EDITORIAL
Beaven Tapureta
WIN Founder & Director
I welcome you in the name of writing. We are every month moving from one writers' event to another and it is always good to be with others who share the same interest. Check the dates and places and make sure you are there. The value of meeting other writers lies in the information exchanged, networks created and opportunities shared. We welcome Tsitsi Nomsa Ngwenya, our new Ndebele columnist (Khasibhaleni). Please enjoy!
WRITERS URGED TO DO THINGS THAT BUY TIME TO WRITE
By Beaven Tapureta
Shimmer Chinodya (above) and Chiedza Musengezi (below) were the main presenters at the ZWA Writers' Meeting on July 7, 2012
Chiedza Musengezi
Renowned and prolific novelist, poet, textbook and script writer Shimmer Chinodya has urged fellow writers to engage in writing activities that buy them time to write.
Speaking last week at a writers’ meeting held at the British Council, Chinodya said he would not have made it had he concentrated on fiction only.
The award winning author stressed the importance of educational writing as another route to a successful writing life because it has power to shape the minds of students across the world.
Chinodya said textbook writing, which demands discipline and which he has successfully tackled over the past years, has helped him connect non-fiction and fiction and it paid off.
“I enjoy doing this. I feel I am educating millions of children,” he said.
Chinodya’s textbooks such as the Step Ahead: New Secondary School English Course English series in which he said he employs a literature-based approach are being studied by thousands of students across the SADC region.
The textbooks have been in schools since 1992.
“When you write textbooks, you are still a teacher, the supreme teacher and this is how I feel today,” the veteran educationist said.
Narrating how he became a writer, he said he was already writing poems when he was in Grade Five although he knew he was going to be a teacher and writer.
Chinodya said writing, during his teenage years, was like an act of self-empowerment or making up for a certain inferiority complex.
“I was small, skinny and shy,” he said.
In 1971, while doing Form One, he published his first work. From then onwards, he said he was drawn towards teaching although he was artistic.
The Two Tone magazine which published poetry by young writers at the then University of Rhodesia introduced him and other writers such as Dambudzo Marechera, Kizito Muchemwa and Stanley Nyamfukudza to the world of literature which he pursued through and through.
And still, the teacher inside him pushed him to take up a post-graduate teaching course.
Chinodya, who to date has written about 40 textbooks, said it is only these days that people look down upon the teaching profession.
“During our days we used to read around the world and this strengthened our literary background,” said Chinodya who however acknowledged that textbook writing in his time was easy as compared to today as the educational ideology has been made to look vague.
A clear educational ideology is important in every country, said Chinodya, as it guides textbook writers in understanding the culture and vision of the country they are writing for.
Chinodya said yes he has been hurt and disappointed but professionally he has led a happy life. No doubt this happy life has been an inspiration to other writers in Zimbabwe as well. He challenged writers to give themselves totally to writing.
Asked by fellow writer Aaron Chiundura Moyo how he has coped with drinking as a writer, Chinodya said now it’s better and he’s sobering. He encouraged other artists to desist from the habit.
“At fifty, I am sobering. But there’s a natural drunkenness in me. I love people, I love to talk,” he said.
Another well known writer and editor, Chiedza Musengezi, concurred with Chinodya on the need for writers to explore different kinds of writing.
“Explore and expand writing skills to cover several things such as places. Give ordinary things some value through writing,” she said.
Musengezi told writers that there are lots of writing genres apart from poems and stories, such as nature writing which involves writing about places.
“If we do not recognize places in our country no one will do it for us. Nature writing links us to our land. This genre is gaining importance in Europe,” said Musengezi.
As a woman writer, she said she is driven by the need to restore women’s voices in the public spheres.
She said for women to be taken seriously, they have to be discussed at the highest level and this is what she wants women voices to be because their experiences contribute to the nation’s history.
Musengezi, who has published poems in Shona and stories in English, has been an editor for a long time and she said editing, which entails choosing a manuscript and editing it, is a huge responsibility and it is not a one-man show.
