Writers International Network Zimbabwe: WIN Newsletter, Issue No 64

EDITORIAL

Josephine Sithole Muganiwa

WIN Board Chairperson

Welcome again! February is a great month because of the NAMA awards. That is when we have the Arts industry in Zimbabwe coming together to celebrate its achievements of the year. This year is special for us because we are a nominee in the on line publications category. We thank everyone who is part of WIN because without you, this would not have been possible. Let us keep writing expressing our love for words, those around us and the life given to us!

WIN BLOG NOMINATED AT THE 2013 NAMA AWARDS

The month of love (February) has come with an easing moment for WIN which has been nominated at this year’s National Arts Merit Awards under the Outstanding Online Media category.

The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe released the 12^th NAMA nominees list on February 6, launching the countdown to the country’s biggest awards fiesta to be held koBulawayo on February 16 at the Large City Hall.

Commenting on WIN’s nomination, Board Chairperson Josephine Muganiwa said, “We are excited to have been nominated because it means that we are making an impact in our community. Our desire is precisely to grow the literary industry, to see the development of works in English and Zimbabwean indigenous languages. This is reflected in the Ndebele, Shona and Tonga columns. We hope that contributors in the other indigenous languages will join us. Until the 16^th, we will keep our fingers crossed!”

Tadiwa Muparutsa, interim Director of the Global Arts Trust, WIN’s longtime partner, said that he hoped the nomination marks a newfound appreciation of Zimbabwean literature by Zimbabweans.

“I urge WIN to continue to identify and assist talented writers so that they realize their dreams,” said Tadiwa.

In a press release announcing the nominees, NACZ Board member and Adjudication Panel Chairperson Ms. Dudu Manhenga said, “The Awards inspire Zimbabwean artists to strive for higher and original forms of achievement as well as providing an opportunity for art disciplines to jointly market and publicize the arts locally, regionally and internationally’.

The nominees list can be found here (courtesy of Culture Fund of Zimbabwe)

THIS SEPTEMBER SUN STIRS INTERESTING DEBATE

Eresina Hwede, who led discussion at Spanish Embassy book club meeting

Full participation in any discussion of a work of creative writing is guaranteed by the participants' reading and understanding of the text for criticism. As this is possible where books are readily available for such purpose, it then calls for organizers of book clubs or discussions to device strategies that ensure the club members read the book before the day of the discussion.

At a discussion of the novel 'This September Sun' held on February 12 at the Spanish Embassy Book Club it was apparent that a few writers had read the novel and the rest were familiar with the novel through blurb and reviews.

However, the group discussion at the Embassy was thought-provoking as various questions were raised on story structure, characterization and themes, proving that a book is like a multi-faceted stone reflecting light in different shades. Different readers tend to have different views.

While the blurb describes the book as mainly about family secrets and history, writers at the discussion explored certain ‘overtones’ about the relationships of black and white characters in the novel.

Eresina Hwede, who led the discussion, said she was most struck by the loneliness of the characters, whom she said were but drifters, people who lack a sense of belonging and dissociate themselves from family. Each character that dies in the story, dies with regrets, she said.

On another note, she said comments made particularly about the black characters in the novel reflected no association of blacks and whites during the time the story happens.

“I wonder why few black characters that are in the novel appear briefly and they are portrayed as servants of white characters. Mr. Mpofu, who is not a servant but a lawyer, appears for a short moment towards the end of the story,” said Eresina.

Roger Stringer, a librarian and publishing consultant said as a white person, he saw the book from a completely different standpoint, arguing that the novel is not about blacks and white people's relationships but about a family. The novel is not a social story but a personal story about the relationship between a girl and her grandmother, he said.

"What strikes me in the story is the mystery, like a detective story, where one discovers what was unknown before," Roger added.

While Eresina and a few other writers maintained that although 'This September Sun' is known to be about family secrets, it exposes the political uncertainty of the historical period it covers. The burning of the Union Jack (soon after independence) which resulted in grandma sustaining a tea-pot-shaped scar which, the writers said, resembles the map of Zimbabwe, and various incidents in the story metaphorically carry political overtones.

