(This is an official newsletter of Writers International Network Zimbabwe, edited and published by its Publishing Unit)
___________________________________________________
EDITORIAL
The charm of 2022 NAMA Awards: 10-year old Onald Gwiriri poses with his NAMA trophy, certificate and his Outstanding Children Book titled The Cursing Tortoise.
WELCOME to the WIN Literary Newsletter first issue of 2022, bringing an irresistible dose of information about the tides and vibes in the literature field. We are excited to be back on our feet after an extended season of absence. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, much more is coming!
We celebrate authors
who were nominated and those who eventually won in different categories at the
NAMA Awards held in Harare in February 2022. At the centre of attraction was
young writer Onald Gwiriri who scooped the Outstanding Children’s Book award
for his first story The Cursing Tortoise.
What more inspiration do other children (and youths) need for them to seriously
consider writing and publishing their own works? Bryony Rheam is the writer of
the moment; she won the Outstanding Fiction Book award for her second novel All Come To Dust, few months after the
same book won at the Bulawayo Arts Awards.
Our Director Beaven
Tapureta felt so good to receive a gift of books from one of our elders, Erica
Gwetai, a writer in her own class and mother of the late iconic writer Yvonne
Vera. The parcel arrived courtesy of renowned film director Priscilla Ncube who
was attending a workshop in Harare. Four of the books are hers, including Where Were You? which received
nomination at the Bulawayo Arts Awards, while the other three are by her
daughter Yvonne Vera. Thank you Mama.
Another author G
Maremera donated two of his books to WIN. We are so grateful for this
show of support and one love. Don’t throw away that book if you no longer need
it, just remember us; we are open to book donations for our library and writers clubs also. To give a book is to
empower.
Meanwhile, the WIN
Board met online in February to discuss the future of WIN. The recommendations
of the meeting are being implemented in the background right now. We care about
you writers, please enjoy.
ZIM
WOMEN WRITERS RECLAIMING THEIR POSITION
“I am inspired by the role Zimbabwean women writers are playing in telling our stories. It seems now that women writers have managed to reclaim their position in the Zimbabwean literary landscape. In Zimbabwe, we have a good number of strong female voices whose writing is establishing itself worldwide: Petina Gappah, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, NoViolet Bulawayo, Bryony Rheam, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Siphiwe Ndlovu, Sue Nyathi, Tari Ndowo, Sarah Ladipo Manyika... and more. And these are strong voices from whom we can expect more. I feel we are in for a real treat, because I am certain the world can expect more from these writers, bold voices committed to craft. Their success is inspiring and will definitely open opportunities for more Zim writers. I know I haven't mentioned some who are on the ground, but I am sure that despite the challenges, a lot of writing is happening there.”
THE WIN/JAC WRITING
COMPETITION DEADLINE FURTHER EXTENDED
WIN/JAC has extended the deadline for the 2nd edition of the Script Writing Contest to April 17, 2022.
About other details of the competition, please click this link:
WIN/JAC WRITING CONTEST (2nd Edition)
Get
registered, participate and win!
To
register, contact us
+263
774548466
For
more information about the competition, contact writers@jacfilmschool.com
Ignatius T Mabasa
“We have efforts to support budding writers by the
Writers International Network, but it needs organised support from those
ministries charged with arts and culture. A nation that does not invest in
telling its own stories will soon become colonised because cultural productions
are not just a type of ideology, but hegemony as well. Besides de-colonisation,
we need to have a de-westernisation project at a national level.”
Read Full Interview
NOVELIST BRYONY RHEAM
ON WINNING PATH
Beaven Tapureta
Bryony Rheam shows her recent accolade from the 2022 NAMA Awards. Her second novel All Come To Dust won the Outstanding Fiction Book award.
EVERY writer dreams of success
and success usually happens when one commits him/herself to art. Many writers
have fallen by the wayside after their books failed them. No sales, no
recognition, no reviews.
But while winning
matters, one has to consider working hard with a heart of faith. Writing is an
act of faith, so said someone.