She said an editor bridges the gap when crucial texts are absent and this, she said, means that an editor has to ‘create’ a manuscript.
A founding member of Zimbabwe Women Writers, Musengezi showed writers publications which she co-edited such as Women Writing Africa The Southern Region (Feminist Press, New York, 2003), a project which dug up African female voices which had lain long in the archives dating back to 1904. 'A Tragedy of Lives: Women in Prison in Zimbabwe' (2003), another book she co-edited and published by Weaver Press, exposed experiences of women in the prisons of Zimbabwe. Musengezi also co-edited Women of Resilience: The Voices of Women Ex-Combatants (Zimbabwe Women Writers, Harare, 2000).
She also worked for the Baobab Books as editorial manager. Baobab Books published children's and young adults' literature and school textbooks.
In as much as local writing has developed over the years, she condemned the unavailability of textbooks at tertiary level written by Zimbabweans.
“We must develop our own material for our students,” she said.
A short break of poetry saw David Mungoshi rendering his favourite called An Old Song which he said is originally in Hebrew. Ndebele writer and poet Jerry Zondo later did a closing poem that suited the purpose of the meeting called ‘Vabhali’.
The meeting was the fourth of ZWA’s interactive bimonthly meetings which it is organizing under a common theme ‘How I create’. The meetings are a platform for different artists to discuss how their creative processes work. However, the July 7 meeting was held under the topic ‘Balancing Creative Writing and Textbook Writing’ as it focused on writers who double as fiction and non-fiction authors.
ZWA Board Chair, Musaemura Zimunya, said apart from these meetings, his association is preparing for the Bulawayo and Mutare outreaches. ZWA’s Gweru outreach held few months ago went very well.
On another note, Zimunya encouraged writers to attend this year’s ZIBF Writers Workshop which will be held under the topic ‘Beyond the Script’, saying this is an occasion for writers to engage publishers, editors, book reviewers, for they influence the way writers’ products are received by the public.
IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN
ZIBF 2012
ZIBF 2012
MAIN BOOK FAIR 2012
THEME : “African Literature In The Global & Digital Era”
ZIBFA invites all interested parties to participate in the special six-day event as follows:
“EXHIBITION” Venue: Harare Gardens, Julius Nyerere Way
ADMISSION FREE!!! to the Exhibition
Dates: 01 August 2012: Open to Traders Only
02 August – 04 August 2012: Open to Students and The Public
Time: 1000 – 1700hrs
“INDABA CONFERENCE” Venue: Crowne Plaza Hotel :
By Registration
By Registration
Day 1: 30 July 2012 0815 - 1700hrs
Ø African Literature and Criticism……………………….…………………..
Ø African Literature and Digitisation..………………………………………..
Day 2: 31 July 2012 0830 - 1700hrs
Ø Identity and Literature In Africa. ………………………...............................
Ø Copyright, Access To Books and Piracy In Africa ……................................
Ø The Threat of Globalisation To African Culture and Languages..……….
‘Young Persons Indaba’!! Creativity In The Digital Era
Date: 01 August 2012 By Registration
0830 - 1630hrs at Crowne Plaza Hotel
‘Writers Workshop’!! Beyond the Script: The Writer, The Publisher and the Critics
Date: 04 August 2012
By Invitation
By Invitation
If you wish to participate please register for the workshops by 19 July to avoid disappointment!!
LIVE LITERATURE, MEET THE AUTHOR & CHILDREN’S READING TENT
1000 - 1600hrs 02 August – 04 August 2012 ADMISSION FREE!!!
IT’S SOMETHING WORTH YOUR WHILE! DON’T MISS OUT!
For further details contact us at ZIBFA on: 04 702104, 704112, 702108, 702129
SCRIPTWRITING: PART ONE
Just like molding pottery or carving a stone, scriptwriting is so much fun because you get to create a world of your own and add flesh to your own words. It involves hard work because you have to research on the subject matter you would have picked and it also requires your own thinking which reminds me that “unless you say something of your own, you are not an artist!”. Basically, there are two types of scriptwriting, that is, one for the stage and another for the camera however, in this issue I will just look at the basics in scriptwriting.