However, Roger felt it would be unfair to pick out three pages out of a book of so many pages and give it such particular weight as the author only concentrated on family relationships.

Tinashe Mushakavanhu however saw Zimbabwean fiction in general as having little or no interaction at all between blacks and whites.

Beatrice Sithole, also present but had not read the book, said the fact that the book stirs such debate could explain why it is being studied at ‘A’ level as a literature set book in Zimbabwe. It having so many layers of meaning makes the novel worthwhile for critical study, she said.

The discussion was also graced by renowned writer Virginia Phiri and other writers. 'This September Sun' was written by Bryony Rheam and published in 2009 by AmaBooks in Bulawayo. It won Best First Book Prize at the 2010 Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association Awards.

GLEN VIEW 2 HIGH SHINES AGAIN

Some Glen View 2 High students posing with booklets produced by CDWC

On a pleasant mid-morning last week the young writers club at Glen View 2 High in Harare received booklets produced from a series of writing skills training workshops they participated in last year under the auspices of Centre for the Development of Women and Children in collaboration with WIN.

The club received copies of each of the booklets titled ‘Chembere Yakabika Mabwe, a collection of Shona short stories, ‘Mabvarura: Mandiziva’, collection of Shona poems, and ‘I am A Child’, a collection of poems and short stories. The booklets will also be donated to out-of-school centres such Hope Centre in Snake Park and Faith Ministries in Mbare which were part of the workshops.

Ms. Emilia Hatendi, CDWC Programs Coordinator

Speaking before the presentation of the books, CDWC Programs Coordinator Ms. Emilia Hatendi said she was grateful to the Headmaster for the support he has always given to creative writing.

She urged the students to have dreams and she gave them a seven step guidance which includes knowing one’s dream, listing the rewards and consequences of the dream, identifying obstacles and looking for the knowledge and skills needed to achieve the dream.

WIN Director and Founder Beaven Tapureta also spoke at the presentation ceremony. He thanked the school head Mr. Masiiwa and the club patron Mr. Chirumbwana for their commitment in developing the young scribes.

He concluded his speech by reading to the whole school a poem titled ‘Ini Dzidzo’ (read it below in the poetry section) written by Tafadzwa Sikalela from the Glen View 2 High writers club. The poem is featured in one of the booklets.

Contributions from Glen View 2 High writers club include seven stories in ‘Chembere Yakabika Mabwe’, eighteen poems in ‘I am a Child’ and fourteen Shona poems in ‘Mabvarura Mandiziva’.

Facilitated by established writers David Mungoshi and Memory Chirere, the workshops were held last year and drew children from selected centres and schools who were trained to write stories and poems about their experiences.

THE REGULAR WRITER

Reminder! Reminder! Reminder!

Good news from Tsva…

-tsva... wants to be a quarterly collection of new literature from Zimbabwe. Designed and printed locally, our aim is to develop a platform for writers to explore and experiment and for readers to discover new writers and writing.

So, we would like to invite contributions that..:

 ..are between 1 and 2000 words long.

 ..are original works by the contributing author.

 ..are fiction, non-fiction, experimental, essay format, commentary, ranting, surreal, free-writing, confession, combination/hybrid...etc.

 ..are contributions that can include illustrations or photographs, so long as they are copyright cleared.

 ..are delivered in MS Word format, 12point font size.

 ....photographs and illustrations to be delivered as .JPEG or .TIF format

Stories/contributions chosen for publication will be rewarded.

For starters, we would like writers to consider/investigate the following: “.... and then ...”

Deadline for contribution for the inaugural issue: March 15th 2013, 12 Noon.