For Bryony Rheam,
recognition gauges the reader response for a book. And when a book keeps on
winning, she says it shows that readers are connecting with the themes
tackled.
After her debut
novel This September Sun (2009,
AmaBooks) won the Best First Book at the Zimbabwe Book Publishers Association
Awards in 2010, she was in 2014 winner of the International ‘Write Your Own
Christie’ Competition, a competition dedicated to the international writer
Agatha Christie whom Bryony has put on top of her favourite writers list.
“I have been an Agatha
Christie fan for a very long time. I enjoy the books because the focus is on
the mystery, not the murder. I like solving the puzzle. Modern crime writers
focus more on the murder and enjoy lots of gory details, but the actual mystery
is not that exciting,” said Bryony.
This
September Sun went
on to be selected as set text for ZIMSEC Advanced Level Literature in English
in Zimbabwe from 2012 to 2017.
WIN once published a
comment by a literature student who said she remembers one day her teacher shed
tears while reading to the class a touching passage in the novel. Indeed, such
is the power of Bryony’s words as a story-teller.
All Come To Dust (2020, AmaBooks), her second and recent novel, has joined the winning streak.
Late last year it
scooped a literary award at the Bulawayo Arts Awards and this February it won
the Outstanding Fiction Award at the NAMA Awards.
Bryony told WIN how
she feels about the overall success of her books.
“I feel both my
novels have been successful, especially in Zimbabwe. Their success shows that
readers are connecting with the issues they raise,” she said.
All
Come To Dust
is a crime thriller, falling in the class of another African novel Five Nights Before The Summit (2019,
Weaver Press) by USA-based Zambian author Mukuka Chipanta.
There seems to be an
attempt by writers to fill in the gap of crime fiction in English. For example,
Sinister Motive by South Africa-based
Zimbabwean emerging writer Wellington Mudhluri also uses the crime fiction
genre which was once popular with Shona novelists of yore.
However, the use of
various genres by Zimbabwean writers to speak about local issues is what Bryony
applauds.
“I feel there is a
need for Zimbabwean writers to explore different genres and use them as ways to
reflect life in this country,” said Bryony.
Her words confirm
what renowned writer NoViolet Bulawayo said last month in The New York Times:
“We have to insist on imagining the worlds that we want to see.” NoViolet was speaking about her new book Glory which one critic described as ‘a
modern African Animal Farm’, meaning
it explores a different ‘Animal Farm approach’ to highlight certain issues
affecting Zimbabwe.
Truly, by using the
imagination and exploring various forms of writing, writers can deal with
issues troubling our motherland.
Emmanuel Sigauke
(USA)
NoViolet Bulawayo
WHEN NOVIOLET BULAWAYO’S We Need New Names was launched in San
Francisco, California, back in 2013, I was there, and I remember being proud
that she had made it again (after having recently won the Caine Prize for
African Writing).
Glory is a courageously
written book, presenting a thinly veiled story of post-coup Zimbabwe. While set in Jidada and populated by animal
characters, the book does not shy away from the specifics of a Zimbabwe most of
us know. There is a layer of the novel
that will only communicate with Zimbabweans home and abroad, in a specific,
intentional way, while still affording other readers who know little or nothing
about Zimbabwe ( I mean “Jidada, with a da and another da”) the ability to
settle into the story fully. But even for the Zimbabwean reader who starts with
a specific context, the reading experience will lift itself to another level,
where the story will unfold with a clear sense of originality and nuance.
The book has
everything for everyone. If you come to it looking for allegory, there will be
plenty of it. If you are looking for satire, plenty too. If you are looking for
the unflinching narrative gaze we saw in We
Need New Names, you will find that dozen-fold.
For you writers who
want to stretch the limits of creativity, come witness a fellow writer creating
dangerously. For those trying to match the details of the fictional work with
the known events since Jidada’s New Dispensation, you will get your fill and
will have fun doing so, until you decide not to distract yourself from this
story, or more appropriately, these stories unfolding in front of you.
