Spotlight: Zimbabwean spoken word artist Gladman Madawaenda

Gladman Madawaenda is a Zimbabwean poet, spoken word artist, voice over artist/actor and author all wrapped into one. He goes by the stage name “Mwana wa Gidza”.

Since he began performing his poetry he has performed in various competitions across Zimbabwe and on television. His work in primarily in English but also incorporates Shona.

Mwana wa Gidza is also a law student and has served as a television presenter on the Zimbabwean television channel 3KTV. In 2023 he launched his first book ‘The “Independent” Woman’. The book is in actually a play that explores gender roles, the influence of empowered women and toxic masculinity. His poetry has also found homes on various platforms such as the popular Zimbabwean poetry journal ‘Ipikai’.

His efforts have not gone unrecognized with a nomination for the 2023 Forty Under Forty Africa Awards for his contribution to Theatre and Arts, the People’s Choice Award at the Ignite Youth Awards for Creative Arts (2022) and a nomination for Best Spoken Word Artist in 2022 at the Trendsetting Youth Awards (Zimbabwe).

All of his accomplishments are even more impressive when one considers that he started his spoken word journey in late 2021.

Gladman bemoans how artists are not taken seriously in Zimbabwe however, this has not seemed to deter the efforts of this young creative.