EDITORIAL
Mrs. Josephine Sithole Muganiwa
WIN Board Chair
Once
again we hope to find you well. We are half way through the year and a lot has
been happening. We hope that all those scripts you have been working on are
taking shape or going places. Already a number of artists have received awards
and raised the Zimbabwean flag. Congratulations to Mlalazi for the residence.
WIN is grateful t0 Theresa Makomborero Muchemwa for the book donation that will inspire
other writers. We appreciate all the work by various artists as you add your
brick in building the nation and capturing our experiences as Zimbabweans. Lastly, do not forget to enter our short story writing competition so that you gain a lot from our forthcoming workshop in August. Let
us keep writing!
MLALAZI
ON A WINNING STREAK
By WIN Staff Writer
Christopher Mlalazi
Christopher
Mlalazi’s streak of wins in his writing career is an inspiration to fellow
Zimbabwean writers.
The
Bulawayo-based writer has just been offered a creative writing residency at the
University Of Iowa in the USA called the International Writing Program (IWP)
which will run from August to November 2012.
This
latest offer adds to the last two residencies which Mlalazi obtained in 2010
and 2011 at Villa Aurora in Los Angeles as creative writing fellow and Nordic
Africa Institute in Sweden as Guest Writer.
In
America, Mlalazi will have an opportunity to write and give readings among
other activities, and also be part of the vibrant literary and academic
community of the University of Iowa.
The
University of Iowa is a major American research institution in Iowa City, which
is the only American city designated as a UNESCO City of Literature.
In
a press release, award-winning Mlalazi advised fellow Zimbabwean writers to
make use of online international writers’ networks to scout for opportunities. He also said one of the key
to getting residency offers is to be published as this is a powerful element in
any writers’ resume.
“If
writers want to access international opportunity the trick is to have a
published book or a stage play that has been produced. These are the tangible art products that one
can use as part of their CV. Then when one has the art product, you can search
on the internet for these residency opportunities. It also pays to be part of the international
writers’ network, and this one can only get by searching for these networks
online,” said Mlalazi.
Mlalazi
is a writer of ‘great frequency’ with a passion in short stories, plays and
novel writing.
In
2009, his short story anthology, Dancing
with Life: Tales from the Township (2008, Amabooks), won the Best First
Published Book at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA). The book went on to
receive Honourable Mention at the NOMA Award for Publishing in Africa.
His
second book Many Rivers (2009, Lion
Press Ltd) was shortlisted for the Outstanding Fiction Book at the NAMA Awards
in 2010.
His
stage play Election Day won the
Outstanding Theatrical Production at the NAMA Awards in 2010. Other plays
written by Mlalazi include Fesibhuku,
produced by Savanna Trust and The Dr Hokaspokas Show which will premier in
December this year and will be produced by Rooftop Productions.
His
short stories have been featured in anthologies such as Short Writings from
Bulawayo (in all its three versions), African Roar, and Long Time Coming: Short
Writings from Zimbabwe.
The
University of Iowa, which will host Mlalazi for four month, is America’s
premier centre for creative writing situated in the Iowa, a UNESCO-designated
City of Literature.
The
International Writing Program
(IWP) is a writing residency for international artists in Iowa City,
Iowa. Since its inception in 1967, the IWP has hosted over 1,100
emerging and established poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, and
journalists from more than 120 countries. Its primary goal is to introduce
talented writers to the writing community at the University of Iowa, and to provide for the
writers a period of optimal conditions for their creative work.
LOCAL
ARTIST DONATES BOOKS TO WIN
By WIN Staff Writer
All smiles: WIN Director Beaven Tapureta (L) with Theresa Makomborero Muchemwa holding books she donated to WIN at the Global Arts Trust office in Harare
Blessed be the hand that
gives, so goes the adage. And to add a few words, surely blessed be the hand
that gives what is necessary.
In support of the ongoing
campaign by WIN to inspire a reading culture and impart reading and writing
skills to the youth of Zimbabwe, Theresa Makomborero Muchemwa, a gifted script
writer, arts administrator and poet, last week donated 13 general books to the
organisation.
