Celebrating Tonga Poetry

Beaven Tapureta, WIN Founder & Director

WIN members are advised that we will hold a meeting in January 2013 to discuss certain plans for the New Year. New members are welcome. Also note our already launched two projects for next year, that is, the poetry anthology and short story anthology. Send in your material now. We will however soon add pages on the blog with all the info you need about these two projects which we started this year and wrote about in one of our newsletters. Do take care during the holidays and above all, love.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

RHYTHMS OF TONGA DRUMS

NOONE WANGU

Bamwi bati, ngunamaanda,

Bamwi bati nkansweempya,

Sunu bamwi bati nkasechelo,

Wangu ndimuti Noone.

Buzuba mbundakamuti mwe!

Kwakabilabila mulindime,

Wakandisiya mooyo,

Akulya kwakalengwaana kunjila.

Lyakandibbillila achitimbitimbi mumiyeeyo,

Bwakandilampila busiku mwanaandeende,

Chilabila chati mpendi,

Kabucha ndiye nkundakabbiikizya.

Musinzo wakafwiimpa oobo buunsi,

Inche menso mukupa, achinso ninsumo,

Oolu lumwemwe, Te ndayeemuka biya!

Ndakaliwaala lyanamatila, maa dokuusowa mukosi.

Mooyo wangu wabotelwa, ndakumena!

Wandivuna wandiyanda, sunu chilabila nchalukondo.

Kupengaana kwamana, bukwaansa bwasika,

Ndakubweza waba noone wangu.

Ndakaatantalika malundu, ndaatukunia  magezi.

Ndakaduda zisakasaka, ndazubuka milonga,

Njakukuvwima na peepe, nkumuunda na peepe,

Ndalikweendela nduwe noone wangu.

Ndileke ndizapuulwe alwako luyando olike,

Ndakonkezya kukubotezya lyoonse.

Ayebo chiita mboyeeya akunonelwa andime,

Nduwe noone wangu , Ndime noone wako.

Na ndalanga busyu bwako, abuteteete bwamooyo wako,

Lumwemwe, lukondo akulikankayizya ngazyandikoma.

Nibaamba kuti ndakalisigwa, ngandati iyi,

Kkekke lyaamuchado nduwe wakandilisika noone.

By Rev. Jeffrey Muleya, Binga

(This poem is a celebratory song of a happy man dedicated to his beautiful sweetie (noone) whose love, care and beauty makes the man happy daily - Rev JM).

Celebrating Tonga Language

Josephine Sithole Muganiwa, WIN Board Chairperson

A Merry Christmas to you all, wishing you the best in 2013. Lets love and promote our mother languages.

RHYTHMS OF THE TONGA DRUMS

Simunyono Mubi

Kondisosoloka simunyono,

Nsiyandi kulya anduwe,

Nee! Nikuba kuyakilana ayebo,

Uli alunyonyoono.

Iwe simunyono ulimulozi!

Ukaka kuvula kwabamwi,

Akwambono zyabo,

Nootantalika zitukuta zyabamwi mbuuli njina.

Libelekele ujane zyako zisamo,

Zyako mbono azilyo,

Sowa mooyo wabujayi,

Uzwaatunune mooyo wabbivwe.

Munyono wako ukukachizya kuvula,

Maanu ako ngakutezula bamwi.

Botelwa kuvula kwabamwi,

Nomuzoka ugobola katalyi.

Sanduka kumiyeeyo ibolede,

Ukazikane kabotu abamwi.

Nkaambo chisi nchabantu biingi,

Utabajayi Mulengi kachibayanda.

Iyi ma kofwa bweeme!.

By Rev. Jeffrey Muleya, Binga

{This poem is a complaint and a rebuke against a wickedly jealous person (simunyono) who will not work but want to eat the sweat of others, wants to gather everything to him/herself, kills anyone succeeding in life. He is likened to the snake which will bite a person but it will not eat the person – Rev JM}

Enjoy your holidays!

Merry Xmas and A Happy New Year

THE YEAR 2012 AT A GLANCE

By Beaven Tapureta

Phases in the Zimbabwean writing industry’s outgoing year were mingled with celebration and grief. Losses, book launches, competitions , writers' workshops, book fairs and awards dogged the writing and publishing industry throughout the year; yet a certain sense of togetherness provided the stoicism needed for writers to move on.

The National Arts Merit Awards, coordinated by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, have always been a trailblazing event happening in February of every year. In the 2012 NAMA literary arts section, there were new voices winning than the usual time-tested voices. The book Lazaruses and Devases (Heritage Press, UK) by Wellington Kusema grabbed the Outstanding Fiction Book award while the Outstanding Children’s Book award went to seasoned writer Shimmer Chinodya for his book Tindo’s Quest. The third and last category under literature, Outstanding First Creative Published Book, was won by Violet Masilo for her book African Tea Cosy. Masilo is a member of Zimbabwe Women Writers which published her book.