Curious about the
book’s narrator, how she sounds, who she reminds you of? You will witness a
narrator who has the freedom to tell the story the way she wants, remixing
poetry and folklore, satire and humor. Come see what the author is able to get
away with. After this book, you will silence the editor in you and create the
way you want. But such a risk requires being thorough in creating consistency
of craft, while being prepared to break the narrative’s own rules.
I found that Glory teaches its reader to read it, and
it challenges and rewards you the whole way to the end.
After I had my fill
of allegory, satire, narrative drive, craft, I settled on history. Although the
book is set in 2017 Zimbabwe, it swings back and forth in time, capturing many
moments in the country’s pre- and post-independence history and calls our
attention to key female revolutionaries often overlooked by historians. There are the obvious heroes of Zimbabwe’s
past, dating back to colonial resistance, down to the fathers of the nation,
invoking Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe, and others, to the players in the New
Dispensation, who are thoroughly satirized in this novel.
Since finishing the
book, I have gotten serious about reading Zimbabwean history, especially
aspects of it that I was not taught in school. I discovered Queen Lozikeyi,
wife of Lobengula who helped lead the first Chimurenga in Matebeleland. I liked
what the author does with the women of the revolution, Nehanda, Lozikeyi and
the Sisterhood of the Disappeared.
In a township named
Lozikeyi, there is a Nehanda tree whose fruits are bones, which rain when
things are not going well for the citizens of Jidada, when the children of the
land are suffering under the hands of the Seat of Power. I found this unity of
Nehanda and Lozikeyi quite symbolic, reminding us of the unity that should exist
between all of the residents of Jidada: Shonamals, Ndebelemals, Kalangamals,
Vendamals, and other cultural groups in the country.
In fact, the true
revolution that serves Jidada happens in a liminal space that connects
important characters like Lozikeyi and Nehanda, where the residents’ diversity
is a microcosm of the diversity of Jidada.
In my conversation
with NoViolet Bulawayo at the virtual book launch, we left out many things
unsaid, but we agreed that this book, as much as it covers the 21st century
problems of Jidada, is a global story chronicling and critiquing the injustices happening to animals all over the
world. The Jidada animals, like animals elsewhere in the world own smartphones
and other devices that enable them to follow events happening in other
countries through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Glory is a book that will
enchant with what’s on the surface a familiar story whose concentric layers
will demand your attention to the very end.
ZIM WRITERS AMONG WINDHAM-CAMPBELL
PRIZE WINNERS
Tsitsi Dangarembga
Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
Congratulations!
Read More, Click Here
DR CHARLES MUNGOSHI
REMEMBERED
The late great writer Dr Charles Mungoshi
ON FEBRUARY 24, 2022, writing friends, relatives and fans of the late great writer Dr Charles Mungoshi gathered in Houghton Park to commemorate his life and works. Some images below were taken from the event and used here courtesy of Farai Mungoshi.
‘…The lonely people
wave
to other people
from
high balconies.’
From left: Jesesi Mungoshi, Professor Mandivamba Rukuni (Chairman of the Charles and Jesesi Mungoshi Foundation) and comedian Admire Kuzhangaira aka Bhutisi who did a rendition of Mungoshi's poem 'Dotito Is Our Brother' on the night.
POET CATHERINE FORMS ORGANIZATION FOR YOUTHS
Beaven Tapureta
Award-winning poet Catherine Magodo-Mutukwa
Not new in poetry
circles, Catherine has been writing and publishing poetry but with an
inclination towards the fight for women’s rights.
Now her new
organization is designed to feed equilibrium into the poet’s gender activism as
it will also involve the ‘neglected boy child’ and related issues such as drug
abuse.
It is also stated in
Rootz Foundation constitution that it will “educate, mentor and equip the boy
child with knowledge that will make him a better man”.