Firstly, a script writer does not deal with a storyline or characters, but handles conflict. It can be defined as the fundamental struggle or imbalances involving ideologies, actions, personalities to mention but a few. Without conflict a story operates without structure and characters exist without purpose and dialogue is spoken without effect. So conflict addresses the ‘what’ of the story. For example, a writer must ask him/herself what the characters are fighting over in order to engage in story exploration. Thus conflict is very vital.
Characters are the people that live in the world of the story and they happen to be your creations. Although they are your own creations, they have to be realistic. A person’s character is made up of the three-dimensionality, that is, the physical, psychological and sociological attributes. These three affect and influence each other in such a way that a person’s character is made up. Hence in your creations these are some of the things that should be included.
It should be pointed out that the driving force in any given work or fiction is the dark shades which the script contains. These dark shades resemble the underlying story points that any given script works to reveal truth to an audience. Therefore, the art of writing is possessed within the art of withholding information. A writer must be able to manage the information that they give out in order to sustain the interests within the audience.
Moreover, the plot of the story is also vital in scriptwriting. The plot of the story is basically the arrangement of action designed to tell a story. A good plot is filled with dozens of actions, performed by characters with needs and wants and this creates the “cause and effect” as the other characters will create further actions in their endeavors to overcome obstacles or create obstacles.
Dialogue is also crucial because this is what gets the characters going. So neat dialogue where characters wait for each other to finish speaking and exhaust a certain topic before moving to another is a no-no because in reality that is not what happens. Language also contains the rules of thinking so you have to be very cautious about your language/diction. Moreso, setting should not be forgotten as this prepares the mood for the action so one has to bear in mind the place of action.
Let’s meet in the next issue for the second part of this discussion. Should you have comments or contributions, do not hesitate to send them.
THE REGULAR WRITER
with
with
Tinashe Muchuri
Exclusive Interview with Botswana's Leshie Lovesong
LESEGO NSWAHU NCHUNGA
aka ‘LESHIE LOVESONG’
Lesego Nchunga (LN) is a 23 year old Motswana poet, born and raised in the city of Gaborone, but her clan is from Kavimba, a village in the Northern District of Chobe. Performance art has always been her passion, especially spoken word poetry. Below is an exclusive interview she had with The Regular Writer (TM).
TM: In 2007 you were regarded as the youngest talented poet to watch out for in the near future in Botswana, do you think you have kept that momentum?
LNN: I am no longer the ‘youngest poet’. However I believe that my progress in the way I write and perform my poetry is reason enough to keep your eye on me. It is safe to say I have grown, and change comes daily. The most exciting thing about being a growing artist, and perhaps generally is the liberty or freedom to try out new things as often as possible.
TM: In 2010, you took part in the SADC Poetry Festival, do you think these platforms are beneficial?
LNN: The SADC Poetry Festival introduced me to people within the region who have made their passion a movement. People who do not just perform, or create and display their artwork, but most who make a livelihood out of it. I was encouraged to believe that there is life in the art after all. In fact, the greatest gift I got from the Festival was the eye opener that collaborations in art don’t necessarily have to be limited to the groups from which the art forms fare. That a form of vocal art can be paired with a form of visual art to produce an extraordinary artful fusion was an experience I wish to share with other artists. It’s like a meeting of two senses. What you hear reflecting what you see!!!
TM: What's the latest that has happened to you after the SADC Poetry Festival, that you want to share with readers?
LNN: Since 2010, besides corporate performances, I have traveled to Luanda, Angola and Rundu, Namibia, primarily as an actress, but I got the opportunity to enhance the scripts from which we were acting by incorporating poetry in them. In both places, I performed the poetry accompanied by theatrics enacted by other performances. I have since explored the magnificence of collaboration of different art forms.