Earlier in February, writers, friends and relatives including Chingono’s widow, assembled at the Theatre in the Park, Harare, to celebrate the life and works of the late writer Julius Sekai Chingono (1946-2011) who passed on in January 2011. The event was organized by the Spanish Embassy.

The Culture Centre at the Spanish Embassy, although devastated, and so was the whole arts industry, by the death of Pilar Fuertes Ferragut, the then Spanish Ambassador to Zimbabwe who died in a car accident in Namibia on April 2, was most visible in 2012 with literary initiatives such as the launch of its Book Club in March which saw Lawrence Hoba’s book The Trek and Other Stories and Dorothy Chanakira’s A Mother’s Desire being the focus of its first discussion. The late Ambassador Pilar was a stout supporter of Zimbabwean arts. Following her death and the subsequent transfer of her supportive diplomatic staff Victoria Tur and Marina Gomez to other countries, the Book Club took a few months’ lull before resuming activities in October. On October 16, 2012, the Club hosted NAMA award-winning Memory Chirere who read from his translated Shona collection Tudikidiki with an open discussion following afterwards. Another planned Book Club meeting to discuss Valerie Tagwira’s Uncertainty of Hope was cancelled due to uncontrollable forces.

The month of April plunged the arts industry in grief as it lost artists such as renowned actor Walter Lambert Muparutsa (1941-2012) who passed on on April 12, 2012, after a long battle with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and writer Elseworth Benhura (1979-2012) who also died in April in a bus accident that claimed twenty more lives in Ngundu. It was sadly the same month that Pilar died.

While a commemoration for Pilar was held at the Domboshava Interpretive Centre on April 10, Muparutsa was commemorated on May 18 at the Book Café where artists called for the immortalization of the veteran actor. It is at least refreshing to note that the artists’ wish has been partially fulfilled as on November 27 a bust was sculptured in honor of Muparutsa’s contribution to the community through his art. The bust was officially unveiled at Theatre in the Park, with artists, friends and relatives witnessing the event.

Discussions of legendary writer Dambudzo Marechera’s life and works never cease to inspire the international literary community. A conference held in 2009 in London to honor the undying legacy of Marechera produced a multimedia collection titled Moving Spirit: Legacy of Dambudzo Marechera in the 21^st Century (edited by Julie Cairne and Dobrota Pucherova, published by LIT Verlag, Berlin). The book, which is accompanied by a DVD, was launched in Oxford, UK, and not yet in Zimbabwe.

Marechera (1952-1987) was this year (2012) commemorated at the Zimbabwe-German Society in Harare. This event, held under the topic ‘Revisiting Dambudzo Marechera: Old Texts Brought to Life’, came on the heels of revelations about Marechera’s love affair with his biographer and friend Prof. Dr. Flora Veit-Wild. Flora, who published anecdotes in the Wasafiri magazine of international contemporary writing, revealed the life she shared with Marechera and the cause of his death in 1987. Flora moderated the event which however confirmed the everlasting inspiration that Marechera is to many academics and writers, locally and internationally. Thought-provoking among other presentations at this event was the paper titled ‘A Psychobiography of Dambudzo Marechera’ by South Africa-based academic Kudakwashe C Muchena. The paper used Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology to explore and describe Marechera’s actual motivations and psychological workings.

Hope is on the horizon as the Dambudzo Marechera Trust which Flora is helping to revive in Zimbabwe will, among other objectives, aim to ‘republish, reprint, distribute, grant rights of copyright in all media, translate, edit and generally promote the published and unpublished works, writings, books, manuscripts and poems of the late Marechera in Zimbabwe and worldwide’. The Trust, which has been dormant for years now, will do much to resuscitate local interest and encourage reading of Marechera works and facilitate the writing and publication of new works by new Zimbabwean writers.

New books by Zimbabweans were published in 2012 although some of these are yet to hit the local bookshops. Internationally acclaimed girl child activist Betty Makoni’s A Woman, Once a Girl: Breaking Silence, Where did African Leaders Go Wrong’ (LAP) by Josephine Muganiwa, which is an analysis of selected texts by Ayi Kwei Armah and Peter Abraham, Running with Mother (Weaver Press) by Christopher Mlalazi, Shadows (Kushinda, UK) by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, The Polygamist (Logogog Press, South Africa) by Sue Nyathi, and My Daughter (Lion Press Zimbabwe Ltd) by Albert Nyathi, are some of the new babies born in 2012. Some Christian and motivational literature was also produced such as Seasons of Purpose (self-published) by Pastor Grace Jessica Chapfiwa, A Timeless Marriage (self-published) by Nonhlanhla Siziba, and Becoming Champions of Today (Victory Management Institute) by Simbarashe Vhovha. Becoming Champions of Today has a foreword by celebrated musician Oliver Mtukudzi. Seasons of Purpose, Novuyo’s Shadows and The Polygamist, were officially launched in Zimbabwe.

