WIN Newsletter, Issue No 60

EDITORIAL

Some of the past issues donated to WIN by Wasafiri

Welcome, welcome to the 60th issue of our newsletter! 

We would like to thank mother Muse for bringing us this far. We continue to appreciate your understanding of WIN and kindling its vision in various ways possible. A few days before posting this newsletter, WIN received some past issues of the WASAFIRI Magazine of International Contemporary Writing. We are indeed grateful to WASAFIRI. Our library continues to have diverse reading material for new writers. We also would like to take this chance to officially announce that WIN  has disbanded its Epworth office with immediate effect due to forces beyond its control and will only be based in town at its partner’s premise. However, the Epworth community outreach programme will not be affected in any way. Enjoy! 

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FLASHBACK: HARARE BOOK LAUNCH OF ‘SHADOWS’

By Beaven Tapureta

Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

There are always certain things about a past event that linger in the mind almost forever. 

 The official launch of Novuyo Tshuma’s debut novella Shadows on September 18, 2012, at the new Book Café (Harare) may seemingly have expired but one cannot help going back to the interesting, live interaction the author had with the first organized Harare audience of her book.

 Book launches offer this free opportunity to meet the creator and hear him or her speak the truth, nothing but the truth, about his/her book and its influences, and to get answers for burning questions.  

 Hence the launch of Shadows in Harare provided the much needed platform for interaction and discussion with South Africa-based Novuyo.

 The opening remarks by Tinashe Mushakavanhu and later Novuyo’s reading from her book were engaging episodes but no doubt that the audience’s different and pent-up reactions to Shadows were waiting for the author at the podium.

Rutendo Chigudu, an actress, writer and strong advocate for women’s rights, did not waste time to comment and pose a question about POV (point of view).

“I have just been reading your book and I am a bit disturbed and bit angry. But I didn’t stop…It is very engaging. You write in a way that paints images without necessarily imposing whatever image you have of Bulawayo. I also grew up in the ghetto. It allows me to see my own people doing whatever they are doing but I was wondering why, why did you decide to write as a guy, seeing that you are female?” she said.

 In response, Novuyo had this to say, “I wanted a character who could explore the setting with authenticity. If I used a woman it would have sounded feminist tutorial. I didn’t want this particular book to encompass that. There’s so much expectation and burden on women as a whole. So if you see a woman acting out of her character it’s automatically painted as a feminist picture. I wanted a character who could paint a certain side of Zimbabwe without having those burdens that women face. I stuck to the male character.”

 Tinashe Mushakavanhu, in his opening remarks, had alluded to Chenjerai Hove’s Shadows which he said was nowhere to be found in the bookshops which he visited except at the University of Zimbabwe.

Renowned writer Memory Chirere, echoed the same issue of title duplication but before he asked his question, he warned that, by the way, it is not a crime to have two different novels of the same title. 

He asked, “It’s this whole idea of having two novels of the same title from one country. What is your relationship with Chenjerai Hove’s Shadows and how is it similar or different from Hove’s?”

 An interesting question, Novuyo said.

“But if you ask me the writer I think I will speak with bias therefore I think that’s a question for critics to answer. As writers we write and critics interpret what you have written. Speaking of my own Shadows, as I wouldn’t want to speak on behalf of another writer’s work, but my Shadows is really about the grey areas of our existences, given Zimbabwe’s past decade. But of course we need to see what the critics have to say about the two books,” she said.

 A certain woman, admitting she had not yet read the book, asked, “But  why this story? Is there something that made you write this story?”

 “The book idea first came to me during the xenophobic experiences in South Africa. I remember at this time I was welcome as a foreigner in S Africa but I was yearning for home, that idea of home…” said Novuyo.

The xenophobia attacks in South Africa as a trigger that brought about Shadows prompted another renowned writer Musaemura Zimunya to ask if Novuyo had now ‘recovered’ from yearning for home, through writing and publication of the book.

“Given the origin of your inspiration, that is, the xenophobic disaster in S Africa at the time it happened and you were yearning for home, do you have a feeling now, having finished the book and published it, do you feel that you have identified, you have grasped what you call home you were yearning for? And have you been welcomed as joyfully as you expected after publication of your book?” asked Zimunya.

 “The question of home has many layers. As Africans there are many layers to our identity. There is this country, which to me means being Zimbabwean, then there is culture, which is being Ndebele, and all these interact to form an identity…but looking back from a different setting in S Africa gave me this heightened idea of home, and yes I have been warmly welcomed and am excited to be home,” said Novuyo.

