EDITORIAL
Josephine Sithole-Muganiwa, WINZ Board Chairperson
Greetings once again! May I take the opportunity to congratulate Madhombiro and Damoyi for their wonderful initiative. All young writers please make use of this opportunity to get published. Also take note of ongoing competitions and call for articles by publishers. Let us ensure that our schools have reading material written locally so that they do not struggle to relate. That way we foster a love for literature and grow a market for our works.
The readers who would want to meet the poets that Muchuri describes please visit the Book Café events especially Sisters Open Mic session which takes place the second Saturday of every month.
Let us keep writing!
ANOTHER PROUDLY ZIMBABWEAN PUBLISHER BORN
By WINZ Staff Writer
Kennedy Madhombiro, Director of Diaspora Publishers
Kennedy Madhombiro, Director of Diaspora Publishers
Local writers having unpleasant dreams as to how they can publish their works using cheaper methods will now have a chance to go it alone without much trouble.
Diaspora Publishers, a new publishing house established in February 2011 by two Zimbabwean poets living abroad, has come to the rescue of writers and offers affordable publishing opportunity to unknown writers and poets. Co-founders and poets Kennedy Madhombiro and Nhlanhla Damoyi who are based in the United Kingdom and South Africa respectively decided to front this publishing venture after they successfully published themselves and broadened their goals to include other writers and poets so that they publish without meeting high costs which other self-publishing companies charge upfront.
“After communicating through social circles, we decided to form this publishing house to expose talent, nurture and encourage youth to write and preserve books in the future clouded with digitalized media,” said Madhombiro, who is also the company Director.
With eight books already available to order from their stable and which are soon to be unveiled on the Amazon.com, Madhombiro said with the changing dynamics of publishing and book distribution, there is need for artists to feel encouraged to write more with the hope that their work can easily be read and appreciated by the wide world, something which traditional publishing houses have always reserved for commercially known artists. The eight titles available from Diaspora Publishers are Mind in Diatribe (poems) by Kennedy H Madhombiro, Daughter of Zulu (poems) by Nhlanhla L Damoyi, Africa Our First Love (poems) by K Madhombiro & N Damoyi, Jo'burg Prodigal Son (short stories) by N .Damoyi, Butterflies In The Stars (poetry) by Tendai Maturure, Random Voices (poetry) by Various Friends of Diaspora Publishers, Good Morning President (poetry) by Mbizo Chirasha, and Ink of Agitation (poetry) by Asibabale Ndlebe.
Diaspora Publishers is based in Gloucestershire (UK) where Madhombiro lives and other services on offer include book editing and ghost writing. The company is targeting upcoming poets and writers in varied genres from across the globe and has subsidiary representation in South Africa. For more information, feel free to contact Kennedy H Madhombiro (Publisher & Director) Diaspora Publishers, 29 May Hill View, Newent, Gloucestershire GL18 1UB, United Kingdom. Or visit their website www.diasporapublishers.co.uk or email diasporapublisher@yahoo.com
KASIBHALENI!
Impande Zobuntu
(a poem that shows us that a mother is the roots of humanity)
Impande Zobuntu
(a poem that shows us that a mother is the roots of humanity)
by Sindiso Regina Ngwenya
Iminyaka edhluleyo
Esalusane oluncane
Esazicemela
Umama wakhe
Ngothando lwake olugelezayo
Wayemthatha, amugezise amaphumelo
Amesule amakhovula
Ukuze akhule elijaha elithokozisayo
Impande zobuntu
Zikhohlakele kuleli jaha
Amaphupho amahle
Ayevuselelwa ngumfazi lo
Kodwa ke yena akakuboni lokhu
Ngoba elombono omfitshane
Ukuba umfazi lo
Nguye umana awamumunyisa ebeleni lakhe
Ngoba esokhohliwe
Ukuba umfazi lo
Nguye ngempela owayemupha
Uthando olujulileyo
(Born in Shurugwi in the 80’s, Sindiso Regina Ngwenya grew up in Bulawayo and went to Nketa Primary School, Maranatha and Mzilikazi High School for her education. Ngwenya writes poetry in her free time and enjoys reading African stories. She currently teaches at a private academic college in Harare.)