There were several books published in 2012.

Other book launches in Harare included Chioniso and Other Stories by Chinodya Shimmer, which was launched at the Zimbabwe-German Society and Basic Shona Guide for Spanish Speakers by Victoria Tur, then Chargee Affaires of the Spanish Embassy in Harare, which was launched at the Harare City Library. The launch of Basic Shona Guide for Spanish Speakers saw celebrity Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi being guest of honor at this literary function, sending the message that the book industry can make use of the country’s celebrities to encourage the general reading of books.

Of awards and residencies, Zimbabwe continued to shine on the international literary scene. Two major awards worth mentioning are the Caine Prize for African Writing and the Baobab Golden Prize. Mellisa Thandiwe Myambo, the author of Jacaranda Journals (Macmillan South Africa, 2004), was shortlisted for the 2012 Caine Prize for her story titled La Salle de D’part (The Waiting Room). Although Myambo could not win the Prize, her being shortlisted added glamour to Zimbabwean writing as the Caine Prize earlier tasted home in 2004 and 2011 when Brian Chikwava and Noviolet Bulawayo respectively won it. Later in the year, eighteen year old Rutendo Chabikwa did the country proud by winning the Baobab Golden Prize in the Rising Writer category.

Award-winning author Christopher Mlalazi, now with three books up his sleeve, was offered a creative writing residency at the University of Iowa, USA, under its International Writing Program which ran from August to November 2012.

2011 Caine Prize winner Noviolet Bulawayo came on board in 2012 with a major achievement when Chatto and Windus acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in her debut book We Need New Names at a highly contested auction.

A local writing competition that has gained popularity is the Yvonne Vera Award which is coordinated by the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo.

The Yvonne Vera Award, named after the late poetic fiction writer Yvonne Vera, seeks to ‘promote original writing talent in English’ and the 2012 winner was Violette Kee-Tui who grabbed the $500 cash prize.

The writing and publishing industry would not be complete without the annual Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) which this year took place from July 30 to August 4 and was held under the theme ‘African Literature in the Global and Digital Age’. The theme explored the ‘prevailing mood of digitization in the educational, literary, publishing, bookselling and library sectors, including the civic and public sectors’.

Apart from the Indaba Conference which happens before the main Book Fair, book exhibitions and other events, writers had the opportunity to mingle with all kinds of stakeholders in the book industry. ZIBF had in April organized a writers’ workshop under the topic ‘The Writer, the computer and Copyright’ which tallied well with the 2012 ZIBF theme. This workshop, facilitated by ICT expert Rudo J Nyangulu and renowned author Virginia Phiri, was a follow-up to the workshop held under the same topic at the 2011 ZIBF.

The ZIBF this year resumed the provincial Mutare Book Fair which took place from September 28 to 29 at the Mutare (Queens) Hall. The outreach to Mutare by ZIBF signaled the coming back of the former ZIBF glory that seemed to have dulled over the years.

Literary discussions which were regularly conducted by Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA), an inclusive, umbrella writers’ association, under its serial ‘How  I Create’ topic, brought together local writers, especially those in Harare, to discuss pertinent issues affecting their craft. The discussions, which took place in an informal environment, were graced by seasoned writers such as Aaron Chiundura Moyo, Albert Nyathi, Chiedza Musengezi, Shimmer Chinodya, Petina Gappah, Barbara Nkala and David Mungoshi who sacrificed busy schedules to rub shoulders with unpublished and other published authors.

Chinodya and Gappah also conducted separate creative writing workgroups at the Book Café where they met with new writers and shared some skills and knowledge. The workgroups were conducted courtesy of Pamberi Trust. Gappah also moderated a conversation with writer Alexandra Fuller at the Book Café on October 23, 2012.
There are lots of writers events that happened around the country not reported here. All in all, 2012 proved a busy year and hopefully all be well in 2013.