TM: Have you produced anything so far like an album?
LNN: I have not yet produced any albums on my own. I have however taken part in production of two audio anthologies called Dreaming Is A Gift For Me and Awakening. The first is a non-musical poetry anthology produced under SAUTI Arts and Performance Management, and it showcases twelve Batswana poets. The latter is a collection of six feel good poems, which can also be called ‘Affirmations’, the main idea being to heighten the perceptions we have of ourselves and our actions daily, in an effort to send out positivity, under the themes of Relationships, Health, Wealth, and others.
TM: How is poetry appreciated in Botswana?
LNN: The appreciation for poetry is growing and changing in Botswana. Initially, it was more for the individual art lovers. However with the emergence of more poetry groups around, organizations have been forced to pay attention and this has elevated the poetry industry to a level, almost close to that of the music industry.
TM: What do you think makes you different from other poets?
LNN: We all have very different stories to tell. And even where our stories overlap, the way we tell them are different. I am an abstract speaker, in my narrations. Others are storytellers. You will know my performance by not just my voice, but my use of grammar, intonation and phrasing, which is different from most other poets in Botswana. Also, and most distinctly, you will very rarely see me on stage without hearing me heavily accessorize my poetry with singing. I am both a singer, and poet, and I feel together, the combination sets me apart.
TM: What do you think about poetry in Botswana and Africa as the whole?
LNN: I think there is a continued uprising in poetry as an art form. We are becoming aggressive in taking our stage. That will definitely immortalize poetry. We are distinguishing ourselves from other forms of performance arts. Eventually, more poets will be able to live off the craft.
TM: Who is your inspiration?
LNN: Internationally, I love the work of Sarah Kay. The complaint people usually have about poetry is that it sounds complicated, and it’s not easy enough to understand. Her work is simple, humourous and tells stories which are fun. She is young, and she speaks of things close to her heart. For that reason, I am drawn to her. Also, I love Ezekiel from the PFCM group! His work is intense and challenging, spiritually. Locally, Mandisa Mabuthoe’s work reminds me of Laura Beuke’s book Zoo City. Abstract work pushes the mental boundaries and inclines you to think out of the box! In fact to throw the box away! The work of TJ Dema also appeals to me. She is a story teller, and she has carved out a path for not only herself but many others who will come after her. The young poets in the industry in Botswana are also inspiring. Their tireless pursuit of ‘the word’ even if it means sitting out in the rain on an Tuesday evening, at a local café, just so they hear what the mic has for them is moving, to say the least.
Outside the poetry industry, I read a lot of African literature, which also plays a big part in my artwork. The works of Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie, Kopano Matlwa, Wame Molefhe, and Pentina Gappah are some of those which have inspired my work in many ways.
TM: What issues do you discuss in your poetry?
LNN: For the longest time, I did what I call entertainment poetry. I wasn’t really addressing any issues directly or intentionally. Occasionally, I would write about social ills and degradation or of women in society. Recently however, I encountered nature as a person, and she stole my heart. I was struck by the realization that as human beings, we have become so consumed in ourselves, and bettering our own interests, that we ignore our surroundings, and the other species which exists around us, in so far as it is convenient for us. For as long as we do this, our lives will continue to depreciate in substance and in value. If we don’t respect nature and the other beings which co-exist with us on earth, they too will rebel against us. There’s enough space for each of us to be, without further deteriorating the little that is left. Being selfish is what has ended us up with a tattered ozone layer, and a handful of rhinos left. How much more do we honestly want to destroy until we finally wake up to the reality that what is important is a compromise, and quite frankly, for too long, humans have been taking, taking, taking and not giving back a fraction of what we have taken. So this has become a prominent theme in my poetry lately. The appreciation of other beings.
TM: Does your family appreciate your performing career?
LNN: My family is VERY supportive of my career as a performer. Although I am a lawyer by profession, it is obvious that art is my first love. My parents have never discouraged me from anything performance art related. Their guidance has always been in the direction of my treasures. I was raised to harness, hone and explore my talents, especially in the arts. In fact, if you ask my mother, she will tell you that she believes I should have already published my first book by now. She knew I was an artist before even I did. So it is easier for me to be an artist with their support.
