Mr. Albert Nyati
100 African Icon Series
BeingAfrican
Honours
Mr. Albert Nyathi | Zimbabwe 
Mr. Albert Nyathi is more than a poet. He is a custodian of memory, a builder of legacy, and a voice that has echoed across generations and borders. His life stands at the crossroads of oral tradition, social advocacy, and national pride.
He walked with words before they were written. Long before microphones and medals, Albert Nyathi was already keeping time with the ancestors
in rhythm,
in reflection,
and reverence.
But that rhythm carried him from village paths to global platforms, Geneva. Glastonbury. SADC summits and The United Nations. Albert Nyathi did not just perform, he preserved. His words turned silence into testimony. His poetry gave language to struggle, dignity to identity, and voice to the unheard.
His anthem “Senzeni Na?” was not just a poem. It was a cry for justice that crossed borders. A voice of mourning and of movement. The world listened, but he kept listening to home. With his close friends scattered across the globe, Albert drilled boreholes, built hostels for rural girls and donated textbooks.
Through his poems, read in universities, taught in schools, and through every child who finds their voice in his footsteps, he reminds us that poetry is not just an art form; it is a way of life. It is a vessel, a memory keeper, and a living archive. He also reminds us that BeingAfrican is not a statement; it is a responsibility.
Mr. Nyathi is more than a poet. He is a cultural custodian. A griot. A builder of legacy. A man who speaks with the same truth to presidents and to pupils alike.
We honour him because
- He carried our oral traditions into the future without dropping the drum.
- He turned poetry into protest, and protest into purpose.
- He gave more than words; he gave wells, books, and beginnings.
- Though he rises in the world, he remains rooted in the soil that raised him.
That is why he is an African Icon
Official Biography
Albert Nyathi – Official Biography
Poet | Author | Cultural Advocate
Albert Nyathi was born on 15 November 1962 in Kafusi, Gwanda District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. He completed his secondary education at Msitheli Secondary School and Matopo High School before enrolling at the University of Zimbabwe, where he graduated with a BA Honours in English Literature. He later earned a Master of Philosophy from Midlands State University, focusing his thesis on the socio-economic landscape of Zimbabwe’s music industry. A versatile writer and performance poet, Nyathi’s professional journey spans more than three decades across literature, music, advocacy, and cultural development.
His landmark poem Senzeni Na?, written in 1993, gained continental recognition and positioned him as one of Zimbabwe’s foremost poetic voices. His performances have taken him to over 30 countries, including appearances at the World Health Assembly, Glastonbury Festival, SADC Summits, and the United Nations Millennium Congress. Beyond performance, Nyathi has played a pivotal role in shaping Zimbabwe’s creative and civic landscape.
His literary work includes six published books, among them:
- The Third Dimension (1994)
- Echoes from Zimbabwe (2010)
- My Daughter (2012) – awarded Outstanding Children’s Book at the NAMA Awards
- My Son (2016), co-authored with Ignatius Mabasa
- Ten Conversations to End AIDS and Ten Conversations on Health, co – authored with Dr. Daniel Low-Beer
As founder of the Albert Nyathi Talent Search (ANTS), he has mentored and launched the careers of notable Zimbabwean artists. He has also contributed significantly to rural development in Matabeleland South through initiatives such as school textbook donations, clinic equipment support, and the construction of a girls’ hostel at his former secondary school.
Select Award sand Honors
- NAMA Living Legend Award (2024)
- Outstanding Children’s Book, NAMA – My Daughter
- Arts Personality of the Year, NAMA – Multiple Years
- Top 10 Outstanding Young Zimbabweans, Junior Chamber International – 1998 & 2001
- Distinguished Poet, Zim Community Trailblazers Awards – 2023
- Major Festival Appearances
- WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) – International performance showcasing Zimbabwean poetry and music
- Albert Nyathi continues to contribute to Zimbabwean and African cultural life through literature, advocacy, mentorship, and community service.
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