Muchemwa’s donation comes hard
on the heels of another book donation made to WIN by Zimbabwe Reads a month
ago.
Daughter of a well known poet, lecturer in English literature and media studies, Kizito Z Muchemwa, Theresa's act of kindness demonstrates that she is well aware of the
power of reading among the Zimbabweans, especially aspiring writers.
Her donation includes books
such as The Girl Who Can and Other
Stories by Ama Ata Aidoo, Girl with a
Pearl Earring (now a major film) by Tracy Chevalier, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu by Neshani Andreas, A Cowrie of Hope by Binwell Sinyangwe, My Fathers’ Daughter by Hannah Pool, Tomorrow’s People and Other Plays by
Raisedon Baya, Poems from the Persian
by J.C E Bowen, and others.
By extending a hand to WIN, Muchemwa
has joined WIN’s growing list of honorary patrons of in-house library that the organisation is building as part of its community outreach programme.
Previous
book donations have come from renowned author Virginia Phiri, motivational
writer Beatrice Sithole, and recently Zimbabwe Reads.
Born on in 1983 in Chirumanzu, Theresa needs no introduction in the
arts industry, mainly film sector. After high school in 2001 and two years of a
Media Studies programme she moved to Harare and took to writing and performance poetry. She joined Women Filmmakers
of Zimbabwe in 2007 where she worked in production to gain more experience and
exposure. She then moved to a production company Rooftop Promotions where she
was the film department coordinator.
Her play, Threads (2008), was staged
in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi to critical acclaim.
ARTISTS
CALL TO IMMORTALIZE
WALTER MUPARUTSA
By WIN Staff Writer
The late great actor, producer, writer, and promoter Walter Lambert Muparutsa
Artists
have called upon government, friends and arts organizations to come up with a
timeless honor for the late great actor, writer, producer and promoter Walter
Lambert Muparutsa whose contribution to the arts industry was overwhelming.
The
call was made during an open discussion at an event held late last month at the
new Book Café to commemorate the Life and Works of Muparutsa who passed on in
Harare in April this year after a battle with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Artists
and close friends of Muparutsa who participated in the event recommended that it is high time Zimbabwe honored
its departed artists by naming buildings or streets after them.
To immortalize Muparutsa's legacy, it was suggested that
fundraising be sought to build a 200-seater theatre which would be named after him.
Others
were of the opinion that a posthumous honorary degree should be bestowed upon
Muparutsa in honor of his passion to educate and mentor young artists, such a
passion that saw him launching the Global Arts Trust with the aim to create a
place where young artists can showcase their acting talents.
Muparutsa worked closely with universities such as
Africa University, Great Zimbabwe University and University of Zimbabwe in
their cultural programmes across the country.
However,
some artists recommended that the other way to immortalize Muparutsa’s legacy is to have an Award in his name at the National Arts Merit Awards which is
annually run by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Muparutsa's impact upon young artists was felt when they fought for the mic, each eager to speak one or two words about how Muparutsa cared for them during his time.
Main
speakers at this event included National Arts Council Director Elvas Mari,
Daves Guzha of Rooftop Promotions, Ray Mawerera, a Media and Communications
Consultant and Andrew Whaley, a playwright.
Each
of the speakers narrated how they met, worked and related to Muparutsa,
describing him as a dedicated, selfless artist and recalling certain incidents they shared together.
The
event, chaired by Peter Churu, was concluded by a screening of 5-minute clips from major films in which Muparutsa featured such as Everyone’s Child (1996), Yellow
Card (1999) and Playing Warriors
(2011).
Muparutsa’s
widow Sarah and family, veteran playwright Stephen Chifunyise, Culture Fund
Executive Director Farai Mupfunya, renowned writer Virginia Phiri, a large
number of young artists (men and women) who passed through Muparutsa’s mentoring hands, were part of
the remembrance event.