TM: What else would you want to tell the readers and all your followers out there?
LNN: I would like everyone to keep the art alive. It’s up to each of us support this industry. Your support is truly meaningful; whether it is buying a CD instead of writing it, funding, or even being an audience member and admirer, you make the difference. Eventually, with our combined efforts, we will make the performance industry a prominent industry.
LNN: I would like everyone to keep the art alive. It’s up to each of us support this industry. Your support is truly meaningful; whether it is buying a CD instead of writing it, funding, or even being an audience member and admirer, you make the difference. Eventually, with our combined efforts, we will make the performance industry a prominent industry.
As far as Leshie Lovesong is concerned, before the lapse of 18months, I will certainly deliver an offering. Thank you very much for the encouragement and keep believing in us poets.
NGATINYOREI
Na Clever S Kavenga
Rwendo Rwangu Mukunyora Shona
Kana wafunga zvokunyora rwendo rwunotoda kusunga dzichisimba nokuti vazhinji vanongogumira munzira. Handiti rwendo rwemunyori unototi wasvika wavemo kana zvinyorwa zvadhindwa mumabhuku kana mumapepanhau kana ma “magazine”. Zvino kana uri munyori anonyora ne Shona zvinotoda kutowana. Chokutanga vazhinji vakanzwa kuti uri munyori vanongofunga kuti unoyora neChirungu sezvo Chirungu chiricho chinonyanyotariswa nevakawanda nevanoda kana kuti vane chipo chekunyora. Neniwo wacho ndakatanga nekunyorawo nechirungu mazuva angu ndiri pachikoro. Idzi inhetembo dzakabudiswa neParade Magazine dzakaita sa No Peace, No Hope, na Tell Me My Dear Africa. Kwaive kufamba murwendo rwangu rwekunyora. Nhetembo dzeChishona ndaive nadzo asi hapana kwekudziendesa kwandaiziva. Ma “magazine” ose aiburitswa panguva iyi akaita se Moto, Parade ne Horizon aingoburitsa zvinyorwa zvavo neChirungu.
Pandakazoonana navamwe vanyori tichipanana mazano ndipowo pakatanga kuona zvinyorwa zvangu zveShona mukana. Zvinyorwa zvangu zvakazoonekwawo zvichibuda muTsotso, ka magazine kaiburitsa zvinyorwa zvevachiri kusimukira. VaIgnatius Mabasa, anova munyori mukuru nhasi, vakaonawo zvinyorwa zvangu vakazondipawo mukana wokuti ndinyorewo mu ‘column’ yavo mupepa reKwayedza yainzi, “Tamba mwana Tamba”. Zvinyorwa zvangu zvakatanga kudzika midzi mumutauro we Chishona. Hongu ndaibhadharwa asi mari handiyo yakandikwezva kuti ndive Munyori. Chakatanga chipo icho ndinogara ndichipa kutenda kunamai vangu vakashaya. Takakura vachititaurira ngano munguva apo vaive vapedza kupupura. Izvi zvakapa kuti ndive noudaka hwokunyora zvinyorwa zvangu.
Hongu zvinyorwa zvangu zvaive zvoburitswawo muma magazine asi ndaive ndisati ndasvika. Shungu dzaive dzekuti ndiburitsewo zvinyorwa zvangu mumabhuku. Ma Publishing Houses aitoita sevanhu vemunhu mumwe. Pamwe vaidzorera zvinyorwa vachiti zvinoda kugadzirwa kana kuti zvinyorwa zvakanaka chose asi havana hurongwa hwekuburitsa mabhuku ezvinyorwa zvengano kana nhetembo mukati memakore anotevera. Apa ndaitomboti zvekunyora izvi regai ndisiyane navo. Asi hazvaitora mazuva ndaierekana ndabatazve zvinyoreso nemapepa. Chinhu chaiitika kuti ndirambe ndichinyora kusangana kwandaigaroita nevamwewo vanyori tichikurudzirana. Hongu panoitwa chiro pose panoda vanookera nokuti ndiwo vanopa manyukunyuku kune vanenge vari mudariro.