Publication for inaugural issue: April/May 2013

Please email your contribution/s to: tsva2013@gmail.com

NGATINYOREI

Ini Dzidzo

Ndini zvangu dzidzo

Handina zera

Ndinodiwa nyangwe nani zvake

Hanzi kuziva Mbuya huudzwa

Handiti ndini ndakaita kuti uzive Mbuya vako

Veduwe-e musatamba neni

Ukaona waendeswa kuchikoro

Usatamba neni

Ndini ndinoshandura Upenyu hwemunhu

Unokwanisa kuita zvaunoda kana ukandiziva

Unokwanisa kuva mudzidzisi kana mukoti

Asi kana usina kundiziva

Unoita munhu anongokumbira zvevamwe

Haugoni kuita zvako

Kana usina ini dzidzo

Handiwanikwe kuchikoro chete

Kwaunogara vakuru variko vanokwanisa

Kukuudza nezvangu

Teerera vakuru

Nekuti ukatadza kundiziva warasika

Saka ita kunditsvaga pose pose

Kana wandiwana

Ita kundisvisvina

Undinanzvire

Undizeye sezvinoita mombe

Undikokote segaba rejamu rinotapira

Nokuti ini

Ndinotapira-tapira

By Tafadzwa Sikalela, Glen View 2 High Writers Club, Harare

(Nhetembo iyi yakatorwa kubva muna ‘Mabvarura Mandiziva’ unova muunganidzwa wenhetembo dzakanyorwa nevana vechidiki)

RYTHMS OF THE TONGA DRUMS

Omunene kofwa bweeme!

Naakatumbukwa, lumwewe lwakavula kubazyali;

Luundu lwakapululuzya, mbukunga yalin’anda yabasimbi.

Akavula mazina akumweezya, akaambo kakubotelwa;

Zyakavunzaana zipo; twakabondoka tuzila tunjilaamuunzi.

Naakanjila chikolo, bayiisyi bakaba abulangizi bupati;

Kuchijaana yakali nsya, kawumpuna chikolo wamvwa!

Mumupila, nkwaalikulanzya kuulu;

Mbuuli nkukwakali kujimpikilwa gede.

Asike mufomu yamusanu ayimwi, boonse wabalyata;

Peepe achikolo chakwe biyo, peepe mubbooma biyo.

Wakalyata, walevula, wabuumuna chilikiti choonse;

Mapepamakani akiidana, basimutolatwaambo bakiilingana.

Naakazoti walulyata lwaa univesiti lubuwa;

Impuwo yakwe yakali yamuzulwida nsiku.

Wakajana mweenya wakuyandwa abiingi;

Ano takwe wakaziba kuti ndiguumizya litazonunkile luundu juunza.

Mbaakamana kwiiya wachipegwa wofisi, kuti ayeendelezye;

Baama! Waselezya mwana sokwe.

Takwe wakazi pe kuti bantu boonse, bazyali abayiisyi;

Balikulela noole, lweemya lwadyana litalibidi.

Iwe yomuntu waba amaanu, chita ziluleme;

Leka kusosolosya mapilisi, agwasya bachiswa,

Leka kulya mali yachikolo, igwasya bana,

Leka kususa kulya nkobambide, teensi kwako.

Ani kubula nsoni nkwenzi, buumi bwanjina mbwanzi?

Mpuwakatalikilaali, tolumbili ulikutyeni? Kofwa bweeme ma!

Ani te bapati bakati, “Uluka chuungwe;

Nchuwakkalilide chamana”.

Ngu Rev Jeffrey Muleya, Binga

POETRY

Mind of Poetry

The mind of poetry

Is a raft floating upon truth

With unbridled stench

Of untold laws of human nature

The mind of poetry

Is a sewer gushing out

Unwanted smells of

Nature within nature

The mind of poetry

Is a kiln baking humanity

A gauze gleaning joy

Out of mingled tears and sorrow

The mind of poetry

Is an eye for the masses

An eye still despised, un-believed

Yet it’s wide open and perceptive

By Beaven Tapureta, Harare

(This poem is taken from the Tsotso Magazine, Issue No 14, 1995)

"READING MARECHERA" AVAILABLE LOCALLY SOON...

'Reading Marechera', a new book about Dambudzo Marechera published this year by James Currey, will soon be available locally from publisher Weaver Press in Harare. More in the next update!

Meanwhile enjoy 'DAMBUDZO MARECHERA'S 'DISSERTATION ON LANGUAGE', an interesting article published on KwaChirere Blog

In Our Next Issue:

Book Review of African Roar 2012 (StoryTime), an anthology of short stories by African writers