 At this point the atmosphere had gathered momentum, and Chirere, as soft-spoken as he is, bounced back with another question. “What are your anxieties and joys when you think about your book? Are there various ways in which you relate with this story?” he asked.

 Novuyo, who jocularly remarked Chirere’s questions would expose her writing secrets, said, “When writing fiction, pieces of yourself are always left on the page. I think I relate to the emotion inherent in the book. The anxieties - for many writers, when you have written a book, the difficult is always in letting go. You are too close to your work and sometimes you think you have written the best work.”

 The launch of Shadows in Harare also came with prospective opportunity for Novuyo. One film producer present at the launch asked the author if she would love to see her novella turned into a feature film and Novuyo welcomed the idea of artistic collaborations.

 Last but not least, the launch also saw autographed copy of Novuyo’s Shadows (donated by the author to WIN) leaning the next day on other books in WIN’s in-house library, ready to be enjoyed.

AUTHOR’S BUSY SCHEDULE MARS DISCUSSION OF ‘UNCERTAINTY OF HOPE’

 By WIN Staff Writer

Valerie Tagwira, author of ‘Uncertainty of Hope’

The discussion of Valerie Tagwira’s NAMA Award winning novel Uncertainity of Hope at the Spanish Embassy’s Book Club on Tuesday November 6 did not happen as expected because the author was rushing to the hospital to see a sick relative.

Tagwira, who is also a medical doctor, read a passage from her book to about six people before she excused herself and left for the hospital. Tagwira promised there will be another discussion possibly before December to make up for this one.
 Uncertainty of Hope was first published by Weaver Press in 2006 and then another edition was published by Jacana Media in 2008.

Llyod Machacha, a poet and writer with Africa Community Publishing and Development Trust (ACPD), was asked to present a brief talk about their latest booklet titled, “Crossroads”, a guide to important issues particularly leadership in all spheres of life.

Machacha said ACPD identifies problems faced in local communities and at national level and then hold workshops for people of all age-groups who contribute to the information and knowledge about a particular problem.

‘Crossroads’ is one of the booklets that ACPD has produced and distribute for free to communities through its publishing teams.

According to Romee Fisher from the Spanish Embassy Cultural Affairs department, the next discussion will be in January next year where a poetry anthology will be the focus.

Llyod Machacha making his presentation

NGATINYOREI

(The following short story came fourth in the WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition in the Shona category)

Rwendo Nebhazi

Na Justice Gondoto, Epworth

Takafumobata jongwe muromo torova nhetserwa kuenda kuchiteshi. Ndainge ndakasimira mudhabha wangu waidaidzwa kuti rivho uye shati refu yandainge ndakabaira muna mai vayo ndokuti rupotanoko tsvee kuseva bhande. Dzakapesaniswa tsoka neni naambuya vangu Mugatyeni takaisa huma kuchiteshi.

Tichinoti pfacha kuchiteshi pakarepo dutavanhu rakabva rangotiwo pfacha. Chiripocho takaita chihatakata. Zvakandikanga mate  mukanwa kuona vana vadiki vakagarawo pazvigaro pamwe nevakuru. Ko, ini ndainge ndarasika here? Kweteka ndimo mainzi mubhazi macho. Ndakasviko gara zvangu munofamba nevanhu uko ndakatakura saga rangu renzungu. Ko ndaigoita seiwo sezvo waiva musi wangu wokutanga kukwira bhazi? Ambuya vangu ndivo vakazondibaira zanhi. Mutyairi akabva arinanzvisa mumugwagwa unobva kuChiredzi tonanga kuHarare kuguta remari. Richingokanda miseve pamhanza dzemakomo zuva, dzvukamupiriviri rashongedza nyika nerunako rwemandiriri bhazi rakange ramedza mitunhu ine makumi ingade manyatera.

Rakazoti zvino robvuraudza-bvuraudza mhanza dzeharahwa zuva, pasi rwave rufuse uye sadza rotamba mbakumba mudzishambakodzi bhazi rakati pfacha paZuwa parakambomira. Rakapiwa kudya kwaro gumbo redu, rarembedza raro dumbu, tangi razara nedhiziri zvino. Mutyairi nevamwe vakandigaira vachipinda makange makanyorwa kuti “Dandaro pamuromo wedende.” Vakasvikoita mahwekwe neshamwri dzaJopo ndokuti mudzimu waro bonga kuwana hukudzichirwa kana kuti maisokwadzo nyemba kutsva dzarungwa. Hwahwa hwainwiwa zvokutokanganwa kuti nguwo dziripi. Vamwewo vakambotsvaka zvavo twokunwira neruomesa makutsi rwechikafu chaibikwa naMadhendebvarubvaru pane chimwe chitoro chechikafu chainzi “Gapurechinanzvirwa.”