NGATINYOREI!
Yaiva Seka Ndirire Hamawe
Na Clever S Kavenga
Ndikabvunza hamuzonditi ndinonetsa? Kana imi zvenyu kuzondiridzira tsamwa sezvinonzi hamusi vanhu vaMwari akatisika achitifananidza naiye. Kweteka kuzoti, “Rungano atanga zvakare,” mobva manditarisa neruziso rwunoti ‘chibva pano uende kumba kwenyu kunonhuwa nhamo kunge rugare!’ kana kuti pandinobvunza munobva matarisa muchisvipa mate sezvinonzi mukanwa mangu mabuda mashoko anonhuwa kuti pfu-u.
Iniwo nguva iyoyo ndinenge ndichimirira mhinduro! Mhinduro inogona kuuya yakapfava ichiita sehuchi hunodururwa mugapu ichigarana zvinyoronyoro. Kana kuti mhinduro yacho inokuzvambura semunhu akandirwa tsvimbo ichikusiya uchipukuta madzihwa nemisodzi!
Zvino uyu mubvunzo unondiremera muchipfuva sendakatakura tswanda izere matombo. Mubvunzo uyu unondinetsa uchida chete kudauka kubva parurimi rwangu semuseve unobva pauta.
Asi sei vamwe vanhu vachifamba vachitaura vega zvokuti newewo usinei nezvavanotaura unotopedzisira wozvizivawo?
Mutsemhure ndakamunzwa achitaura ega mufunge imi zvenyu. Aizvipinza mumatare akasadharara asina kana mukare akamboagara. Idzodzi nyaya dzaSinodhiya dzichiri kumuvhiringa. Zvinorwadza kutorerwa wawaichengera wakawarairwa ukuzve achihweturwa nasaimba mbune. Marwadzo mufunge!
Mutsemhure zvino ndakamunzwa achiti, “Zvandakaitirwa naSinodhiya zvakafanana nokurohwa nemupande wemheni masikati machena- izvozvo zvacho zvinonzi hazviitike asi zvichiitika! Chokwadi Sinodhiya andisiya semunhu asina kupfeka zvino nyika nemapenzi ayo yava kungonditanhaura nepo inodira zvayo.”
Iyeyu Mutsemhure kana kubasa kwake Harare haasati aenda, rwendo rwuno agarisa. Mwedzi miviri yava kutokwana achingonwa zvake mhamba zuva nezuva kumagirosa navanamudhara Chipikiri. Iwaya madhara asingazive kuti kune Sabata, kunomboendwawo kukereke uye kuti kune chisi chamambo chinombozororwawo muswere wose!
Dai rudo rwuine tsitsi rwaimbotorawo Mutsemhure mufunge zvenyu. Rwaimusesekedzawo munzira isina kumanikana. Zvadaro moyo wake ungagarewo murufaro. Zvino nhasi kumutarisa zvaari unonzwa tsitsi. Mvura paari yakatotama kare, bvudzi harichina anopetura. Kusvika paagere unotofunga kuti watosvika pabhawa nokuda kwekunhuwa kwefodya nedoro paari. Munhuwi wataisambonzwa mazuva ayo vaindenderedzana naSinodhiya. Zvavakuitika izvi ndiyo inonzi namudhara Murekabwe “seka ndirire chaiyo!”
Ipo pameso pake Mutsemhure pavakunge nzira iye isisina vafambi. Handifunge kuti kana kuzora mafuta kuchashandura chiso chake. Zvavakunge munhu aimbogara maari haasisimo. Pada akabhururukawo musi wakabhururuka rudo rwaSinodhiya rwuchinomhara muhana yamudhara Matiropo. Zvichida pamwe kusvika nanhasi uno moyo wake Mutsemhure uchiri kubhururuka uchitsvaga pokumhara. Ko ungamhare pai iwo muti waisimupa mumvuri nezororo wakagoborwa nevagoni zvavo?
