Mildred Rugare Mazarire
Tatiana Natalie Kondo aka Bhanshee (24) scooped an award at the recently held Hip Hop Awards night at the Royal Gate in Chisipite, Harare.
Tatiana who has recently rebranded to “Bhanshee” is a multi-award winning creative advocate and human rights defender who strives to empower the masses through an adroit blend of Hip Hop, storytelling and spoken word poetry.
She has represented her nation on different platforms in varying countries such as France, Rwanda, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa and through her work, she explores the deepest parts of the human experience and unpacks issues to do with social justice. Owing to her fierce passion for the aforementioned, Banshee spearheads a womanist movement called Shee and hosts an annual mental wellness event called Battlescars and Healing. Her words embody love, are a call to action and a true testament to the strength of the African spirit.
Bhanshee is a powerful voice in the world of hip hop, using her platform to amplify the struggles and triumphs of the marginalized. Growing up in Harare, in a rather unhealthily patriarchal space, she found solace in the written word, and soon discovered a passion for spoken word poetry which then became Hip Hop.
As she honed her craft, Bhanshee began to garner attention for her raw, unflinching performances after her first performance at the House of Hunger Poetry Slam, where she won first place and later became a House of Hunger Champion. Since then, she has racked in accolades such as being named the best spoken word poet at last year’s Trend Setting Youth Awards and has traveled the world, sharing her art with diverse audiences and using her voice to advocate for human rights and gender justice.
Bhanshee’s art is a testament to the transformative power of art, and a reminder that even in the darkest of circumstances, there is always the potential for growth, redemption, and rebirth. With her signature blend of lyrical dexterity, emotional intensity, and unapologetic honesty, Bhanshee is redefining the possibilities of hip hop and inspiring a new generation of activists and artists
“I started Spoken Word Poetry in 2017, and Hip Hop in 2023” said Bhanshee
“Winning an award at the Zim Hip Hop Awards was an incredible feeling! When I heard my name being announced, I felt an instant rush of elation and optimism. It’s like all the hard work, dedication, and perseverance finally paid off, and I felt validated and recognized for my efforts. I also felt a deep sense of gratitude for the people who supported me along the way, and a sense of humility knowing that this achievement wasn’t just about me, but about the team and community that helped me get here. I am also very excited about everything else I intend to share with the people,” said Natalie.
“I chose Hip Hop because I have always been so in love with it even at a very young age. My father introduced me to it and it is a genre that we really bonded so well with growing attached to it was inevitable. It is such a powerfully raw means of storytelling and that is the main reason as to why I resonate with it,” she said .
“Musically, I am heavily inspired by Lauryn Hill, Tupac, Vince Staples, J Cole and Kendrick Lamar, Poetically, I am inspired by Aja Monet, Masai Sepuru and Jackie Hill Perry” said Tatiana.
“Staying competent in a male dominated space and the requirement of producing content consistently as this requires stable financing,” she aded.
