Harare Open Mic Fuses Poetry and Archival Sound in Experimental Showcase

The Harare Open Mic returns on Saturday, May 30, with a bold and experimental showcase blending spoken word poetry, archival sound and performance art at Moto Republik from 2pm to 5pm.

By Plot Mhako

Headlining the event is a collaborative presentation by poet and cultural heritage activist Cynthia “Flow Chyld” Marangwanda and multidisciplinary artist Tinofireyi “Aero5ol” Zhou. Their performance explores Zimbabwean history, black music traditions, memory and decolonial thought through an intermeshing of spoken word poetry and experimental sound.

The collaboration emerged from a series of Bauhaus Listening Workshops hosted by the Goethe-Institut in Johannesburg in March 2024 as part of the “Listening To The World – 100 Years of Radio” project. Both artists participated in the programme, sharing reflections drawn from their individual creative practices.

Their artistic exchange later evolved into a collaborative presentation at the “Listening To The World – 100 Years of Radio Art” showcase hosted by Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Germany in October 2024.

According to the artists, bringing the work back to Zimbabwe carries special significance as it speaks directly to African histories, identity and cultural restoration. The performance combines Marangwanda’s reflections on decolonising African land and mindscapes with Zhou’s research into black music history and experimental audio composition.

Marangwanda is an award-winning poet and author whose work has been published in several anthologies and literary journals. She won a NAMA Award for Outstanding First Creative Published Work for her debut novella Shards in 2015 and was nominated in 2026 for Outstanding Fiction Book for her novella The Toppling. Her work often explores African womanhood, spirituality and ancestral heritage.

Zhou, popularly known as Aero5ol, has performed and exhibited work in Germany, Norway and South Africa, and continues to experiment with sound, poetry and music research.

The May edition of Harare Open Mic also celebrates the resurgence of spoken word culture in Zimbabwe following a renewed interest in slam poetry and live performance spaces after the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisers say the platform aims to nurture emerging voices and prepare young poets for larger stages and festivals.

More than 17 poets are expected to perform, including Tadana Nakai, Lindsay “M^h”, Yvonne Matanhire, Tafadzwa Mbalizwey Mushayi, Tawanda Josh Vombo and Karl Sibanda. Stand-up comedian Trust K and musicians Runniq, Mike Cibeh, Randall Tagwireyi, Priv and Denzel Diesel will also perform.

Organisers described the event as a family-friendly gathering promising “nothing but good vibes.”