Chanje Kunda is a nationally recognised and long established performance poet based in Manchester. Chanje has worked alongside some of the most influential modern poets such as Benjamin Zephaniah, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Lemn Sissay. She was also a delegate at the Calabash literature festival in Jamaica in May 2006. She has recently commisioned some beats from Strategy of Broke 'n' English for her latest CD entitled 'One Voice' She teaches the knowlegde and skills she has gained along the way, by providing culturally diverse creative writing workshops for people in all sections of the community, especially young people.

Chanje Kunda runs Afrique Performs, a writing and performance initiative designed to improve literacy and communication skills, as well as breaking down barriers to participation in the Arts, Music and Cultural Industries. The focus is to empower people by showing the power of words.

She is part of a network of writers, poets and musicians known as Speakeasy. These include comedians, playwrights, poets, singer/ songwriters and musicians. Speakeasy can provide a variety of writers to suit the needs. Through out her career, Chanje has met many talented and respected artists. She has Performed at the Royal Albnert Hall London, The calabash Festival on treasure Beach in Jamaica and Most recently at the rise Festival in Finsbury park on the Urban Music stage of the Rise Festival

Despite experiences of homelessness, depression and single parenthood, her determination saw Chanje achieve a BA Hons in Theatre and Media Studies and an NVQ Level 3 in Business. At 26 she is now runs her own writing and performance initiative.

Chanje runs the poetry workshops and the African storytelling sessions. She also does performances for Children and adults.Her workshops show people by example, that anything can be overcome and that ambition breeds success. She uses life experiences and strong academic background, to motivate people to aim higher.

She has been attending the black writers group based at Commonword for the past five years. Over that period she has learnt about a lot of literary skills and techniques, as well as how to constructively criticise and bring the best out in people's work. She has also got a vast knowledge of diverse styles of writing because of my large collection of books.

Testimonials

"Chanje is a wonderful performer and has a brightness and lightness of spirit which belies the depth of some of her work. Her appeal works on lots of levels and this has no option than to build her into a fantastic performer whose progress we should all be watching."
Lemin Sissay

"I was particularly impressed with the standard and quality of the work that the young people produced. I was also very moved by one young woman's writing which addressed issues that I am sure would not have been expressed without the poetry workshop ... I would recommend Chanje to work with any group of young people whether it be in formal or informal settings."
Claire Cowell, Youth Arts Manager, Cultural Strategy Team, Manchetser City Council

"Chanje Kunda has a charismatic stage presence that is one part youthful exuberance, one part engaging earthiness and one part incisive wit. Her poems are jazzy reflections of modern day living. She embraces the collective power and liberating influences of women, particularly black women in the world today."
Pete Kalu, Novelist 5 times published by the X Press

"Chanje is dry, honest and a future star of her generation."
Dean Smith, Route Promotions and Publication Co