Essays & reportage
School of Rock, Art Forum, Summer 2024 https://www.artforum.com/features/close-up-percy-zvomuya-sylvester-mubayi-the-great-spirit-1973-554728/
Ethiopian art at a crossroads, Art Forum https://www.artforum.com/columns/ethiopian-art-crossroads-551671/
In Zimbabwe, a small publisher that helped launch big voices shuts down, Al Jazeera, 28 December 2023 https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/12/28/in-zimbabwe-a-small-publisher-that-helped-launch-big-voices-shuts-down
Zimbabwean legend, Thomas Mapfumo, retires in exile, African Arguments, 14 July 2023, https://africanarguments.org/2023/07/zimbabwean-legend-thomas-mapfumo-retires-in-exile/
Ever returning, Percy Zvomuya on a new mag, and what it has to do with Thomas Mapfumo, New21 February 2013 https://www.news24.com/life/books/ever-returning-percy-zvomuya-on-a-new-mag-and-what-it-has-to-do-with-thomas-mapfumo-20230221
Zexie Manatsa, bringer of good news and good music. New Frame, 7 February 2022 https://www.newframe.com/zexie-manatsa-bringer-of-good-music-and-good-news/
Is that a “juju man” on Malawi’s bench? New Frame, 28 January 2022, https://www.newframe.com/is-that-a-juju-man-on-malawis-bench/
“Dzimbanhete knows how to cultivate artists”, New Frame, 17 January 2022, https://www.newframe.com/dzimbanhete-knows-how-to-cultivate-artists/
“Phaswane Mpe’s one great novel”, New Frame, 14 December 2021, https://www.newframe.com/sharp-read-phaswane-mpes-one-great-novel/
“Dambudzo Marechera: The biggest tree in the savannah”, Mail & Guardian, 7 October 2021, https://mg.co.za/friday/2021-10-07-dambudzo-marechera-the-biggest-tree-in-the-savannah/
“Learn Everything from Stone”, London Review of Books Blog, 1 October 2021, https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2021/october/learn-everything-from-stone
“Zimbabwean cigars that would have pleased Fanon”, New Frame, 16 September 2021, https://www.newframe.com/zimbabwean-cigars-that-would-have-pleased-fanon/
“Erlings Shoes is no more as Jozi’s centre changes”, New Frame, 6 September 2021, https://www.newframe.com/erlings-shoes-is-no-more-as-jozis-centre-changes/
“On Kenneth Kaunda”, London Review of Books Blog, 6 July 2021, https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2021/july/on-kenneth-kaunda
“Letter from South Africa: Where future curation is headed”, Nachtkritik, 1 July 2021, https://www.nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19721:letter-from-south-africa-how-johannesburg-s-market-theatre-overcame-the-pandemic-with-a-fighting-spirit&catid=730&Itemid=99
“In praise of African art: How Shona sculpting emerged”, Mail & Guardian, 4 June 2021, https://mg.co.za/friday/2021-06-04-in-praise-of-african-art-how-shona-sculpting-emerged/
“Soul Jah Love’s life of multitudes”, New Frame, 26 February 2021, https://www.newframe.com/soul-jah-loves-life-of-multitudes/
“Dennis Wilson’s influence on Zimbabwean reggae”, New Frame, 8 February 2021, https://www.newframe.com/dennis-wilsons-influence-on-zimbabwean-reggae/
“Yvonne Vera’s abiding influence”, New Frame, 8 December 2020, https://www.newframe.com/yvonne-veras-abiding-influence/
“Babylon By Bus: How Bob Marley influenced Dennis Morris’ photographic career”, Mail & Guardian, 5 November 2020, https://mg.co.za/friday/2020-11-05-babylon-by-bus-how-bob-marley-influenced-dennis-morris-photographic-career/
“‘Before Night Falls’: Reinaldo Arenas breaks down (in) Fidel Castro’s Cuba”, Mail & Guardian, 22 October 2020, https://mg.co.za/friday/2020-10-22-before-night-falls-rearenas-breaks-down-in-fidel-castros-cuba/
“Zexie Manatsa’s tsuro soccer star”, New Frame, 28 September 2020, https://www.newframe.com/zexie-manatsas-tsuro-soccer-star/
