Poet-in-Residence

'I grew up with the oral tradition of spoken word and music, that celebrates the morals and lifestyle of my ancestral family, Moyo Chirandu - as a son of this family I am better known as Ganyamatope (as all sons are). From Zimbabwe, living in Glasgow, sharing my heritage with others keeps me grounded, and helps increase awareness of lesser-known perspectives of my experience as an African. Using these influences, I have developed a contemporary style of expression, through mbira (traditional Zimbabwean music instrument), spoken word and creative writing and drama. I often use humour to challenge stereotypes and misinformation.

I'm currently working as a freelance poet, playwright, creative consultant and facilitator, and musician.

My work with Glasgow University, has ranged from Global Health inductions to working within the School of Education, and is currently focused on the RML project. Although I have my own challenge of creating poetry and a performance script to showcase some of the research themes and finding, I in turn have consulted, supported and challenged researchers, students and academics to use an alternative approach in how to deliver their work / presentations / talks, using a creative arts lens. From poetry to no verbal communication (dramatising) a report or findings to work-shopping participant engagement and student teaching ideas. This includes rethinking what to include in field notes, consider how you affect the situation or people in the room when observing; to commenting on the weather, the smell, how comfortable physically and mentally you may be in any experience recorded.

I draw on my challenging experiences (such as racism) faced with living in a different culture from my own. Trying to link cultures together, I see creative expression as a celebration, and building of positive self-esteem.

My workshops put the participants in the driving seat, and are always fun - often including mbira music, song, chants, dance and movement, to facilitate the creative process of writing.'