In an interview, Catherine said, “Yes, my
poetry in the past spoke for women and girls but I have since realized that in
order to solve most of the problems women face we have to go back to the root
cause. Not necessarily meaning that men are the root cause but to a larger
extent I feel that our boys have been neglected in the process of empowering
our girls, it seems they have lost their sense of value and expectations. Angry
boys are being brought up in mostly dysfunctional homes where the father who is
supposed to lead by example is either present but emotionally unavailable or
just absent totally. So I thought if I can come up with something that will
help bridge the widening gap between the empowered girl child and the seemingly
neglected boy child it might just help eradicate the social problems we see
today like gender based violence, drug abuse etc.”
And this
irresponsible fatherhood, she added, creates a bad environment for the girl who
will be affected emotionally, mentally, physically and even spiritually.
She said she is not
abandoning poetry as it is part of her.
“Poetry is a part of me and so
as it has been always, it will surely play a large role in this fight to make
our Country better and the whole world over,” she said.
To ensure she
fulfills the objectives of her organization Catherine is strongly backed by her
husband Tawanda Mutukwa and a team of Board members greatly experienced in
relevant different fields.
Apart from advocacy
work, the poet said her organization will also provide counselling and
guidance, organize training workshops on various thematic areas including
reproductive health to empower children and youths.
Her major works
include a novel Broken Vessel, which
was adapted into film because of its strong stance against sexual
abuse of the girl child. Few years ago she won an African Literature Award at
the IBHUKU Women Authors Exhibition Festival held in South Africa. The award
was in recognition of her writings which fight against violation of women’s
rights.
Catherine’s name
features in various publications (individual and collaborative anthologies)
such as Back to the Hills (2011), We Are One (2013, Diaspora Publishers), Reflection (2014) and Silent Cries: The Violated Speak (2015),
Rendition of the Soul, and Life.
Author Erica Gwetai (left) with filmmaker Mrs Priscilla Sithole Ncube at the Bulawayo Arts Awards last year.
The novel was shortlisted in the literary category at the Bulawayo Arts Awards
Don’t miss the book review in our next issue!
YOUNG WRITERS NEED TO
BE ENCOURAGED
Follow this Facebook link to watch and enjoy the powerful presentation by Arundel School student and author of Dreams Under The Noonday Sun, Nothando Cindy Usayi.
EPWORTH YOUNG READER A STAR CRITIC IN THE MAKING
Winzim Online
Courage Mlambo
SOON AFTER Costa ‘Mudhara
Sinyoro’ Shizha (60) appeared in the Herald and Munyori Literary Journal in September last year, featured for his exemplary love for books, he went on a
voluntary charge especially in Epworth to spread the good news about reading.
An awareness of
books is growing among the youths and one of them, Courage Mlambo (19), has
become a regular borrower of books and mentee at the WIN director’s residence
in the same area of Epworth.
All credit goes to
Mudhara Sinyoro who referred Courage and keeps referring others to WIN. To
date, Courage has read more than ten different books from the WIN director’s
library.
The young bookworm
has been compliant with his mentor’s strict exercises which include reading the
book twice or thrice before honestly analysing it or putting together
observations into a brief review.
Hanging on the
bookshelf in the director’s home office is Courage’s batch of handwritten
analyses of the books he has read.
This exercise has
been exciting for both mentor and mentee.
Born in 2003 in
Epworth, Courage went to Epworth Primary School and then Matthew Rusike College
for his secondary education. At the college, he got involved in the public
speaking/ debate club, and spent his spare time in the library.
Although there were
no books by African writers in the college’s library, he says just the act of
reading expanded his consciousness. The librarian, Sister Ivy, became familiar
with Courage’s growing avidity for books.
Asked how the
current mentorship with WIN director has benefitted him so far, Courage said,
“It has helped increase my knowledge because my mentor Mr Tapureta tests me by
giving me different types of books, even magazines. Through reading, my understanding
of language and certain issues has been boosted. I also have realized that even
though I had other hobbies, these hobbies are now drawing their energy from my
reading habit. That means a great motivation.”
Of all the books he
has read so far, Courage picked out three as his favourites or which he enjoyed
most. These are Life On The Wing
(2016, Booklove Publishers) by Ratidzo Zinyama, Harvest of Thorns (1989, Baobab Books) by Shimmer Chinodya and Five Nights Before The Summit (2019,
Weaver Press) by Mukuka Chipanta.
