Meet Kudakwashe Rice | Writer, Poet & Storyteller
We had the good fortune of connecting with Kudakwashe Rice and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kudakwashe, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The ability to be creative has always come naturally to me. I’ve always been quite drawn to artistic expression and discovering new avenues for creation. This took many different shapes for me when I was younger. In high school, I started out as a dancer and took painting classes. As I developed, my artistic expression took on diverse forms, leading me to the realization that pursuing a career in art and creativity was the most logical choice for me.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist whose work is centred around storytelling in different forms of art. At my core, I am a writer and poet who extends his creative writing and vision into musical expressions, visual explorations, and fashion expositions. My work involves two aspects, the first being performance art (poetry, theatre), and the second being visual storytelling (creating short films and storytelling through photography). I also do a lot of creative work within the fashion space as a model, content creator, and curator for fashion showcases and exhibitions.
With the years I have spent doing my creative work, the intangible thing I am most proud of is the community I have managed to form of people that engage with my work both online and in person—people that listen to my work, come to shows, share my posts, and contribute to my art. The tangible things I am most proud of are the achievements I have made, such as winning awards, featuring on multiple prominent platforms in the country, curating and being part of incredible projects by different organisations such as the US Embassy, the British Council, the Zimbabwean German Society, and many others.
The journey that took me to where I am right now has been nonlinear. Half of the things that have manifested have been the result of a divine blessing, and the other half have been due to an intention I set to grow and extend myself within the creative industry. This journey has looked different many times; there has been a gradual process that has allowed me to experience different stages of growth, and the shift over time has been immersive, from me being a low-level poet who wrote poems to perform at open mics to me being the creative director for projects like Beneath the Veil, which involve musicians, fashion designers, videographers, and photographers creating large-scale art.
There was and still is a lot of difficulty. One main one is being able to gain monetary value that sustains me enough to entirely pursue the creative work without worrying about bread and butter issues, and the other is being able to gain access to certain opportunities that are beneficial long-term. I am still in the process of figuring this out and trying to learn as I go.
I have learned the power of creativity and the power of community. Wherever creativity happens, there is a sense of community. These two things have made me see the impact that comes from collaborations, how community-led storytelling can shape the narrative of a whole nation, and how important art is to both the creators and consumers. My other takeaways have been how to best structure my work, the importance of a strong brand image, and a clear vision, which allow you to know what you are working towards.
If there is one thing I want the world to take away from me, I believe creativity can make the world turn. In all that I do, I carry this belief. My brand and I are dedicated to seeing how best the world can be driven by all forms of art. The world we live in right now is shaped by the creative architects and storytellers who both persevere culture and contribute to a new culture forming. Because of that, i am dedicated to being part of this, my brand is aimed not only at creating art but creating art that matters and brings forth impact.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My first stop would be the National Art Gallery to see some of the art. There is a beautiful café inside called Afrotopia, which serves really good food. In the same vein of seeing artwork, there is a wonderful sculpture park called Chapungu Sculpture Park. There is a garden called Ela Tha Garden, which has a nice and cosy setting that allows you to sit, have drinks, and converse. For a more fun and active experience, there is Domboshava Mountain, a gorgeous mountain where you can go hiking and have a picnic while looking at a serene view. Another fun place would be Hellenic Sports Club, which has a wide range of things to do like putt putt , paintball, and go-karts. On Fridays, there’s an art market hosted at the First Floor Gallery by Skeyi & Strobo, which has a lot of creatives hanging out and people with stores (food stores, fashion stores, jewellery, c.). On Saturdays, there’s a farmers market at Borrowdale Race Course where you can get to try different foods from different vendors, buy different artefacts, and experience live performances by different musicians. There’s a wonderful roller skating rink called Rollers, which is great fun to have.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout and dedication go out to my peers and fellow creatives who contributed immensely to my success in the art world. These people are Lennox Makurumidze, Tatiana Kondo, and Nyasha Shaldo, just to name a few, and the wonderful mentor that I have, Peggie Shangwa, who had me as part of an incredible organisation that helped develop me, which is called Page Poetry Alive.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kuda_rice?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kudarice?s=21&t=99CkGb8IoAKvgUJ_uo9Czw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kudaricethepoet/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-lb33F72fK15kasXfrY48A
Image Credits
TheAfricanSelfiestick and Lennox The Photographer
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