BOOK PIRACY A MAJOR 2012 ZIBF INDABA HIGHLIGHT
By WIN Staff Writer
This
year’s Zimbabwe International Book Fair Indaba Conference, scheduled to take
place on July 30 and 31, will be held in the context of book piracy. The entire Book Fair runs from July 30 to August 4, 2012.
This
was revealed by the Chairperson of the ZIBF Executive Board Musaemura Zimunya
at a press conference held on Thursday, June 7, at the ZIBF offices in Harare.
Piracy
in the arts sector has become a pain in the neck that has robbed artists of
their deserved rewards.
Minister of Education, Sport, Art and Culture David Coltart is expected to be this year’s Guest of honor while Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor Prof.
Ngwabi Bhebhe is expected to be the keynoter.
Zimunya
said the Indaba will every year have a book piracy & copyright component to
provide for full dissemination of latest information and deliberation over the rampant violation of
authors’ rights.
He urged writers to get involved in the fight against piracy.
Meanwhile, topics that are expected to be tackled at the Indaba include The Global Impact of African
Literature, Exile and Diaspora Literature of Africa, Gender, Literature and
Social Change Now, Land and Literature in Zimbabwe and Africa, The Digital
Divide and the African Child Reader, among others.
Zimunya said apart
from the usual events such as the Young Persons’ Indaba (August 1), Traders Day
(August 1), Book Fair exhibitions (August 2-4), Children’s Reading Tent (August
2-4) and the Writers Workshop on August 4, a new interesting
aspect has been added to Book Fair menu, that is, the creation of four key sections of IT
activities.
There
will be the Kids’ Zone for 2-11 year olds, the Youth Zone for 12-15 year olds,
the Digital Citizen Zone for adults with digital experience from school and
work, and the Digital Immigrant Zone which is for adults who were not exposed
to digital technology till recently in life.
Zimunya said this year's theme “African Literature in
the Global and Digital Era” locks into the prevailing mood of
digitization in the educational, literary, publishing, bookselling and
library sectors, including the civic and public sectors.
The
theme comes at a time when Zimbabwe has embarked on a national e-learning
campaign to empower the education sector with computers and internet skills.
Zimunya
said that the theme was inspired by an inspirational presentation done by Fungai
James Tichawangana, an ICT expert, last year at ZIBF Writers’ Workshop.
“It
was clear from that presentation and response by writers that ICT has become a
new world that needs to be explored by our writers,” said Zimunya.
He
also said that ZIBF plans to re-launch the Mutare Book Fair which is likely
to take place in September 2012, running along the same theme as the main Book
Fair.
Zimunya
was optimistic that the ZIBF was on course to reclaiming its glory as an
international book fair.
“Though
we may not be out of the woods yet, we, however, do believe that we have
reached a critical point where the leap to the next level as a truly
international book fair seems achievable, even inevitable,” he said, adding
that they have invited publishers and writers in the SADC region and beyond and
confirmation of their participation will be made soon.
ROTTERDAM GIG FOR ZIMBABWE'S FLOWCHYLD
(Article first published by The Zimbo Jam)
Cynthia Marangwanda aka Flowchyld
She
is known as FlowChyld in poetry and hip-hop circles. She is one of Zimbabwe’s
most tenacious spoken-word artists and slam poets and next week she represents
us all at the Poetry International Festival in Rotterdam.
FlowChyld,
known to her parents as Cynthia Marangwanda, identifies herself as a feminist
and creative activist and has become the darling of spoken word stages with her
confident, well-thought out and insightful poetry. (Read More...)
DILEMMA OF BOOK TITLE DUPLICATION
By WIN Staff Writer
Copyright legislation all over the world
generally stipulates that book titles, names or short phrases are insignificant
enough to be awarded copyright protection in their own right.
The aim of copyright is to promote and reward originality
and creativity.
However, book title duplication has happened in the past, is happening and will possibly continue to happen. In some instances, though, title duplication has caused a stir and in other instances the duplication has not proved to be an issue.