WIN 2012 DIARY: MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

•  WIN altogether published seventeen issues of its WIN Newsletter, that is, from Issue 44 to Issue 61.
•   WIN successfully incorporated a Tonga language column ‘Rhythms of Tonga Drums’ in its WIN Newsletter.  
• WIN launched the Epworth Outreach programme, successfully launched Bilaal Islamic Academy Writers’ Club and mobilized more members outside the school setting in Epworth   
•  WIN received book donation from Zimbabwe Reads  
• WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition and Workshop was launched, supported by Zimbabwe Reads  
• WIN partnered with Centre for Development of Women and Children (CDWC) to conduct a series of writing workshops for students drawn from Glen View 2 High Writers Club, an affiliate of WIN, and Hope Centre, an out-of-school study group. Memory Chirere and David Mungoshi facilitated the workshops. The aim was to come up with booklets of stories and poems for use by other disadvantaged children in out-of-school study groups and communities.  
• WIN received books from Theresa Muchemwa, a local poet. Other book donations had previously come from Beatrice Sithole and Virginia Phiri.  
• WIN welcomed volunteer Moira Marangwanda who has since graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Theatre. Moira is helping WIN as voluntary Assistant Administrator  
• WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition and Workshop succeeds  
  
• WIN launched 2013 Poetry Anthology Project  
• WIN received back issues of Wasafiri magazine of international contemporary writing 
• WIN Manuscript Assessment Programme is ongoing  
• There were various networks with individual writers, organizations, in and outside the country, which WIN created throughout the year, networks which will be helpful in the following year. Above all, we are grateful for the support we received from all of you. Thank you so much.

Writers International Network Zimbabwe Board and staff wish you all a happy Christmas and good health and writing in 2013. 

Stay blessed.

"Unclipping wings of the imagination"

Tribute to Walter Muparutsa (1941-2012)

An extraordinary actor, theatre director and playwright, the late Walter Lambert Dehwe Muparutsa  sharing lighter times with his granddaughters and grandson

Walter loved dreamers who are doers; this is how he came to build a community of young people who wanted to leave a mark on the face of Zimbabwean arts landscape. We went to him as a source of knowledge and inspiration. Whether one was a musician, poet, sculptor, actor or anything, Walter had a place in his heart for all of us. With WIN, he saw  a great opportunity for him to rekindle the fire that had become dormant following the closure of the Rhodesian Literature Bureau some years back. As a former editorial officer of the Literature Bureau, he knew WIN had come to the right place at the right time. No formalities were needed to launch a partnership that saw WIN being given accommodation at Global Arts office in the CBD in 2011. He goaded WIN to ensure that our mother languages, which he dearly loved, are not lost. There will always and forever be this deep desire inside of us to carry on with the work that Walter endorsed and saw as necessary in the development of our nation’s literature. Reading, writing, and publishing. We owe it to this man who loved people, loved artists; the man whose sense of humor healed a broken heart, put a smile on the dogfaced, and fed the hungry, the man who brought hope to the troubled dreams of various young Zimbabwean actors, producers, directors and writers. His legacy is unquestionable. Memories of the moments he shared with each of the Zimbabwean artists out there are numerous and we have but only these echoes to stick to and push us forward. May his soul rest in peace. (WIN)

MUPARUTSA BUST OFFICIALLY UNVEILED

Some guests posing with the bust

On November 27, 2012, artists, diplomats, government officials, representatives of various organizations, friends and relatives, gathered at the Theatre in the Park, Harare, to witness the official unveiling of the late veteran actor Walter Lambert Dehwe Muparutsa sculpture done in his honor.

Minister of Education, Sport, Art and Culture David Coltart, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe chairperson Dr. Chitepo and the Muparutsa family were some of the respected guests who spoke on this occasion before Harare City Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda officially unveiled the Walter Muparutsa bust.

This was a hallmark occasion to honor the great artist that Walter was to his own society. Later, there was the performance of ‘Protest’, a play written by Czech protest artist, Vaclav Havel, produced by Daves Guzha who also features in it as an actor with Obrian Mudyiwenyama.

This event, emceed by Ray Mawerera, was organized by Rooftop Promotions, supported by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Harare.

Art to art, the Walter Muparutsa statue

Mambo

Daves Guzha (L) and Obrian Mudyiwenyama (R) in the play “Protest”

 (All photos courtesy of Tadiwa Muparutsa)

Related articles on this blog:

WIN/GAT PARTNERSHIP 
WALTER MUPARUTSA PROFILE
 

With Love....

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 61

EDITORIAL

 Renowned writer Virginia Phiri presenting her paper at the 2010 Writers' End of Year Get-Together, Harare

The year is coming to an end and what hope is there except that it will eventually bless us all. Yes, we will not stop creating from our ‘winning’ world and the same should happen to you. Don’t stop creating from your ‘winning’ world, although you may not see the fruits yet. We congratulate Rutendo Chabikwa for flying the country’s flag higher by winning the 2012 Golden Baobab Prize in the Rising Writer Category. Keep rising, we say! In the past few days, online media was awash with messages condemning gender based violence (GBV), and it is in solidarity with all progressive Zimbabweans that we dedicate our poetry section to those people, especially women, who have fallen victim to this kind of violence.

