Mbonisi Zikhali is a poet/spoken word artist and storyteller born in Makokoba, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He has loved poetry since he was a child. He won his first poetry certificate when he was 8 years old. His spoken-word/storytelling name is Zomkhonto, which happens to be his bloodline’s totem. He is also a trained journalist, youth mentor, qualified community services worker, grassroots community organizer and mental wellness advocate. He considers himself an afro-empath, and is driven to ensure that people find joy in the power of words and story-telling. Some of the recent publications he has appeared in include winner of Off Topic Publishing's August 2022 Poetry Contest, Best New African Poets 2019 Anthology by Mwanaka Media and Publishing, Ipikai Poetry Journal's inaugural and second edition (initiative of the Zimbabwe Poets Society) among others. His work is also showcased at the World Poetry Slam Championships (September 26-30, 2022) in Brussels, Belgium. In 2021, he was part of Artcite Windsor (Canada)'s “Emancipate the Landscape,” a month-long exhibition that ran from August-September and was meant to celebrate the resilience and elegance of everyday Blackness, deconstruct dominant culture and turn stereotypes about black people on their head. He also holds workshops on writing for mental wellness. He is the current President of Artcite Windsor (Canada)'s Board of Directors.