Last year, a much publicized case of title-fighting
occurred between Africa’s great writer Chinua Achebe and American star rapper and
actor 50 Cent over the title Things Fall
Apart.
Things Fall Apart
is the title of Achebe’s 1958 novel which undoubtedly has been one of the
greatest literary works to ever come from Africa. Despite a huge monetary offer
to hush Achebe, 50 Cent faced a legal challenge for using Things Fall Apart as the title of his new
film.
How honest Achebe was in this case remains a guess as
some copyright experts pointed out that Achebe borrowed the phrase ‘things fall
apart’ from WB Yeats poem called The
Second Coming.
Someone asked, “Did Yeats have to pay Jesus Christ for the use
of the phrase ‘the second coming’?”
As if to
confirm Achebe’s enchantment in coming up with titles that lure fellow artists worldwide, another author, Dr. Chido Matewa, wrote and
self-published a biography of his father Stephen Matewa titled Man of the People, the same title of
Achebe’s 1966 book A Man of the People.
Another example is an anthology edited by Jairos Kangira
titled
Creatures Great and Small,
obviously a title that had been popularized by an English writer James Alfred
Wight who used the pen name James Herriot.
Herriot’s book
All Creatures Great
and Small, published in the 70’s, was an astounding success, generating
numerous sequels, movies, and a
successful television adaptation.
The latest case of book title duplication is Shadows,
a
novella by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, published recently by Kushinda Publisher.
No doubt that memories that come to the minds of readers are that of
Chenjerai Hove’s 1991
book Shadows, published by Heinemann
(African Writers Series).
Given the continued instances of title duplication, could this
signal the need to trademark titles, that is, if titles can be trademarked?
According to a brochure published by World Intellectual
Property Organisation (WIPO), trademarks
are also used to protect a name or a brand image. A trademark is a distinctive
sign identifying certain goods or services as those produced or provided by a
specific person or enterprise.
The
problem with trademarks is that they apply within a specific trading sector and
their primary focus is on preventing a competitor from using the same product name
such as Coca-Cola, Colgate, Phillips, Sony, Apple, etc.
But
what happens if copyright was applied to book titles? For example (and this is only an example), what would
happen if the title of Virginia Phiri’s novel Desperate was copyrighted in its own right? This means that the use
of all derivatives of the word ‘desperate’ such as ‘desperately’, ‘desperation’
or ‘desperateness’ will be prohibited either in song or public performances or
in a document.
As
is known, copyright continue to apply for a certain legal period from the
author’s death and this would mean that no one else except Phiri will use the
word ‘desperate’ and all its derivatives for quite a long period. Furthermore,
the prohibition will apply across the world as copyright is universal.
The
above analysis clearly demonstrates why titles are not copyright material.
However, book title duplication is a sensitive issue and the blame is
always either placed on the editor or author or publisher of the book duplicating another title.
INTWASA
SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2012
The Intwasa Short Story Writing Competition is held in honor of the late gifted Zimbabwean author Yvonne Vera (pictured above)
Put your
writing talent to test.
Write a short story and have the chance of winning $500
The Intwasa Short Story Competition is an annual literary event seeking to
promote original creative writing talent in English. The winning story will be
awarded the Yvonne Vera Award which carries a $500 cash prize.
Rules:
§
There is no particular theme
§
Entries
must be written in English
§
Entries
should be previously unpublished
§
Only
one entry per person
§
All
work must be original
§
Entries
must be typed
§
Maximum
3000 words
§
The
competition is open to all Zimbabwe citizens and residents
§
Entries
must be submitted by July 31, 2012
§
Late
entries will not be accepted.
§
Only
the short-listed candidates will be personally notified
Send stories to Intwasa Short Story Competition, Office 403, 4th Floor, LAPF
House, Bulawayo or info.intwasa@gmail.com or info@intwasa.org
For enquiries, do not hesitate to contact:
Runyararo Cynthia Mutandi
Festival Administrator
Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo
Office 403, 4th Floor
LAPF House
8th Ave & J. Moyo St.