Meanwhile, we know how painful it is to announce that the 3^rd Edition of our Writers’ End of Year Get-Together which was expected to take place in December has been postponed to next year due to forces beyond our control. Not all is lost though, just scroll downwards and enjoy the rest of the newsletter...keep rising!

YOUNG ZIMBABWEAN WRITER WINS GOLDEN BAOBAB PRIZE

By Beaven Tapureta

Rutendo Chabikwa

Eighteen year old Zimbabwean writer Rutendo Chabikwa is the winner of the coveted 2012 Golden Baobab Prize in the Rising Writer Category.

The other 2012 winners are Nigerian Joy Nwiyi in the Senior Category and Jenny Robson in the Junior Category for their stories “Something for Next Time” and “Wha-Zup Dude?” respectively.

In a brief chat with WIN, Canada-based Rutendo said she felt honoured and believed that this award will launch her to greater heights.

“I feel greatly honoured to win the award as I am hoping that it will become a stepping stone for me to continue sharing stories,” said Rutendo who could not hide her excitement on lifting her country’s flag higher.

Rutendo won the award for her short stories Letters from the City and A Healing Adventure. Her love for sharing stories motivates her although she says poetry is her first passion.

“I believe that stories are what bring a people together, they are what unite dreams and reality,” said the young writer who has so much quotable wisdom and hope for her country’s literature.

“I hope that more Zimbabwean authors will emerge, not just in the area of children fiction stories, but in any genre, as writing in our own context helps reaffirm our identity. I encourage young writers to continue writing, whether or not you hope for a big break, one day your story will mark the beginning of a turning point in someone's life, and what greater joy is there than that of knowing that your story has transformed a life.”

Born in 1994 in Harare, Rutendo is on scholarship at the United World Colleges at Lester B. Pearson College in British Columbia, Canada, where she is studying for an International Baccalaureate.

She becomes the third Zimbabwean writer to win the Golden Baobab Prize in a different category. The other previous Zimbabwean winners are Ivor W. Hartmann who scooped the prize in 2009 with his story “Mr Goop”, written for children between 12 -15 years, and Mirirai Moyo who won the award the following year (2010) with her story “Diki, The Little Earthworm” written for children between 8-11 years.

The Golden Baobab Prize is an African literary award whose goal is to inspire the creation of African children stories as well as literature for young adults that appeal to the whole world.

For more information about the Golden Baobab Prize, visit www.goldenbaobab.org.

Enjoy more works by Rutendo Chabikwa on her blog WORDS MEANT TO CREATE

AFRICAN FICTION MAGAZINE CALLS FOR WORKS

WIN Staff Writer

Jungle Jim Magazine, an illustrated publication for African pulp fiction, based in Cape Town, South Africa, is in constant need for work by new and exciting African authors.

Jungle Jim is looking for short fiction (up to 4,500 words) but according to editor Jenna Bass, the magazine also publishes serials and novel extracts while accepting non-English stories with a translation.

Where possible, Jungle Jim will publish both versions, says Bass, who encouraged Zimbabwean young writers to grab the opportunity brought by this bi-monthly magazine.

Jungle Jim Magazine’s potential in producing stories of international appeal was confirmed when one of its exclusive stories “Hunter Emmanuel” by Constance Myburgh was shortlisted for the 2012 Caine Prize.

Launched in 2011 in South Africa, Jungle Jim magazine is distributed in both print and online and publishes “genre-based writing from all over Africa”. The magazine aims to spread narrative, imagination and concept-driven work by African writers throughout the continent and internationally.

For more information, go to www.junglejim.com

THE REGULAR WRITER

(The following short story won the Junior Writer Prize in the 2012 WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition)

David the Brave Young Man

By Panashe Mushambi (above), Nettleton Primary School, Harare

Once upon a time there was a King and a Queen who lived in a beautiful Kingdom. They were very greedy. They wanted all the riches in the Kingdom like gold, silver and jewelery. Everyone hated them because of their greediness. The King and Queen always thought about their riches.

“The gold, silver and jewellery are ours. Every piece  should be ours,” said the Queen.

 “Yes, yes we must own every piece of gold, silver and jewellery. All the riches in this Kingdom are going to be ours my dear wife,” said the King more greedily.

“Yes, it will be all ours. Ha, ha, ha,” they laughed.

One day they came up with a plan to take other people’s riches.

“My dear wife, I have come up with a big plan,” said the King.

 “What plan?” asked the Queen.

“Have you forgotten? Well, it’s about how we can take the riches away from the people. It is a good plan my wife,” answered the King.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Please tell me about the plan,” said the Queen impatiently.

“Okay, I think we should take all the riches from the poor first and if we don’t get enough riches we will go and take from the rich. We will take everything by force!” said the Queen greedily.

“By next week we will start taking all the riches,” shouted the King.