Zvakanzvenzvera munhengenya dzake mutyairi kuti aifanirwa kunwa hwahwa zvepfini nokuti vanasahwira vake vaitenga hwahwa musi uno aigona kupedza mazuva asina kuonana navo. Chinomira igomo nguva haimire zvachose. Akapindana masekondi akazvara maminetsi anova vabereki vemaawa hama dzemazuva. Mutyairi ndipo pakazoti dzadzara-dzadzara svikei pachigaro chedutavanhu mbweshekete. Ragomera gomera sadhongi mberi chiutsi ndiye togo togo. Vanhu vakamhanyirana ndokuita chihatakata zvekare. Rakabva raufema zvekare mugwagwa weHarare nhanho dzainge dzowedzera.

Bhazi rainge ravakubhururuka zvachose. Ambuya vakabva vazvuva gonan’ombe ravo rebute ndiye gugugu muruoko rwavo rwaindirangaridza dumbu rekamba. Vakatangisa kupaka mapatya avo ini ndainzwa seaiti, “O-oo John, O-oo Peter pedza chipedzisa!” Vakambokangwa nezvekuvhetemeswa kwebhazi pamusana penyambo dzaizazanurwa nemumwe mekweguru.

 “Varume ini kana nhunzi ikawira mumukaka ndinouteura ndotenga mumwe, asi ikawira mudoro ndinoitora ndosvisvina ndoiudzawo kuti igotengawo hwahwa hwayo mangwana kwete kupona nekupocha!” Izvi zvakaita kuti ndimboratidza mavende angu ipapo. Vachingopira gotsi kunyanya dzemutana uyu vanhu vakagoti dzaa kutusva mutyairi iye zenze tuku nemanyukunyuku manyemwe embudzi. Vamwe ndivo vaiti havasati vambonyorwawo mubepanhau zvichida vaizo wanawo mukana vaita tsaona.

Hapana kana mumwe chete wedu akakwanisa kuita n’anga chishoperi pejambwa raizotiwira zuva iri. Zvose rushambwa nemvongamupopoto zvakange zvigere munhengenya dzake nyadenga pauzima. Ichokwadi kuti mafaro mwena unoguma. Kumhanya ikoko maiti kwaizoguma nepi. Vanhu vainge vapinda nemwenje mudziva. Mutyairi akange akaita kunyudza gumbo mumafuta uku akaita kunamira ruoko pane rumwe rwainge rusero rwaambuya vaSamere uku angunotambatamba nekamwe kagiya kaindirangaridza muporofita wechipositori.

Rakangoti budei mumugwagwa ndokutetereka nemusango svikei pamuunze waipo duma tsina rakadaro kunge ririkurumbidza nyadenga pedza pidingu pidigu mumakwenzi njo-o makumbo mudenga nganana kunge kamba iri kufarira howa. Mufaro wakashanduka kuve mhere. Pwa pwarakata kuputsika kwefafitera rakanga rakanyorwa kuti pokupoya napo tsaona , ndipo pandaka pona popo. Chakandikanga mate kuona mutyairi ongopwinyika sebenzi rarasa chikwama chine masendi. Izvi zvakaita kuti ndimbodonorera mumuromo make .Aah! makange mangosara mazino matatu akagaridzana semapfihwa  aambuya vangu vakange vafuga ravo vega mudumbu rebhazi rakange rakataridza makumbo kuna Mwari. Mupurisa akazosvika pamwe nemotokari dzekuchipatara asi yakange yadeuka mvura yeguchu.

Zvakandibvura moyo chose kuti chandikodobvura chetsaona chainge chandibaya panyama nhete chaipo. Zvakaitikawo musi wandainge ndatangawo kukwira bhazi uye rwendo rwainge rwagurwa negurwe ndisati ndambosvikawo Harare. Tsaona iyi yakaitawo kuti rwendo rwangu rwokuHarare rwukachidzwe nechazunguzadembe chetsaona yainge yamedzawo ambuya vangu.

The End

(Copyright: Justice Gondoto)

RHYTHMS OF TONGA DRUMS

Ani teezibotu na?