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe
Tel/Fax: +263 9 63928
Cell: +263 772 814 185
Website: www.intwasa.org
Email: info@intwasa.org
Alt. Email: info.intwasa@gmail.com
Blog: www.intwasa.blogspot.com
Skype: runyararo.cynthia.mutandi
"Bulawayo Blooming"
SHORT
STORY DAY AFRICA
Press Release
On Wednesday
20 June revel in a celebration of fiction’s short- yet perfectly- crafted form,
the short story.
Last year on June 21st, the
shortest day of the year, we invited you to participate in Short Story Day
South, a southern-African celebration of short fiction. This year on June 20th,
Short Story Day goes global with the launch of International Short Story Day
and Short Story Day Africa.
Short Story Day Africa aims to
highlight the outstanding fiction Africa has to offer. We encourage every one
of all ages and all genders to do something in honour of the short story. This
could be absolutely anything, from running a creative workshop or class, a
competition, making a short film or film adaptation of a short story,
organizing a spoken word night, a reading, an author appearance, a literary
salon, or simply picking up a short story and enjoying it, for maybe the first
or the hundredth time. Whatever it is you're doing, we want to hear about it!
Send us details of your event to info@shortstorydayafrica.org, a link to your website
(if applicable), and any images you have, and we'll put it on the brand new
Short Story Day Africa website, where you can also find short stories to read
and enjoy, short story recommendations, competitions, giveaways and more. Follow
us on Twitter @shortstoryAFR or Facebook Short Story Day Africa
What’s it all
about?
The concept, celebrating the
short story on the shortest day of the year, is borrowed from the pilot
project, National Short Story Day (www.nationalshortstoryday.co.uk), which
launched in the UK in October 2010 and concluded on 21 December (their shortest
day). The project grew organically using social networking tools (Facebook and
Twitter) and was a great success. Short Story Day South followed on 21 June 2011,
culminating in a series of events around the country, including the popular
Chain Gang Challenge. This year, the organizers of National Short Story Day and
Short Story Day South, decided to collaborate to create an international
celebration.
International Short Story Day
was born, with Short Story Day Africa focusing on African writing and writers.
Who can take
part?
Readers and writers of all ages,
teachers, students...YOU!
MORE NEWS FROM SHORT STORY DAY AFRICA
Dear
friends and supporters,
Short Story Day Africa has some fantastic news. We received
notification from SA Writers' College, specialists in writing tuition, that
they would be giving the winner of the YA Writing Competition a Creative Writing
Course for High School Students, valued at R2795. Please help us spread the
word to writers who can't legally drive. It's a fantastic opportunity for one
promising author.
http://shortstorydayafrica.org/?page_id=136
Under 12s can also win vouchers and books. Just for trying, we'll enter them
into a special draw.
http://shortstorydayafrica.org/?page_id=1266
And for those of you who can vote, you have until the 20th to enter our Win a
Workshop competition, brought to you by the facilitators of The Caine Prize for
African Writing workshop, Henrietta Rose-Innes and Jamal Mahjoub. An Exclusive
Books voucher, sponsored by Books Live, and copies of African Violet, the 2012
Caine Prize anthology, are also up for grabs.
http://shortstorydayafrica.org/?page_id=217
We haven't forgotten about those very imporatant readers either. From now until
Short Story Day, 20th June, we'll be giving away books. Every single day, more
than once. Follow us on Twitter @shortstoryAFR or LIKE our Facebook Page, Short
Story Day Africa, so you don't miss out.
Don't forget to keep checking our website for event updates and stories from
some of Africa's most talented writers, free for you to read and download. http://www.shortstorydayafrica.org
Best regards
The Short Story Day Africa Team
THE REGULAR WRITER
With Tinashe ‘Mutumwapavi’ Muchuri
Lack
of information in local languages a big problem
Paucity of information concerning local languages took center stage at the just ended
Zimbabwe Libraries Association 46th conference held in Kadoma this
May.
The
conference ran under the theme “Information Professionals at the Crossroads:
Opportunities for Change”.