They told the guards to prepare for the following week. The guards were ready to take other people’s wealth and riches. Days passed slowly. The day arrived but people were not aware of anything.

“Guards, you must take all the riches by force if anyone refuses,” shouted the King.

The guards went to the village taking the villagers’ riches. They took from the poor. People were left with no money to feed their children or take them to school. Widows lost everything their husbands left for them. It was so painful and sorrowful that all the people who lost their riches wanted to kill the King and Queen.

There was a brave young man called David, he was so brave and was willing to die for his people. He wanted to stop the King from taking the people’s riches.

One day he went to the palace to try and stop the nonsense. He started shouting to the King and Queen. “You cowards, come out now. You are so stupid. Come out now! I am not afraid of you!” he shouted to the King.

 “Who’s that? Whom do you think you are disturbing my beautiful dream,” the King shouted back.

 “Why, why do you hate your own people like this? Why! Can’t you work for yourself to get rich? People are suffering to get the riches you are taking. God said a man should work for food and wealth. If you are a King it doesn’t mean you can just have whatever you want,” shouted David.

“Who do you think you are, stupid boy,” said the King angrily.

The Queen who was also there said, “My husband, that boy is insulting you. He thinks that he can judge you. Deal with him.”

“I just wanted to say that one day  you will regret ever taking other people’s riches. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” said David, leaving the palace.

 “My husband, you should punish him,” said the Queen. Astonished by David’s brevity, the King asked David his name. and said, “David, I am throwing a bet. If anything doesn’t happen to me you will be killed and all the people you’re protecting will lose their properties.”

“Fine, if anything does happen to you, you will return everything to everyone with ten pieces of gold on top and give up your throne,” said David.

“Sure,” the King agreed.

David went back to his village and told everyone the news. “People, I did my best. I had a bet with the King. I am sure I will win and you will get back your riches with 10 gold pieces on top,” said David to his people. “What will happen to the King if he loses,” asked one man. “He will give up the throne,” answered David. “That’s great,” said another man. “Thank you, David,” said another.

“I told you I did my best. We all have to wait and see. We should also pray,” said David after a certain old woman said, “Thank you, David. If the King loses you shall be our King. We all promise.”  “Yes,” agreed all the people. “Please don’t mock me,” said David. “We are not mocking you David. It is very true. You will make a good leader,” said anther man. The people in the village prayed day and night for the King to lose.

The King continued to take people’s riches. One good day, when everyone was happy, the guards approached an old lady’s house. “Woman, give us your riches,” shouted one of the guards. “I have gold but I don’t want to give it to you,” said the old lady. “If you refuse we are going to get the King,” said the guard. The guards went back to the palace and told the King about the old lady. The king went to the old lady’s house. “Hey lady, give me the gold now,” shouted the King. “Never,” said the old lady. “You asked for it,” said the King. He went inside the house and searched but he could not find it. “You are so stubborn. Guard give me your whip, I want to whip this lady,” shouted the King. He whipped the old lady until she told him where the gold was. “How many pieces are they?” shouted the King. “Ten pieces,” said the old lady in pain. The King took the money and went back to the palace. “My wife we have got all the riches from the poor. Let me see if the old lady’s gold is real gold,” said the King happily. He opened the gold pieces. When he started counting them the pieces turned into ten snakes. They were cobras.

The King and Queen were bitten almost to death. The snakes turned back into coins and the King and Queen were rushed to the hospital. Luckily, they survived.

“My husband you lost the bet. What are we going to do? What did we do? You are so stupid. We are losing everything you fool!” said the Queen, embarrassed.

“It just happened by mistake,” said the King sadly. “What mistake? You are a silly fool. I told you but you wouldn’t listen!” shouted the Queen. “Its life my dear wife and everything changes,” said the King ashamed. “What is life, what changes? We are going to live in the village and we are losing everything,” said the Queen. “Sorry my dear,”  the King tried to console his wife but she was hard.

“You know what, my parents are still alive. They still want me. I am still a princess. I am no longer your wife. Tomorrow I am going back to my Kingdom. I am sorry. I am leaving,” said the Queen. And the Queen went to another Kingdom where her parents were and the King was left alone.

David and all the people came to the King’s palace. “Give us our money,” shouted the people. The King gave the people their riches and also gave up his throne. “I am here to say that David has the throne now. He is our King,” said an elderly man. “He is our King because he was willing to lose his life for all of us,” said the old lady. “He is brave,” said the elderly man. “Yes,” agreed all the people. “Thank you all,” said David.

David was crowned King. He married a girl called Mary and she was crowned Queen. People were so happy. David loved his people very much. David got a son from his wife and they lived happily.