Irworwu rudo rwava kumugarisa matare nekusingapere. Anozvimisa pamberi pedare romupfungwa wopika kuti chaachataura ndicho chokwadi, chokwadi chete pasina kuwedzera kana kubvisa zvimwe! Anoedza kupenengura nokuvhundunyura mukati memazuva ekare kuti aone paakatadzira Sinodhiya asi anopashaya. Paanovhara bhuku remazuva ekare iri anotura befu wotanga kuimba zvake kambo ke ‘Bhundu Boys’ kanonzi ‘Wafungeiko?’
Regai mudhara Murekabwe vazoti zvavo, “Wapfanaka zvamunoona rudo chigumbu! Ukarwushaya unopamharika kwose kwose nenyika usina chaiko kwaunosvika kana kubata chinamaturo. Hezvi vanaMutsemhure voswero non’ona rudo mumasikadhi vachiti pada vachagumana narwo. Rudo chironda pakashaya anopepa chinochengeta urwa. Pakashayazve anoona kana kugeza unotozonzwa negasekase kunhuwa. Saka wapfana rudo musaite rwekutamba narwo, harusungirwe tayi seunotsvaga basa rakanaka. Kana kupfekerwa sutu kuti rwusazokunyara wava kufamba narwo! Rudo harwuenderwe kusikuru nokuti hapana anopasa. Handiti varipo vakadzidza zvokunyura mumabhii anopisa nyembe nekupfekedzwa nguwo dzakasviba kuti tidoo asi parudo vachigere musango havasati vasvika mumusha!!’
Uku kufunga kwavo mudhara Murekabwe.
Zvino kana Mutsemhure woita seasina kukwana sekutaura kwavo vanhu, woona basa raaishanda kuHarare serisisina basa nokuti akatizwa naSinodhiya ndizvo here manje? Ndiyeka Sinodhiya watainzwa achiseka naye, mazuva ayo vaitengerana nyama dzakagaiwa dzomumagaba nemachokoreti pamwe nezvinwiwa zvaitiba moyo. Pataikumbira Sinodhiya wotiti tinonetsa achitipa twumasirivha twekutenga maputi nemasiwiti!!
LITERARY DISCUSSION IN PICTURES
(PHOTOS courtesy of WINZ)
(PHOTOS courtesy of WINZ)
Topic: Politics of Publishing & Book Marketing in Zimbabwe
October 20 at the Book Cafe
Zimbabwean writers Ivor W Hartmann (L), who is in the country on a short visit, and Memory Chirere (R), chat outside the Book Cafe after the discussion
Poet Tinashe Muchuri (L) and writer David Mungoshi
THE REGULAR WRITER
With
Tinashe ‘Mutumwapavi’ Muchuri
New Generation Female Poets of My Time
It is important to note that in life as a poetry lover you encounter poets you respect and enjoy listening to. Today I am going to reflect on female poets whose work I have fallen in love with. This is my choice and a tip of the iceberg, after all.When I watch Batsirai Chigama on stage, I see a gifted hand applying final touches to certain pottery. As her hands move smoothly caressing the air, I see the pottery responding passionately. By the way, who would not want such pottery which is the pride of every woman in the community?Linda ‘The Poetic Angel’ Gabriel, whom I once profiled under this column, has that powerful militant voice that challenges the “un-challengeable”. She is a combative poet and would not hesitate to question those who make weapons of mass destruction and those who take advantage of innocent people. No wonder why Gabriel is criss-crossing the globe, she is on demand to spread the word of liberty.
I see water flowing, meandering down the stream as Cynthia ‘Flowchyld’ Marangwanda’s words flow into a poem. Nothing stops you from enjoying the words which she does not just throw all over without a meaning, words consciously said in a hip hop form.
Like a cool breeze, Barbra ‘The Breeze’ Anderson’s words get into you slowly manifesting themselves in you that you wish the soft voice could continue again and again to mesmerize you.Like you are licking a lollypop or an ice cream that is how Primrose ‘Creamrose’ Dzenga poetry tastes. She allows you to see the cream in the rose, maybe here the rose being womankind. She makes you feel loved, and forget the hate in this world. Her words caress your broken heart and fill it with hope. Softly she takes you along a journey of love that you have never thought a woman would lead. She is a love poet but she also tackles other relevant issues.