Dr. Elizabeth Marunda, Principal Director,
Policy & Research – Ministry of Education, Art, Sports & Culture, who
was Guest of Honor, noted that there was lack of information produced in local
languages. She urged librarians to quickly find a way that allows those who are
not fluent in English to find the opportunity to present their views in their
local languages.
She
also spoke about teaching the children to write and read in the local
languages. She said this will encourage the future to read in our language and
also afford the children to access important information they can not find in
English.
Dr Marunda said this is another crossroad,
where very important information cannot be accessed by the present and the
future generations because the information is not written in local languages. Where are our writers, she asked. What is the
relationship between the writer, the teacher, the student and the librarian?
In
the fight to promote reading culture in schools the Ministry of Education,
Sport, Arts and Culture is encouraging schools to establish a reading corner in
each class. The reading corner will be a place where children in that class
will have a chance to read books that are not text books. She challenged librarians to research and help
produce books in local languages through collaboration with publishers and
authors to make relevant information accessible to the right consumers.
On
another note, she decried the rampant photocopying of books by schools and
universities. She spoke about creation of synergies among publishers, authors
and librarians so that this issue of information
piracy is dealt with vigorously. She said there is power in numbers and the
bigger the number the better the voice could be heard by policy makers. She did
not mince her words when she said that information professionals should not be fooled
that those in offices know the needs of the industry. She encouraged the
stakeholders in the information profession to engage the policy makers and
educate them about the importance of access to information to the nation. It is
here that librarians were tasked to have workshops that target policy makers so
that they will be aware of the importance of libraries in a society.
NGATINYOREI
Ndingariwanepi Dhora?
Pfungwa dzangu hadzisi pano.
Dziri kure chaiko. Kure zvokuti kufamba netsoka hausviki makumbo asati azvimba
nekutikama chete. Kure zvokuti ukafunga nezvako hana inorova.
Ndozvinomboita pfungwa
dzinogona kukusiya uchimhemhaira mumachinga enzvimbo dziri kuresa uchingofunga
zvisingapere. Ndiri kufunga, kufunga kuti kwandingawane dhora ndokupi. Hongu
mungaseke zvenyu muchinzwa sendinobvunza zvisina maturo. Asi zvedi
ndingariwanepiwo dhora!? Ehee ndiri kutsvaga dhora chairo , dhora chete kwete
maviri kana matatu. Ndiani zvake ane tsitsi angakwanise kundikweretesawo dhora?
Zvandinge ndiri kutaura ndega
zvangu, kushaya neakosora kuti hana imboti tivu kurova. Unenge uchitika pane
akosora uchanzwa woti –oo dhora racho asi udzosere handidi zvokuzorifambira.
Kutaura ndega chokwadi
ungaripihwe naani dhora chairo iye munhu aswera akakotama musana sehota
achisakura? Eheka anenge aswera achisakura kumunda murefu kwavaTaswerera.
Kunyangwe uchimuvimbisa munhu kuti unomudzorera nenguva chaiyo anombofunga
rutatu runa wozongoona woti dzungu dzungu musoro wake sembwa yadirwa mvura!
Wozongopedzisa nekutaura kuti haana,
zvataurwa kare nemusoro.
Ndirini pane nguva
yandinombonyatsoti dhuu kufunga ndiri zii zvangu sendisipo panyika pano.
Ukandiona ndichinyemwerera usambogaya kuti kufara nekukuona kwandaita kwete!
Aaa imi , ini here? Pamwe ndinenge ndisingambokuoni mumaziso umu
ndichinyemwerera zvangu zvandinenge ndichifunga zvangu panguva iyi.
Asi ari ani zvake waunoti uri
kutsvagawo dhora akakunzwa? Mumwe anobva atarisa zvake rutivi wotanga
kutsvororidza kamuridzo kake sepasina zvaanzwa. Pamwe unoona munhu achikutarisa
kubvira kutsoka achikwira newe kusvika kumusoro chaiwo. Apa anenge
achikunan’anidza sezvinonzi anoona chimwe chiro chitsva chaasati ambosangana
nacho mumaziso make. Kukutarisa sezvinonzi zvawataura hazvitaurwe nemunhu
mupenyu. Newewo iyi ndiyo nguwa yaunotangawo kuzvinan’anidzawo uchibvira
kutsoka dzako dzizere naman’a! Tsoka
dzisingazive hwasho kana mapatapata hawo!