“A modicum of release: Lumumba’s remains return home at last”, Mail & Guardian, 17 September 2020, https://mg.co.za/friday/2020-09-17-a-modicum-of-release-lumumbas-remains-return-home-at-last/
“Lumumba’s remains return home to find rest at last”, New Frame, 16 September 2020, https://www.newframe.com/lumumbas-remains-return-home-to-find-rest-at-last/
“In conversation with Gary Younge”, New Frame, 21 July 2020, https://www.newframe.com/long-read-in-conversation-with-gary-younge/
“Linton Kwesi Johnson gave poetry back to the people” New Frame, 9 July 2020, https://www.newframe.com/linton-kwesi-johnson-gave-poetry-back-to-the-people/
“Linton Kwesi Johnson gave poetry back to the people”, Mail & Guardian, 12 July 2020, https://mg.co.za/friday/2020-07-12-linton-kwesi-johnson-gave-poetry-back-to-the-people/
“Cook Off”, New Frame, 7 July 2020, https://www.newframe.com/film-review-cook-off/
“Covid-19 shows what Zimbabwean nationalism means”, Mail & Guardian, 31 May 2020, https://mg.co.za/article/2020-03-31-covid-19-shows-what-zimbabwean-nationalism-means/
“Of drumming, Tony Allen, Charles Mungoshi and my cousin”, Mail & Guardian, 19 May 2020, https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-05-19-of-drumming-tony-allen-charles-mungoshi-and-my-cousin/
“Bridging the black Atlantic in jazz“, Mail & Guardian, 30 April 2020, https://mg.co.za/article/2020-04-30-00-bridging-the-black-atlantic-in-jazz/
“Unlearning the Zimbabwean lesson”, Part two, New Frame, 24 April 2020, https://www.newframe.com/long-read-part-two-unlearning-the-zimbabwean-lesson/
“Unlearning the Zimbabwean lesson”, Part one, New Frame, 17 April 2020, https://www.newframe.com/long-read-unlearning-the-zimbabwean-lesson/
“Soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionary: Marley and the birth of Zimbabwe”, Mail & Guardian, 16 April 2020, https://mg.co.za/article/2020-04-16-soon-well-find-out-who-is-the-real-revolutionary/
“We free our people with music”, with Kwanele Sosibo, Mail & Guardian, 16 April 2020, https://mg.co.za/article/2020-04-16-we-free-our-people-with-music/
“Covid-19 shows what Zimbabwean nationalism means”, New Frame, 31 March 2020, https://www.newframe.com/covid-19-shows-what-zimbabwean-nationalism-means/
“King Tubby the dub master lives on”, New Frame, 6 February 2020, https://www.newframe.com/king-tubby-the-dub-master-lives-on/
“Chasing mermaids in Zimbabwe”, Mail & Guardian, 6 February 2020, https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-02-06-chasing-mermaids-in-zimbabwe/
“How the DRC influenced Zimbabwe’s history”, New Frame, 23 January 2020, https://www.newframe.com/how-the-drc-influenced-zimbabwes-history/
“Football gloom not offset by Zimbabwe’s satellite plans“, New Frame, 19 November 2019, https://www.newframe.com/football-gloom-not-offset-by-zimbabwes-satellite-plans/
“Bridging the black Atlantic in jazz“, New Frame, 31 October 2019, https://www.newframe.com/bridging-the-black-atlantic-in-jazz/
“How can we look at the art of a murderer?“", New Frame, 29 October 2019, https://www.newframe.com/how-can-we-look-at-the-art-of-a-murderer/
“Robert Mugabe: The leader who shouldn’t have been”, New Frame, 6 September 2019, https://www.newframe.com/robert-mugabe-the-leader-who-shouldnt-have-been/
“Steve Dyer and the making of his different world“, New Frame, 3 September 2019, https://www.newframe.com/dyer-and-the-making-of-his-different-world/
“Embrace of a pan-African stranger”, Mail & Guardian, 2 August 2019, https://mg.co.za/article/2019-08-02-00-embrace-of-a-pan-african-stranger/