To his peers,
Courage says, “Be focused. If you have a desire for books, just follow it. You
will actually in the future grab the prize of reading. As for me, I am still on
the way, reading.”
2021 IN RETROSPECT
Edwin Msipa aka Black Mampara
ALTHOUGH 2021 was COVID 19-ridden,
Zimbabwe's literary arts exponents never disappointed. True to the old adage ‘make
hay while the sun shines’, they kept the pen and their minds in motion
throughout this tough year.
Indeed, just like
the message in celebrated Zimbabwean musician Jah Prayzah's song, 'Hello' which urges people not to procrastinate,
the literary sons and daughters of Dzimbahwe enlightened the year 2021 with
lots of books.
One such book The Life and Legacy of Zimbabwe's First
Black Advocate and Patriotic Freedom Fighter written by Elias Chipadze Machemedze
caught the eye of The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency,
Cde E.D. Mnangagwa who then led by example by officiating as the Esteemed Guest
of Honour at the launch of this well-researched biographical book.
The book is based on
the life history of one of Zimbabwe's gallant sons, national hero Cde Herbert
Wiltshire Chitepo.
The launch happened
on the 7th of May at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe(NGZ) in Harare. In his
encouraging speech, President E.D Mnangagwa had this to say, "As such, I
am humbled that already there are young writers like Mr Elias Chipadze
Machemedze who have taken it upon themselves to research and document our
history. Machemedze's efforts that resulted in this biographical book of note
on Chairman Chitepo that we are launching today should not only be highly
regarded, but should also be encouraged among our youthful creatives."
Indeed, the
President seemed to have foreseen the immediate future's results in the arts
circles: a barrage of exciting literary works oozed out of publishing houses
like fast moving bullet trains coming out of a tunnel on a busy day. A lot of
young writers came out of their shells.
The ‘teething’, young primary school learner, Onald Gwiriri,
shone with his debut children’s book The
Cursing Tortoise (2021) which made history by winning the 'Outstanding
Children's Book award this year. By this feat, Onald Gwiriri became the
youngest author to bag a NAMA award, a great unmatchable feat it was!
The wheel kept on
turning. The humble and charming Kuwadzana-based writer and publisher Prosper
'The Birthday boy' Njeke, founder of Proscripts Publishers, published 'Muri
Mahedheni' which he co-authored with Joseph Marayo. It is an exciting Shona
novel.
Njeke also
co-published an academic book with Edwin Nkonjera titled Chikwaturo Chebvunzo, and another Shona poetry anthology with other
writers.
Farai Manguvo and
Oscar Gwiriri weighed in with four books each.
Another high profile personality, Deputy Minister of Youth, Arts Sport
and Indigenization, Honourable Tino
'Tintin' Machakaire launched of his book, Moyo Inzenza in Glen View, Harare. The Minister urged writers to
use their local languages so as to promote them - a duty which the now defunct
Literature Bureau and the Government of Zimbabwe has been trying to push since
independence.
Economist Eddie
Graham Cross came on stage with a 153-paged, thirty chapters long book titled A Life Of Sacrifice, an authorised
biography of His Excellency Cde E.D. Mnangagwa. It tells the life history of
the President of Zimbabwe from childhood to his position now as leader of
Zimbabwe. The book was launched on the 15th of August 2021.
Tracy Masocha,
better known as Matshuma, headlined the foreign contingent of Zimbabwean
writers with a gem of a non-fictional book In
Defence of Children (Prevention of Child Abuse), which highlights the
plight of abused children. Based in Mzansi, Masocha fervently speaks on behalf
of tormented children and at the same time tries to offer preventive measures
to fight off all the forms of child abuse.
Memories were
revived of the great Literature Bureau's 1980’s 'Book Boom' period when editors
like Stanley Nyamfukudza and others had an uphill task of making sure that the
locals' literary works get exposure. This was a period loaded with great
unmatchable talent such as Dambudzo Marechera, Charles Mungoshi, Tsitsi
Dangarembga, Stanley Nyamfukudza himself, Virginia Phiri, Barbara Makhalisa Nkala.