Asi ndiani angandipewo dhora
vakomana? Dhora chairo ndiro randiri kutsvaga. Mhai vanondinyima ava Havana
basa nazvo zvokuti tinomboswerawo kwavaTaswerera tichirishandira dhora kusvika
zuva rati nzvoti muna mai waro kunyura. Patinotambiriswa mari yacho ndirini
ndinonoipa mhai kuti vachengete. Handingati vanondichengetera nokuti dai
vaindichengetera vaizondipa yawanda. Zvino apa inenge isiri yangu asi yawo mhai
semunhu mukuru. Ndizvo saka vasingazondipi
kuti ndigare nayo kana kuti nditengewo zvandinoda nayo ini nyakuishandira wacho.
Pose pavanondipa mari kuti
ndiende nayo kumagirosa kana kuchigayo vanonyatsoiverenga. Vanoti nditenge
zvavanoda kwete zvandinodawo. Vanonyatsocherechedza mari yandinenge ndadzoka
nayo. Mumwe musi ndakamboisa mashereni mashanu mukahomwe kandaifungidzira kuti
havakazive. Pandakavapa mari yandaiti ndiyo yaive yasara vakaramba
vakatambanudza ruoko rwavo rwerudyi. Ndakazoona woverengazve mari iye rwepiri
ndikabva ndaziva kuti chabhiridha.
Ndakanzwa woti, ‘Rungano
zvemasaramusi ndozvandisingadi manje. Homwe dzako dzava kudya mari here idzi?
Ko imwe mari iri kupi apa?’ Ndakamboda kutsika tsika asi matarisiro ayo
vaindiita vaitoita sevari kuiona pandaiti ndakaviga pacho.
‘Mashereni mashanu
haangarasikizve kudaro kunyeba uku, buritsa tione apa!’
Zvose zvandaive ndatoronga
nayo zvakabva zvati pasi pwatara!!
Vakanyemwerera pandakavatambidza
ndichiiburitsa mukahomwe kaye. Kubva musi uyu ndakabva ndaziva nokubvuma kuti
kunyangwe zvazvo mari iyi ndiriniwo ndinomboifondokera kumaricho haisi yangu!
Ehee ndinoishandira zvangu nguva nenguva
asi yagara haizi yangu iyi. Mari ine varidzi vayo vanoitonga kunyangwe iri
shoma zvakadii mari imari chete.
Mhai nenguva dziri kure nakure
vanotitengera zvipfeko zvavanofunga kuti ndizvo zvatinofarira. Kuda nokusazvida
tinongotambira tichinyemwerera. Ko handiti tiri vana wavo saka ndivozve
vanoziva zvatinofarira nokusafarira.
Dai vaisaziva zvatinoda
handiti vaitibvunza?
Asi ndiani hake ane moyo
munyoro, moyo wakachena sewegwayana kuti weke, moyo wakanaka uzere norudo
nenyasha andipewo zvake dhora? Ndiro dhora randichiri kutsvaga. Dhora chete
chete. Dhora rokuti nditengerewo Mavambo chinwiwa kana mabhanzi maviri hawo.
Imi woye dhora rokuti
ndimutengerewo machingamu ekuti apotewo achitsenga pandinenge ndichitaura naye.
Kwete zvokutsenga uswa kana twumiti. Ndomutengera machingamu kutika paanotsenga
atsenge achiziva nokuyeuka kuti ndinomuda. Ehee aripo here angandiwanirewo
dhora zvaro nditengerewo Mavambo musikana wandinoda zvandinofunga kuti
ndozvaanoda!