(Copyright:Panashe Mushambi)

ZWA GOES TO MASVINGO

Press Release

The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) is having an outreach meeting on Saturday 1 December 2012 in Masvingo at the CHARLES AUSTIN THEARTRE'S DOUG HILL ROOM (Masvingo Civic Centre) at 9am to 1pm. Writers around Masvingo and the outlying areas are all invited.

Our outreach would take the shape of introductions of associations and individual writers, followed by an open exchange of problems, challenges, ideas etc as the basis of consultation. On our part, we shall introduce the idea of ZWA and its constitution to Masvingo and what we have managed to achieve so far and how beneficial it has been to writers. In other words, it is really an open ended occasion. We shall discuss the ZWA constitution and how those interested may join.

Our contact persons are Dr Shumirai Nyota 0772529014 and Dr. Jacob Mapara:0772387981. Membership fee is only $10.

We bring along a guest; writer Mashingaidze Gomo, whose NAMA-winning novel, A Fine Madness is currently on the Advanced level syllabus. Gomo has agreed to answer any questions on his book towards the end of the meeting. Teachers and their students who are reading this book for exams are welcome.

The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) is the newest nationally inclusive writers Organization whose formation started in July 2010 leading to the AGM of June 4, 2011. Zimbabwean writers have taken the initiative to coordinate themselves to form an organisation to represent them and defend their interests. ZWA was registered with the National Arts Council in January 2011 and has since been to Gweru, Bulawayo and Mutare.
 

+inserted by ZWA secretary, Tinashe Muchuri:0733843455

RHYTHMS OF TONGA DRUMS

Mulimu Wa Zimwayamakani

Ngu Rev. Jeffrey Muleya.

Zimwayamakani zyaangunukide, zitakwe muziyeme alubo zyendelezegwa muluzibo abusongo bwajulujulu zilayandika muchisi nkokuti chizwidilile oobotu.

Zimwayamakani ;

•  Zizibya bantu zintu zilikuchitikila kule ankubabede 
• Zilasungwaazya lusumpuko muzilawu, muzilikiti amuzisi. Chitondezyo chimwi ncheechi: nzimwayamakani zikonzya kuzibya manyika aatala abuvubi bujanika mulaamwi masena atazibinkene, kajisi bantu batkonzyi kulichitila. Aabo bakonzya bamvwa balasika bazobeleke ziyanda kuchita mpawo lusumpuko lwasika kubusena oobo. 
•  Zilagwaasizya kulibabaya balikuchikolo kakutalangwi kuti nchibeelaanzi. 
•  Nguwo mulonga mupati ngutukonzzya kubelesya kumwaya chiimo chesu kubatuba

Yoonse misyobo yazimwayamakani yeelede kusumpulwa – mapepamakani, zipekupeku azimwi zyeendela muluubi. Chimbi chipati cheelede kusungwaazigwa, kapati muchisi chabaSiya chaAfrica, tweelede kuvuzya bube bwazimwayamakani eezi muzilawu kuchitila kuti;

•  Boonse banichisi bulichimwi achimwi chazisi ajane mweenya wakuswiilizya kuwayigwa kwamilumbe kakutakwe buyumuyumu pe bweetelezegwa amayuwe ayangede nkaambo nkuzimwayila akulibamwi bantu kwalampisya. 
• Bantu beni babe achakuchita aatala amabambe aabubelesi bwamumo. 
• Milaka yesu yoonse ipegwe myeenya iyelene yakwaambuulwa akusumpulwa muzilawu amuzisi.

Kunkani yazyalusumpuko alwazyabuvubi luundu luyanda makani aanchobeni aatala azisambalilo antoomwe amilawu yafulumende mulizyamabbindawuko kuchitila kuti babambe antoomwe akuzwa amizeezo idontonkene. Zyeelede kujania munachisi woonse makani aamweelede amugwasya kuti azwe amizeezo ikonzya kumugwasya junza. Luundu lukonzya kumaninwa lusyomo kumabelekelo azimwayamakani antoomwe afulumende akugwasikana na twazyeenzya kabotu zyaleka kuba amasato.

Majwi ninguzu alubo, nkaambo kaboobo,  chimwi chiindi zimwayamakani mumasena asiyenesiyene nga zyeezya kukasyakasya na kulyatalyata nzila zyakumwaya makani aatede kuluundu. Eechi teensi nchibotu pe, pesi cheeta ntenda ntenda  zitamani pe. Luundu lutakwe luzibo lulimukakole katazwiki buuba pe.  Na kuti bamunichisi basowa lusyobo kububelesi bwazimwayamakani, nkokuti twasweekelwa. Majwi ninguzu, pesi eezi zikonzya kuba kasimpe luzutu majwi nakonzya kusaalila akusikila kunamunji.  Eezi tulazichita akuzwidilila na katuyanda mbuuli chisi. Ndalumba.

