Tanea Nyika
About Me
Hello, my name is Tanea Nyika, but as an artist, I simply go by Tanea. I was born on November 18, 2005, in Gweru, Zimbabwe.Growing up, I had a unique family dynamic with two olderhalf-brothers. I have one half-brother from my mum’s side who I grew up with and the other half-brother from my dad’s side who I met when I was twelve and it was an amazing experience to discover how much we lookedalike and more. Unfortunately, my dad died when I was three.
A Poet’s Heart: How Love and Loss Shape My Writing
From a young age, I was passionate about English, both reading and writing. I often found myself immersed in ancient English novels and anthologies, even during Mathematics class. My love for literature led me to write my first novel, “A Trail of Death,” at about 12 years old and my second “Pains of a Widowed Bride.” Although I lost the hard copies, and these never saw daylight but the stories remain with me. My first published novels were spiritual motivational books at 16 then poetry anthologies at 17 “Scarred Words” and “So I grew up!” which focus on falls and triumphs of my journey growing alone.
Poetry became another form of expression for me, thanks to a friend’s encouragement and participation in a WhatsApp group “Poetry Unplugged”. Art for me is about conveying positive messages and encouraging others to follow their passion. The loss of my father and growing up alone deeply impacted me, and writing became my outlet for those emotions.
Rhythm, Movement, and Emotion: The Heart of My Choreography
Zimbabwe and Botswana cultures influence my work and currently India especially through proverbs and traditions. I focus more on the theme of giving love to our men, brothers, fathers which is an overlooked subject. In Zimbabwe, art is vital for expressing our identity and heritage. Events like Africa Day and Culture Week remind us of our roots, and I hope to contribute to this cultural tapestry. Poetry has taken me to perfom to great and many places Pretoria in South Africa, Gaborone in Botswana, Pune and Mumbai in India, Harare, Mutare and adding more trophies and certificates on shelves but most importantly touching hearts of different races.
With Mutare Tales I started this journey whilst still at school as a Youth Advocates Club president promoting art and instilling confidence in young artists. Art unites us and through collaboration we achieve great things. Looking ahead, I plan to write more, focusing on messages that resonate with my generation and mainly males.
To young and emerging artists, my advice is to follow your passion. Take your time to know yourself and don’t be swayed by money or external pressures. Your true path lies in what you love
Thank you for learning about my journey. I look forward to sharing more of my stories and art with you on Instagram, Audiomack, Facebook, Tiktok and other social media handles under the name Tanea Nyika.