Ngu Rev. Jeffrey Muleya

Ano mazuba mumasi miingi mazuwo aavula ali aatala amilaka. Kwamyaanda myaanda yaminyaka twalikubona chikuwa, chiFlansi, chiPutukezi kazidundula akulyatilila milaka yaBasiya mukubelesegwa. Sunu baSiya bayanda milaka yabo. Bwacha kabi! Aakati kaBasiya lwabo kuchili penzi ndileeli lyabulozi bwakuyanda kubundulatya imwi milaka, ababo balimvwa kabajisi nguzu zyakuchita boobo. Eechi nchiimbo chakaza abamaKuwa chiteelede kujanika akati kesu pe. Ncheenzu nkabela chilatondwa. Chikkazika luzeya masi. Bamwi besu muAfrica yesu bali mbuuli banaZambia abanaSasaFulika bayobufwambaana kubbwazula akukubona. Nikuba makkata amilawu aabo alasimatizya kusumpula akukwabilila kumwayuka kwamilaka yabo yoonse.

Ndakabotelwa kapati mweezi wayinda ooyu nindakaswayila nzubo zyangu kuchisi chaZambia. Beenzuma tabachili bazike bamigaano yamilaka amisyobo pe. Kwaambisya nkuyumu loko kuti uzibe musyobo wabanaZambia biingi akubaswiilizya kwaambuula biyo. Balaambuula akulikankayizya amilaka yabo mwiingi ijanika muchisi chabo. Na bakwaambuzya mumulaka ngotamvwi nga mpawo bakweezya awumbi kusikila mwamvwanana. Balatambulana. Takwe ngomvwa utii kumweenzinyina, “sindimvela”, “nsimvwide”, azili boobo.

Nindakabuzisisya kumweenzuma bumwi buunsi kuti bazikonzya buti wakati, “ A! kulindiswe tobanaZambia zyakunyansya milaka yabanichisima tuzibona kaalimayeeyelo ansiku atondezya kutanaasumpuka mumiyeeyo, tayetelezyi luumuno pe, nkabela taazwi kuliLeza pe”. Aaya majwi ndikaamvwa ndakazizimana. Mulindiswe twaambo twakulangilana aansi akusesema milaka yabanaZimbabwema tuchilaato. Ulmvwa muntu kati kumunachisinyina, “andinzwi, wadi kutawura neshona”, “angizwa khuluma ngesindebele”, chimwi chiindi nikuba kuti muntu ooyu unoli wamwaabuuzizye achikuwa, alakwe kalibonia kuti muntu wakiinda mumaboko amuyiisyi. Mweenya tuli awo wakutobelezya zibotu zichitwa ambituyakilene aabo. Na twabikaamwi mitwe yesu taakwe chikachila pe. Kukubamba ntalisyo tweelede kulangisisya zeezi, akati kazimwi;

Milaka yoonse muchisi ngibe mumulawu antoomwe achikuwa, zilembwe atanganana mukkata lyamulawu, amutulawulawu tusindikila zyalwiiyo.

Mutabi wazyaLwiiyo nguusungwazye kuyiisigwa kabotu kwamilaka yoonse njitujisi, kubikilizya chikuwa, bweelene.

Fulumende wesu, antoomwe amitabi ilyimvwilidi igwasyania aFulumende, balakonzya kuvuzya lwiiyo kuluundu, lumwaya kunyansyania, kwiindila mumaanda atwaambo azimwi nzila.

Kubika twaambo toonse tulimumulawu mumilaka yoonse yaambulwa abanaZimbabwe.

Sunu ndasiila mpaano. Ndalumba.           

Ndilajatika a 0712764039 aa0773507435 aalugwalomulilo: gracein5@yahoo.com.

FLASHBACK

Mbizo Chirasha (The Black Poet), left, in serious conversation with established writer David Mungoshi, right, before the start of the ZWA writers’ meeting on October 27 at the British Council. In the background in African attire is writer Memory Chirere.

POETRY

Ethiopia

By Mbizo Chirasha

see talking slums
silenced tongues
freedom silenced
hope killed
a bling of ghettos
collapsed humanity
mothers weeping ,
under the compression of religion
trees dripping tears
Ethiopia your festering open wounds
you are my anger!
children burn in smoldering canisters of hunger
time opened new wounds of memories of old scars
chained on rocks of ignorance
you need a compass of decency
my poetry is a catalyst fermenting your injustices
into beverages of justice
you are my sadness!
your heartbeat bleached in political fermentation
rhythm galvanized in furnaces of cultural myth
laughter imbibed by the rude stomach of the gun
culture crushing under the weight of globalization

(taken from Full Of Crow's Quarterly Poetry)

  

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WIN

"Unclipping wings of the imagination"