Sometimes you have witnessed rain that unexpectedly starts to rain, isn’t it? This is what happens when Chiedza ‘Rain lily’ Sadomba is on stage. She is unpredictable like rain. Sometime it rains when you think the clouds hold not enough moisture to cause rain. She has so much courage and challenges other women to stop being cry-babies and utilise all the opportunities God has opens for them. It’s like her poetry puts in my mind an image of united ants at work to construct an anthill, a home for all.
In life there are times you meet those who smile at you, those who really smile and not grin at you. Aura Kawanzaruwa makes you smile at her as her words smile back at you during any of her performance. I want to listen to her as her words sing a song to me again and again like in the midnight as the fire falters away.
I have watched these wordsmiths and would not like to miss out their performances at the Book Café and elsewhere. It is always an honour to hear the queens making a shout on stage. They are my bet every time I think of a female poet. Some have fallen by the wayside, maybe because of other commitments. I no longer hear much about poets such as Kadija Mutekwatekwa, Shontae, and various others. There are others from the older generation whom I have not mentioned here. They are good too but as for now I wanted to pick out a few from the young generation. Names of female poetry gurus that come to mind are Virginia Phiri, Freedom Nyamubaya, Shumirai Nanhanga, Xapa and others.
THE ZIMBABWE ACHIEVERS AWARD
About The Competition
Zimbabwean literature continues to flourish, despite a contracted publishing scene. The recent announcement of NoViolet Bulawayo as the winner of the 2011 Caine Prize shows the immense literary potential from Zimbabwe. This is a way to promote the growth of quality Zimbabwean literature. The competition seeks to inspire, encourage and support many young Zimbabwean writers. While the competition is aimed at encouraging Zimbabwean writers who write in Zimbabwe under severe conditions and with fewer resources and opportunities, the competition will also be open to all Zimbabweans regardless of their geography. An anthology of new writings selected from the very best submissions that will be received for the competition will be published and launched. The shortlist will be revealed sometime in December and the eventual winner at the 2012 edition of ZAA. It is hoped that this competition will become an annual fixture on the Zimbabwean literary calendar. Apart from the National Merits Awards (NAMA) and Intwasa Awards, there are no other Zimbabwean literary prizes on offer at the moment. We hope this will become another incentive to positively encourage young and emerging Zimbabwean writers.
Eligibility
The Award is open to all Zimbabwean nationals resident in the country or elsewhere.
The story must not contain more than 5000 words.
No more than one story per author may be submitted.
The story entered must be unpublished.
The story submitted must be original, entirely the author’s own work.
Entries submitted should be in English only.
Judging and Shortlisting
The Zimbabwe literature Award judges will select five outstanding short stories which will constitute the shortlist of the ZAA Literary category. Other submitted entries will be considered for selection for an anthology to be published as a result of this competition.
Winners will be contacted personally by email or by telephone.
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The judging will be fair and independent. The judging panel will consist of distinguished Zimbabwean literary professionals.
The Award Committee reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
The Award Committee reserves the right to refuse entry to the Award for any reason at its absolute discretion.
Deadline
Entries or queries should be submitted to stories@zimachievers.com.
Deadline for entries is 20 December 2011.
Contact
Contact
Conrad Mwanza
CM Events Consultancy
70 Ronalds Road, LONDON, N5 1XA
Office: 44 (0) 207 288 2985
Mob: 44 (0) 75 3974 7091
Skype ID: conradmwanza
Blackberry: 21FF3119
BOOKLOVE PUBLISHERS CALLING FOR POETS
Gweru-based Booklove Publishers is inviting poets to write and submit English poems on current themes. The following are the features and requirements:
§ Readership for the poems should be suitable for ‘A’ and tertiary levels
§ Write on a diversity of themes
§ Poems should be suitable for both leisure reading and stud purposes.
§ The poems should be typed
§ Indicate your contact details:, permanent, postal and email addresses and telephone number(s)
§ Submit not more than 10 poems
§ When the poems have been selected for publication, the author will sign a contract
§ Deadline for submission is December 31, 2011
§ Send the poems to The Editor, Booklove Publishers P O Box 1917, Gweru or email to booklove87@yahoo.com
Booklove Publishers
– For Literary Excellency
Let us write, Ngatinyorei, Kasibhaleni!
