Shimmer Chinodya akaberekwa mugore ra1957 kuGwelo (Gweru), mumubatanidzwa weRhodesia neNyasaland. Munyori weuvaranomwe wemuZimbabwe. Chinodya akadzidza paMambo Primary School. Akadzingwa kuGoromonzi mushure menguke ataridzira achipesana nehurumende yaIan Smith's government. Akadzidza paUnivhesiti yeZimbabwe uye Univhesiti yeLowa neMA mungunyorwa kwenyanonyorwa muna1985.