The Sunday News
Ntombiyolwandle Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
Praise poet Lerato “Nqindi Omuhle” Ndlovu outshined other poets at the recently launched Zimbabwe Culture Week held at Godlwayo Cultural Centre in Avoca, Filabusi in Matabeleland South.
Clad in the typical Ndebele warrior regalia, Nqindi Omuhle as he is popularly known, proved to be one of the best poets in the country.
His brand of poetry — intense with a captivating baritone voice, punctuated with a deep rich Ndebele accent — always keeps the crowd mesmerised.
He knows almost every Ndebele surname and their totems. His performances at national platforms have seen him gaining huge acclaim and being featured on various media platforms such as television, radio and newspapers.
Praise poetry involves chanting out totems of the royal majesty while in a procession to assume their throne or important traditional gatherings.
Speaking to Sunday Life on the sidelines of the inaugural launch of the Zimbabwe Culture Week which was officially opened by Vice-President of Zimbabwe Phelekezela Mphoko, Nqindi said he developed a passion for arts and culture at a tender age.
“I started poetry when I was young and that was in 1981 while I was at Ntalale primary school in Gwanda. At that time l was into different art genres as I was doing drama, poetry and traditional dancing,” said Nqindi.
Nqindi said when he went to secondary school, his love for arts and culture sprung and thus he continued with it at Ntalale High School.
“At secondary school, I continued to pursue my love for arts and entered into school competitions in poetry, dancing and acting. In 1990 I won in one of the school competitions and I was taken for training at African Centre of Performing Artistes in Bulawayo. In this institute I acquired skills in writing, directing, acting, dancing and poetry. In 1996, I then formed my own group called United Theatre Group in which we performed poetry, dancing and drama,” he said.
Nqindi said he started specialising in poetry in 1997 after he realised that he was making more money through it.
“In 1997 I began making a lot of money through poetry as I was invited to perform at certain events such as weddings, cultural events, birthdays and national occasions and this made me realise that I could make it a full time job and sustain my family through it. Through poetry I have managed to take care of my family. My first poem that I did was Isilo Somkhobo and later I started reciting izibongo zika Lobengula,” he added.
Nqindi encourages young people not to abandon their culture.
“People enjoy my poems and I wish everyone can learn more about their totems as I praise them when I am reciting my poems. Youths should respect their culture and be proud to be Zimbabwean. I urge youths to uphold our diverse cultures,” he said.
Nqindi has managed to tour many parts of the country and has performed in countries that include Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. Born and bred in Gwanda, the 45-year-old poet is married and has four children.