Mugore ra1997 ndakazoitawo mhanza nhetembo dzangu pfumbamwe dzikasarudzwawo kupinda mubhuku rinonzi “Ngoma Yokwedu” iro rakatsikiswa nemusangano wevanyori vachirikusimukira wainzi BWAZ. Apa kana neniwo ndakabva ndaziva kuti murwendo rwangu rwokunyora ndavakusvika. Zvino watombova nezvinyorwa zvakaburitswa mubhuku unenge wofunga kuti nezvinyorwa zvauchazonyora inenge yangove nyore. Zvino munyaya dzokunyora hazvidaro. Apa ndipo unosangana nezvigutswa zvakatiwandei munzira, uchigumburwa nematombo zvakanyanya. Vamwe vanoziva vanoti kana uchida kuva munyori verengawo mabasa anonyorwa nevamwewo vanyori. Ndakazosangana nerimwe bhuku renyaya dzevana vadiki. Ndakafarira musoro wenyaya yacho ndokutenga bhuru iri. Ndakazoonawo kuti vakaburitsa bhuku iri vaive vatsva ndikati neniwo regai ndiedzewo mhanza. Semunhu aive nengano dzevechidiki dzakati wandei ndakadziunganidza ndokutumira kukambani yemabhuku iyi. Nekufamba kwenguva vakazondiudza kuti vaive vafarira imwe yengano dzandaive ndatumira. Mashiripiti Edehwe raRungano rakazova bhuku rakaburitswa mugore ra2007. Muna 2008 bhuku iri rakasarudzwa kuva rimwe raikwikwidza mumakwikwi e NAMA (National Arts Merit Awards). Mugore iri zvakare rakazosarudzwazve kuva ndiro “The Best Childrens’ Book” neve Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association.
Semunhu aingogara achinyora zvinyorwa nguva nenguva ndakazoendawo kune rimwe ramapepa anobuda muguta reMutare. Pandakazoudza Editor wacho kuti ndirikutsvagawo basa rokuva “columnist” mupepa ravo akati ndimupe zvinyorwa zvacho. Paakazviona zviri zveChishona akandidzora achiti aifunga kuti zvaive zveChirungu. Mukuru uyu akati kare vaimbova nepeji raive rakamirira zvinyorwa zveShona asi vakaribvisa nokuti hapana vanyori vaifarira kunyora neShona.
Ndavakubuda muhofisi umu imwe pfungwa yakandishanyira ndokudzokazve kuna Editor vaye ndichitambidza mapepa aye aive netwunyaya twangu. Ndakati vanoverenga zvavo vari kumba kwavo. Vakaatambira vachibvuma chikumbiro changu . Mushure memazuva mashomanana vakazondifonera vachiti vaida kundiona. Ndakaendako ndokusvikogamuchirwa nemashoko aifadza ekuti ndaive ndawana mukana wokuva “columnist” wavo; peji riya reChishona rakabva radzokazve mupepa nhau iri. Muna 2010 column iyoyi yakazosarudzwazve kupinda muma NAMA. Gore rinotevera yakava inodomwazve pama “special mention e NAMA” zvakare.
Urwu rwendo harusati rwapera. Ndinoziva kuti zviripo zvizhinji zvandinofanira kunyora.
ZWA BULAWAYO BOUND
The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) is having an outreach meeting in Bulawayo on Saturday 21July, 2012 at the Bulawayo Art Gallery at 09:00 - 12:00. Leaders of writers associations and individual writers who may or may not necessarily belong to literary associations around Bulawayo are all invited to this get-together.
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 Bulawayo and what we have managed to achieve thus far and how beneficial it has been to writers. In other words, it is really an open ended occasion.
