By Abigirl Phiri
Worth Noting:
- My name is Fibion Joel Nyambare a poet well known as Sir Yoro (The Youth Mentor). My grandparents played a big role on that one. They encouraged me to like and enjoy reading books, articles and novels.
- Well when you start things many critics fall upon your head. I was criticized by many that I was not being a modern boy I wanted Shona than English. Just because I wanted to be unique, I pursued that way.
- Noticing the worries on my face, Mr Mushore came to me and helped me change a poem to a funny Shona news bulleting article and finally I was going to read it publicly. From that day I was nicknamed to Sorowegomo Mukosi
Writing in Shona is something that most poets are not able to do since they favor English. This is because being a Shona poet requires in depth penning down of word play, carefully thought out. Thankfully, Sir Yoro has found his forte in this genre. His Shona poetry pieces are distinctive and they never fail to leave the audience and readers wanting more. Although his journey is characterized by ups and downs still his devotion to poetry is plain to see. Needless to mention, the roller coaster ride in poetry makes it worthwhile to continue writing insightful pieces.
Please tell us your name and how your journey started in poetry?
My name is Fibion Joel Nyambare a poet well known as Sir Yoro (The Youth Mentor). My grandparents played a big role on that one. They encouraged me to like and enjoy reading books, articles and novels. When I was in grade four, I was an excellent Shona reader among all and everyone liked to listen when I was reading. It is also with great pleasure to point to my primary teacher Mr Mushore, back there when I was a grade six pupil he mentored my writings from the day he noticed the talent and passion. It was on an Official Reopening of our school when I got a chance to prove who I was to the crowd. Unfortunately, the number of participants was limited so maybe I couldn’t take part as a public speaker that day. Noticing the worries on my face, Mr Mushore came to me and helped me change a poem to a funny Shona news bulleting article and finally I was going to read it publicly. From that day I was nicknamed to Sorowegomo Mukosi. After a thunderous applause by then vice president Mai Mujuru who was guest of honor, I vowed not to stop this work. At high school level I continued writing good Shona compositions, stories and poems. That’s when the name changed to be Yoromosi and since I was good at advisory poems I was given the tittle “Sir.” A good writer must be a good reader, so I used to read more novels and poems of other people. That pushed me to start writing my novel when I was in form three which I couldn’t finish though (laughs). After high school that’s when I met Emmanuel Mhike, Tafadzwa Moyo, Tamutswa Muzana, Munashe ‘Chamapezi’ Dhliwayo among others who are also writers and we kept pursuing our writings.
Have you won any major accolades for yourself in poetry? Are you a published poet?
No I am yet to. Yes I am a published poet. I have featured in many anthologies namely Maungira eZimbabwe (poetry), Ruvarashe (Shona stories) among others and also international anthologies namely Legends, Words are forever and Advise.
Who is your inspiration?
I was inspired by the works of the late Mordekai A Hamutyinei and J C Kumbirai. Also the works of Memory Chirere, Ushehwedu Kufakurinani and Giles Kuimba among others.
Where do you see yourself in the near future?
A great author, public speaker and mentor as I am trying to mold right now (laughs).
What problems have you faced as a poet?
Well when you start things many critics fall upon your head. I was criticized by many that I was not being a modern boy I wanted Shona than English. Just because I wanted to be unique, I pursued that way. I also faced the challenge of publishing, when you’re not a famous person it’s hard to be recognized and get your work done and published well. I have some publishers who I will not mention their names but operated in bad faith to an extent I chose to be a freelancer poet. Some they don’t want to hear what you the author have to say, their word and view is final and if you oppose their points you’re removed from the project. Yet in business we don’t operate that way. As a poet who do not rely on social media only, unfortunately piracy has killed our work. One day I noticed that the anthology which I knew though I didn’t take part in was already on the street after two weeks of being published.
Share with us one of your best poetry piece
KWAMUPANESHURE
Aiti akangoti vhu-u, achipfuura nepfungwa aibva avatorera,
Maisara motaura wake moyo watsvedza kare,
Chero kumuruma nzeve aisanzwa moyo wotevera zvaona meso.
Rega ndikuudze muzukuru zvaMupaneshure,
Akakwekweta homwe dzevazhinji makare kare,
Akapuruna miriwo yevamwe zvakare,
Aivapengesa nemhando yemapiro ake.
Kunyanya vaye vainge vajaira kubatagotsi sewakarara dzechirimo,
Vakapera kuendako kwaMupaneshure.
Vakambozama kunwa zvinovava zvese vamwe vakabatana nemibve-e,
Kuri kuzama kuchepesa rwana irworwu asi zvakakona n’anga…
Vakaedza vanamai vemuraini kutsvaga gona rake,
Vakarishaya nekuti aiva munhuwo zvake,
Kungoti aichangamuka kana kwasviba vachipanana majana ekupakurirwa
Chake chigwaku chaive nerupawo racho chega.
Chibingopingo akatombotetereka akasvika neko,
Chiwanamavhinga akudonherapo,
Pakubuda vaisataura chinhu asi ziya richiteuka nekudzungudza musoro.
Kana ini sekuru vako ndakakandiswa mapfumo pasi,
Naiye Mupaneshure.
Zvino chinzwa iwe Giredhisi.
Handina kuti uite mbiri yaMupaneshure yekuzadza hono mumutsara,
Kwete handina kudaro.
Handina kuti uve mugwagwa wavose, handina.
Zvekuti wese arasika anosvika nepauri,
Zvekuti arikudzidzira nehohonwa dzongoti ‘kuna Giredhisi wekufuratira’,
Kwete handina kudaro.
Asi ndiri kuti kana wave mako musikiro naye Joboringo,
Aiwa zvekungoti maji mudenga wototi kwasva kusvika kwayedza siya.
Itawo zvitayera zvaMupaneshure.
Swedera pedyo iwe Abhero.
Pandataura ndaona uchinyemwerera chaizvo,
Ndazviona chero rute warerwa sebere.
Asi nditeererese iye zvino.
Iwe handina kuti chirura kutsvaga Mupaneshure.
Iye zvino vazere vane zvidavado zvihinji,
Mumwe anokuita sezviyo zviri murusero,
Pakutenderedzwa ndaona nenjere dzatenderera.
Handidi uzodemba muzukuru.
Hongu ini sekuru vako ndakambopihwawo,
Asika yapinda kamwe haiteyiwi.
Tingafa nedhibhu rimwe here takatarisa?
Kwete! Usazode kukokota hari dzese nekuti waona zvakatsvukira.
Ndataura ini mwana waPfumojena,
Gudza ndiro randakupai nhasi uno.
Zvave kwamuri kufunga kana kuwarira.
Ndanga ndisina kupedza nyaya yemukadzi uyu;
Paakazofa akaenda nevakawanda,
Semvura iya yegukurahundi akavatakura.
Vazhinji vakapererako kwaMupaneshure.
Mhando : yechirevereve (dzemugudza)
Kindly share your social media handles
What Sapp https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=+263718044794
Facebook page: Nzira dzaYoromosi poetry files https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02CPjCTkrJth9kFBSoDu2poF5t9VrDGVdVTJqMdshX7k4qDxsLJT6j5GteVZj1YzFol&id=61550797358752&mibextid=CDWPTG
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092581202362&mibextid=ZbWKwL
https://instagram.com/yorodementor?utm_source=qr&igshid=YzU1NGVlODEzOA==
Any word of advice to other individuals who would want to venture into poetry
Don’t stop until your soul fails
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