“Zimbabwe’s mbira maestro of the ages”, New Frame, 11 June 2019, https://www.newframe.com/zimbabwes-mbira-maestro-of-the-ages/
“Pan Africanism is an active embrace of the stranger nearby”, New Frame, 28 May 2019, https://www.newframe.com/pan-africanism-is-an-active-embrace-of-the-stranger-nearby/
“Binyavanga Wainaina’s rich legacy of writing as event”, New Frame, 23 May 2019, https://www.newframe.com/binyavanga-wainainas-rich-legacy-of-writing-as-event/
“An invitation to re-view at the Joburg Art Gallery”, New Frame, 27 February 2019, https://www.newframe.com/invitation-re-view-joburg-art-gallery/
“Chimbetu: Music to mourn Zimbabwe by”, New Frame, 26 February 2019, https://www.newframe.com/chimbetu-music-mourn-zimbabwe/
“Fictioneer, decoloniser, seer: Charles Mungoshi”, New Frame, 19 February 2019, https://www.newframe.com/fictioneer-decoloniser-seer-charles-mungoshi/
“Master of metaphor and music”, New Frame, 24 January 2019, https://www.newframe.com/master-metaphor-and-music/
“Zimbabweans forced to reap the Zanu-PF whirlwind”, Mail & Guardian, 17 January 2019, https://mg.co.za/article/2019-01-17-zimbabweans-forced-to-reap-the-zanu-pf-whirlwind/
“The greatest crime in Zimbabwe”, New Frame, 8 November 2018, https://www.newframe.com/greatest-crime-zimbabwe/
“Derailed en route to Vic Falls”, New Frame, 31 October 2018, https://www.newframe.com/derailed-en-route-to-vic-falls/
“Book browsing on African time”, New Frame, 4 October 2018, https://www.newframe.com/book-browsing-african-time/
“What’s left of Zimbabwe? Part V: The struggle dreams in mbira”, New Frame, 13 September 2018, https://www.newframe.com/whats-left-zimbabwe-part-v-struggle-dreams-mbira/
“What’s left of Zimbabwe? Part IV: Mugabe’s only constant”, New Frame, 6 September 2018, https://www.newframe.com/whats-left-zimbabwe-part-iv-mugabes-only-constant/
“What’s left of Zimbabwe? Part III: Too late for change”, New Frame, 30 August 2018, https://www.newframe.com/whats-left-zimbabwe-part-iii-too-late-change/
“What’s left of Zimbabwe? Part I”, New Frame, 15 August 2018, https://www.newframe.com/whats-left-of-zimbabwe-part-i/
“Russia's History of Racism Towards Black Players Is Nothing New”, Okay Africa, 12 June 2018, https://www.okayafrica.com/russia-world-cup-racism-black-players/
“None but ourselves”, Chimurenga Chronic, special issue ‘The Invention of Zimbabwe’, April 2018, https://chimurengachronic.co.za/none-but-ourselves/
“Tsvangirai left an incomplete legacy”, Mail & Guardian, 22 February 2018, https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-22-tsvangirai-left-an-incomplete-legacy/
“A death on Josiah Chinamano Avenue”, Mail & Guardian, 20 December 2017, https://mg.co.za/article/2017-12-20-00-a-death-on-josiah-chinamano-avenue/
“Have Mugabe’s own words come back to haunt him?”, Al Jazeera, 16 November 2017, https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/11/16/have-mugabes-own-words-come-back-to-haunt-him
“Rihanna, defiant witch-woman”, Mail & Guardian, 29 August 2017, https://mg.co.za/article/2017-08-29-00-rihanna-defiant-witch-woman/
“The Rasta roots of Zim dancehall”, Mail & Guardian, 4 August 2017, https://mg.co.za/article/2017-08-04-00-the-rasta-roots-of-zim-dancehall/
“The Resilient Robert Mugabe”, Jacobin, 26 August 2016, https://jacobinmag.com/2016/08/robert-mugabe-evan-mawarire-this-flag-zimbabwe
“Doris Lessing and Zimbabwe”, London Review of Books Blog, 17 August 2016, https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2016/august/doris-lessing-and-zimbabwe
“Wits all the Wiser for its vital literary couple”, Mail & Guardian, 14 June 2013, https://mg.co.za/article/2013-06-14-wits-all-the-wiser-for-its-vital-literary-couple/