The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) is the newest 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. The birth of ZWA was a culmination of self initiated efforts and activities taken by Zimbabwean writers of diverse backgrounds.
Our contact person in Bulawayo is Raisedon Baya. Inserted by Musaemura Zimunya
Chair, Executive Committee, The Zimbabwe Writers Association
MEMBERS: M B Zimunya(Chair) E Hwede(Deputy Chair) T Muchuri(Secretary)
B Sithole(Treasuer) K Ratsauka(Resource Mobilizer) D Mashava(Ordinary
Member) M Chirere(Ordinary Member)
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 Bulawayo and what we have managed to achieve thus far and how beneficial it has been to writers. In other words, it is really an open ended occasion.
The Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) is the newest 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. The birth of ZWA was a culmination of self initiated efforts and activities taken by Zimbabwean writers of diverse backgrounds.
Our contact person in Bulawayo is Raisedon Baya. Inserted by Musaemura Zimunya
Chair, Executive Committee, The Zimbabwe Writers Association
MEMBERS: M B Zimunya(Chair) E Hwede(Deputy Chair) T Muchuri(Secretary)
B Sithole(Treasuer) K Ratsauka(Resource Mobilizer) D Mashava(Ordinary
Member) M Chirere(Ordinary Member)
KHASIBHALENI
Umhlangano Wababhali
Zazimhlaka 7 Ntulikazi 2012 mhla ababhali bebuthene emahofisini eBritish Council eHarare. Lo wawungumhlangano wababhali abangamalunga eZimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) ababhala besesigodlweni eHarare. Inhloso yalomhlangano wawuyikulinganisa ukubhalwa kwezi ndatshana lokubhala amabhuku asetshenziswa ngabantwana bezikolo. Owayephethe lumhlangano nguTshalimana, umphathintambo uMusa B Zimunya wase University yeZimbabwe. Ngemva kokwethula abalobi wanika owayezakhokhela lumhlangano uMemory Chirere owathi ngemva kokwethula lokuhlonipha abahlonitshwa wanikeza isikhathi kumlobi olodumo uMnumzana Shimmer Chinodya. Umnuzana Chinodya awakhuthaza kakhulu abalobi ukubana ekubhaleni kwabo bananzelele ukuthi babhalela ukufundisa uzulu kanye labasakhulayo konke okukhangelelwa kuqakathekile empilweni yomuntu. Wakhumbuza njalo ababhali ukuqakatheka kwamabhuku abawabhalayo. Umbalisi endlini yokufundela usebenzisa ingwalo kanye labafundisa emakolitshini kanye lemaUniversity basebenzisa njalo ingwalo ezibhalwe ngumlobi. Wathi ekubhaleni kwethu singakhohlwa njalo ezamasiko lomdabuko kanye lembali yaleyondawo oyikhethileyo. Walaya ababhali ukubana babhale izindaba ezihambelana lokuhlala kanye lomumo waleyondawo ukuze abafundayo bebone ukuphila kwendawo zabo. Wakhuthaza abalobi ukuba babale kakhulu ingwalo zabalobi abazingcitshi ukuze sifinyelele ekubhaleni kwethu. Kulabo abalobi abafisa ukubhala ingwalo zesikolo basebenzise kakhulu imidlalo,imifanekiso yabopopayi abatshela indaba ezihlekisayo ukuze bakhuthaze obalayo. Wakhuthaza abalobi ukubhala indaba ezisegudwini, ezaleso sikhathi ukuze singatshiyani lesikhathi. Yena lo umlobi uShimmer Chinodya useleminyaka engamatshumi amane ebhala ingwalo zakhe inengi lazo eseli setshenziswa ezikolo ekuhlungweni kolimi lwesingisi(Literature). Usebhale njalo ingwalo ezingamaytshumi amane ezisetshenziswa ezikolweni emazweni eSADC wonke jikelele. Wagcizelela kakhulu ukubana okuqakathekileyo njalo okumele sikunanzelele njengabalobi yikubana kumele sibhale indaba esizaziyo. Sibhale ngempilo esiyaziyo singasebenzisi ukunakana kakhulu. Emva kwenkuthazo yakhe waqhubela isikhathi kuNkosikazi Chiedza Musengezi owasikhumbuza njalo ukubana ukuze ubone okukatshana kumele ume emahlombe womuntu omude. Wathi yena kumele sifunde ingwalo njalo sidinge ulwazi kulabo abakwaziyo asebelesikhathi bewenza njalo bewazi lomsebenzi. Watshengisa ukukhathazeka kakhulu ngempilo yabomama endaweni ezitshiyeneyo. Wathi njengabalobi kumele sikhiphe amazwi kanye lezifiso zabesifazana. Wabalisa ngokukhohlakala kwabo mama emajele,abahlala emaHositela singalibali njalo ngenhlupho zalabo abasemabhizimisini. Wathi ababhali kumele njalo bebhale ngempilo yabomama labo bonke abesifazana jikelele. Wathi kumele siphakamisane ababazayo,ababumbayo sizame ukubaphakamisa ngokubhala ngimisebenzi yabo.
