarge Poetry Slam 2018

•Red cafe Poetry Mondays
•Sancutary Cafe Open Mic

• Slam ZW 2020