Ndilajatika a 0712 764 039 aa 0773 507 435 aalugwalomulilo: gracein5@yahoo.com

POETRY

Paradox To A Child
(How many mothers stay in abusive relationship for their children)

By Batsirai Chigama

There is something about
Harare in spring that reminds me
Of my mother
Harare in spring is...bellisma
Beautiful
She is fresh and regal
The smile of her Jacaranda bloom
Flirts with hope and new beginnings
Carrying the scent of promise
Telling yesterday’s barrenness
To take flight
At quarter past October
She wears the scarlet lipstick of flamboyance
Bold, daring
Enticing to the sojourners,
She wraps them in her charm
sends them home enthralled
Yet to me her resident
She shuts her door right in my face
Telling me not to get to used
to her beautiful ways
For soon like the purple bloom,
her smile will fall
Withered, sometimes downtrodden
I know a truth the sojourner doesn’t
Inside her Harare is wounded
She internally bleeds sewer
Down the throats of her children
Their faces wear a permanent frown
That cannot be undone.

I say this because
For too long ma,
You’ve worn a culture up your sleeve
thread-bare like seams
Hesitant thoughts and words
That never learn to crawl
Let alone take flight from your tongue
Beneath endless chores
You are buried
Only a chore-mover can dig you out
of a debris that strongly smells of pain
There in the depths of it, your beauty too
Fell and downtrodden has withered into
One big grin longing to curve into a smile

There are stories your pillows would tell
if they could
they would
tell
how many buckets of tears
have drowned them
how many buckets of tears have drowned you

The ceiling and walls quietly have grown ears
Tired of the insults hurled at you
In the middle of the night
Doors banging
His car start in the middle of the night
they can’t hold from us, your muffled cries
a deep sadness descends upon your shoulder
clings to your lonely silence
like the choking smell of burnt popcorn.
Desperation crouches under your tongue
seeking to be spit like morning sickness
it cannot be told, we feel it, we see it
for you recoil into self
Widening the distance between us
yet we know you endure all this
for us, Mimi and I

Can you believe
as young as she is she asked me
“Do you think dad would still love her
if we had not been born?”
I had wondered the same too
Would it make a difference
Because if it does
We would simply crawl back in your womb
Just to put that infectious smile on your face

If only you could
In this instance
Walk through that door
he knows to use so much
And never look back
You would know
We would still
Tug at the hem of your heart
Just to see that beautiful smile
We miss so much and
Like the Jacaranda bloom
We would hold you in our minds
A seasonal freshness
That permanently lingers
Like your love
If only you could
In this instance
Walk through that door
he knows to use so much
And never look back

Confessions of a Fly On The Wall

By Rudorwashe Kanukamwe (above)

They say I am the enemy

for I am the fly on the wall

but I see

I realize

the woman

in this one little room

has given in to her marriage.

The little room

of torture and tears

yet she walks in

she lies down

breast to the floor

while I, the fly

 rest and stretch my legs on the walls

She knows the minute of violence

When it comes

she raises her head

                                                            fatigue cracks her neck

the chorus of lamentation

reaches the children

whose questions receive no answers

but they see and they know

I, the fly, heard them talk.

His huge shadow grinds to nothing

 the children’s pride of family

She tries to hide it from them

the years of pain

but I, the fly,

know much of what she has gone

to call her my heroine

I, the fly,

 Will rip the wall apart for her freedom

ANSWERS & WINNERS

A few days ago we thought of having some fun by initiating a mini-competition where we ask questions about Zimbabwean writers and their works and give away book prizes. Well, we realize this shall go on in every newsletter.

The first question we asked was: what is the title of the Shona language novel that was first published in Zimbabwe and when was it published? Who wrote it?

We can openly say we didn’t get many responses via email but a few people chose to answer right on Facebook. No problem.

The answers we were looking for are: Feso, written by Prof Solomon Mutsvairo and published in 1956.

All answers we got were correct except for the year of publication. Feso was published in 1956 and not 1957, or 1963. And therefore our winner is….LAURA CHIWESHE!  She got every question correct. Laura, you win yourself a Write Idea book, check with us.

Our second question was: which anthology by Memory Chirere carries a story with a character Tadamuhwa and what’s the title of this story?

This was difficult, we can imagine, possibly because some of these books are not readily available to many young authors. We got no response for this question.  We are taking it off and replacing it without running away from Chirere.

Our next question is: 

Which book did Memory Chirere co-edit which tackles Charles Mungoshi’s works? Tell us the publisher and year of publication.

Email your answers to winzimbabwe@gmail.com 

PLEASE DON'T USE FACEBOOK, THANK YOU

Reading is Power!

***

WIN

 "unclipping wings of the imagination"