Lolu daba luyethulwe ngu Tsitsi Nomsa Ngwenya laye ongumlobi wamabhuku lendatshana kanye lenkondlo ngolimi lwesindebele lesingisi. Elilunga njalo le Zimbabwe Writers Association.
(Tsitsi Nomsa Ngwenya was born in 1977 at St Joseph’s Mission Hospital in Matobo, where she did her primary education. She did her secondary education at Minda Mission also in Maphisa. She is currently a businesswoman based in Harare and a founder of a community project called Ezweni Garden Produce which aims at empowering rural women in her community. She has written a poetry anthology ‘Silent Drumbeat From Matojeni’, two novels ‘Beyond The Barrel Of A Gun’ and ‘To Depth Unknown’ ,which are in the process of publication. She is currently writing an anthology of short stories titled ‘The Fifty Rand Note And Other Stories’, and a Ndebele novel titled ‘Unyawo Lwejuba Lami’.)
POETRY
Ngilithole phi?
By Jerry Zondo
Ngibhudule emadirowini, kalikho.
Ngizame phezulu kwewadirophu, kalikho.
Angilidobhi emgwaqweni
Angiliholi emsebenzini
Angikaboni lapho lidindwa khona.
Angikamuzwa olibumbayo.
Kakho ongiphayo loba sengicela ngelizwi lofayo.
Yonke into isithengiswa ngalo.
Ngithenge kanjani ngingelalo?
Umntwana ufuna izitshubo.
Imilomo yezingane zami idabukile ngendlala.
Izisu zabantwabami zibuze njalo nje ukuba
Imiphimbo seyaqunya yini kungasadluli ukudla.
Angilalo idola.
Bengizalithola nini ngaphi nanku bengiyivalelwe
Yonke indledlana izolo yokulithola.
Bengijeziswa kuthiwe akumelanga ngibe lalo.
Bengiyazi lemithetho engiyephulayo ngalo.
Ibe iminengi ingibopha uma ngike ngalinuka nje.
Namuhla kumele ngithenge ngalo.
Ngolithatha phi?
Angilalo.
Angilalo idola.
Ungangibuzi ngeranti,
Ungangibuzi ngephawundi sitelingi,
Ungengibuzi ngeyeni,
Ungangibuzi ngepula,
Ungangibuzi nguyuro,
Ungangibuzi ngedutshimaki,
Ungangibuzi nge-esikudo,
Kumbe yisitulita, kumbe yidilitshibi, kumbe lilongeni,
Angilalo, angilayo, angilawo, angilakho, angilaso, angila…
Ngilithole phi!
KEEP WRITING! KEEP WRITING! KEEP WRITING!
Don't forget to enter the Intwasa Short Story Writing Competition (ending July 31), WIN Short Story Writing Competition (deadline extended, details soon)...Cheers.
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