ANOTHER ZIM LITERARY ICON HONOURED

Pathisa Nyathi Receives BZS Lifetime Achievement Award

 

 

Pathisa Nyati

 

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Amhlope!

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CONGRATULATIONS TSITSI DANGAREMBGA

 

Renowned Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga

 

 

Winner of the 2021 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade

 

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WIN Newsletter, Vol 2, Issue No 19 around the corner

FIRE DESTROYS ZIBF GAZEBO

 Beaven Tapureta – Winzim Online

 

 

Writer Memory Chirere, ZIBF Board Chairperson

 

THE ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR (ZIBF) is in an urgent situation after one of its special gazebos was destroyed by fire in the morning on May 29, 2021.

In a statement released to the media, the current ZIBF Board Chairperson, writer Memory Chirere said the cause of the fire is yet to be established. Although the Fire Brigade team from the Harare City Council managed to put out the fire, Chirere said they could not save the gazebo.

“We want to thank the City of Harare Fire Brigade for their quick response once they were informed. They managed to put out the fire. But being a timber and thatch building, the speed at which the fire moved means that the structure was burnt beyond repair,” he said.

The gazebo was dubbed ‘Country of Focus Gazebo’ because it was used each year by a selected country which is invited to showcase their books and other cultural materials.

Chirere said countries like Nigeria, Iran, Ghana and others were once stationed in that spot.

The gazebo hosted international literary figures thus it had become a special venue for these legendary authors where they easily interacted with the media and book lovers.

“The destroyed gazebo is where the iconic Chinua Achebe alongside Luis Bernardo Honwana of Mozambique and others showcased their literary oeuvre and addressed the media during their joint first visit to Zimbabwe. That spot had become a destination for book connoisseurs from across the world with books being displayed and briskly sold both on the ground and first floor. This has also been the venue for the Hifa Poetry Café for some time, now,” said Chirere.

The unfortunate event has added another load on the ZIBF shoulder which already had been weighted down by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. But with the solidarity so far exhibited by ZIBF friends and partners, local and abroad, not all is lost.

“However, we are glad to announce that some partners have already stepped in to assist us with rebuilding the gazebo and the vicinity. You may want to know that the ZIBFA Executive board and the General Council were already seized with redoing all our structures and the vicinity as a matter of urgency,” Chirere said.

He assured book industry stakeholders that the 2021 ZIBF Theme still stands.

“Our theme for ZIBF 2021 is still ‘Book Industry: The Dynamics Within’ and is receiving positive responses for the traditional July-August event,” he said.  

The ZIBF started in 1983 and is held annually in the Harare Gardens in the capital city. Chirere said its location is strategic as it is surrounded by other arts and cultural structures such as the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, and now Theatre In The Park.     

 

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Meanwhile, we found the following article interesting:

SHARP READ: ONE MARECHERA, TWO POINTS OF VIEW

Dambudzo Marechera

 The vastly different perspectives and treatments in two recent books about Zimbabwean author Dambudzo Marechera leave the reader with tantalising questions beyond the subject matter. Read More

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