Kana ndimiwo mungafare here
kuona musikana wamunoda achitsenga rwodzi iwe uripo? Musikana waunoda kutsenga
rwodzi rwunoomesa shaya iwo mabhisikiti akapfava uye anonhuwirira akashonga
masherefu emuzvitoro samaruva anoyevedza ayo unongoyeva kasingaperi aripo!
Dai pakava neangandipewo dhora
kani vanhuwe zvichida Mavambo angazondiudzewo zvaanoramba akaviga pasi pemoyo
wake kuti anondidawo.
CALL FOR POEMS
Here is a great
opportunity for your work to be published among the works of other established
poets and up and coming ones. The book which will be entitled ‘Poetic Dawn in
Zimbabwe’ will be a compilation of many poems by poets handpicked from our very
own Zimbabwe.
Your name and your poem will feature in the book. This book is a good
opportunity for Zimbabwe to showcase its poetic talent, be part of the team of
poets that raise the proud banner of Zimbabwe. Your opportunity is knocking -
take it
***Important Important Important***
Even if your work is chosen, the books are NOT free. Featured poets can
purchase the books at a discounted price of $8, while all other readers
purchase them at $10.
The money made from the proceeds will help facilitate for other poets to also
get their work published, so the money is sowed right back into the books.
All entries should be in by June 30 2012.
Rules
* All work MUST be 100% original, no copyrighting, plagiarizing or duplication
of someone else’s work
* All poets must be Zimbabwean
* No politically inclined work
* No work/poems should be over 2 pages long
* Be sure to put your name on all your work and number your pages
You can email your 2 poems to pdizim@gmail.com (remember to put your full name,
title of the poem, address and phone number in the email)
(From Poetic Dawn in Zimbabwe Facebook Page)
POETICAL DRUMS
Mwana Iyeye Rumbi Ndinomuda
Na Elijah
Mahwamba, Budiriro
(Photo: Tinashe Muchuri)
Mwana iyeye
ndinomuda
Ingirozi zvayo
Kana mudziva
rinengwena ndinopinda
Dzvokorai zvenyu neziso
reropa vavengi
Ini pandakaruma
ndakaruma chete
Mwana wepi munyoro
nyoro senyanza
Asina kana
negakava
Rudo rwake
rwunondipa ushingi
Akanditi nde-e
achinyemwerera ndinombodzungaira
Pfungwa dzangu
dzose dzinombotiza
Kunyangwe
mucharima akanditi mbunde-e
Kunomboti mbe-e
mbe-e kuchena
Vegodo neshanje
siyanai nesu
Nhasi munomuti
pfambi
Ndava nokuti
tadanana!
Woti unomuda ndava
tadanana!
Ndini here
ndakaita kuti midzimu yenyu ishone ngonono
Ichikuonesai
chipukandipemwenje shavi ramututa tsvina?
Kana ndimiwo amai
Munoti muroora
handiye wamunoda
Muchiti kumusha
kwavo kune makonzo
Ehe, chinzwai amai
Hakuna musha usina
gonzo
Ndingaripa zvangu
nechekaukama pane kuteererai
Kana makati mberi
kune rufu
Regai zvangu ndife
ndimufire
Mwana iyeye
ndinomuda
Kana ndimiwo tete
Doringai
mufananidzo wake
Mhenya, ngirosi
yedenga inogara panyika
Doringisai muone
chimiro chake,
Chitipuramoyo tete!
Mwana iyeye
ndinomuda
Kana akati
ndinanzve pasi petsoka dzake
Idi ndinonanzva
Kana akati
ndirarosvetuka svetuka usiku hwose kumufadza
Idi handineti
Kana akati
ndicheme ndisina kumborohwa
Idi mhere
ndinoiridza
Kana zvakanzi
nhingi afa
Chero ndiina Rumbi
ndinoti munhu iyeye mupenyu
Runako rwake
rwunondibata uranda
Ndongoita chero
chipi zvacho
Rumbi, ah, mwana
iyeye ndinomuda mufunge.
REMEMBER THAT
"Writers are the surgeons of society"