Echoes of the ‘Book
Boom’ period returned in 2021 although a lot still needs to be done in terms of
quality. Many a time literary arts analysts' clarion call is clear: Read
widely, write, self-edit your work, give the work to credible editors, pay for
the service, get quality printers and put correct font sizes appropriate to the
reader's level and market the final product
with vibrancy.
Renowned editor,
poet, actor and award-winning journalist Tinashe Bob Muchuri who published a
gem of a children's book entitled Auntie
Mazvita in 2021 had this to say about quality, "A lot of books were
published in 2021 but most of them are half-baked cakes especially when you
look at how they are organized."
Muchuri however,
noted that not all apples in the literary bags were bad. "We have had
outstanding writers with some penning and publishing three or more books."
Poet, book reviewer
and newspaper columnist Lazarus Sauti also concurred with Muchuri's observation.
"The writers should
invest in manuscript assessment, editing, proofreading, cover design, printing
and binding. It’s high time we should value professionalism and quality rather
than half-baked books,” he said.
Vibrant Norton-based
publisher, Aleck Kaposa added his sentiments, "We had a fair share of good
stories, well-written and amazing but at
the same time some books betrayed the fact that they were first drafts and
lacked thorough rewriting, and hence the editing was laborious. Some were
unnecessarily long, rambling and wordy. Good writers use KISS: Keep It Short
and Sharp."
He also noted that
writers need to read widely so as to be enlightened."
One of the long
standing living heroes in the book sector, writer and arts guru Aaron Chiundura
Moyo believes there is a lot which needs to be done in terms of supporting the
arts industry especially during this COVID 19 period when most artists are not
active.
Faced with this kind
of a scenario, young writers have a daunting task of not rushing their works so
that the best comes out by letting their art works pass through all the steps
without skipping one.
It would sound unfair
to sign out without mentioning great works by Marabi musician Kireni Zulu who
hails from writer and publisher Daimon Phiri's rising stable. Kireni's pen
danced twice in 2021 and produced two beautiful pieces: Mhosva Haiori and Chisi
Hachieri Musi Wacharimwa.
Also not to be
outdone was Thobekile Mhlanga. Her English-Shona-Ndebele workbook is quite
interesting to all who intend to learn these exciting languages.
As usual, lyrical
poetess Batsirai E. Chigama never disappointed. Ruth Tsopotsa and Kwanele
Khumalo shone too with their resplendence in pure word play.
Nakie Michie, an
online novels writer reminded writers that one can make a living through the
literary arts way in this new digital era. In one of her radio interviews last
year, Nakie confirmed that online publishing can be a source of living for a
writer. And she is a shining example!
There are more books
published last year which are not
mentioned here.
SO YOU WANNA WRITE?
Beaven Tapureta
Writer, humanitarian and entrepreneur Sympathy Sibanda
Eight concise
chapters make up this important book in which the author incorporates her
personal experiences since the age of nine when she already had drafts of poems
and stories.
The opening chapter
‘Who Can Publish A Book?’ underscores the importance of recording ideas on
paper either as an individual or institution. Sibanda decries the loss of
institutional memory caused by the absence of a research and documentation
department in any organization. Even individuals, they need to write down their
ideas in any form that preserves memory, for this will in turn inspire future
generations.
In the second
Chapter ‘So You Wanna Write?’ she says although one has to first make it clear
what theme one is tackling, genre to be used and researches to be done, above
all this one needs dedication and persistence.
Writing involves the
physique as well. In the chapter ‘Ink To Paper’ she provides the tips to help a
writer enjoy his/her job of actual writing, such tips as drinking water or
juice between intervals, giving oneself enough time to sleep, or taking the
time out to go out to breathe the fresh air and absorb the natural environment.
When the first draft
is completed, the onus is upon the writer to do the first editing. This is
explained in the chapter ‘Remove The Dirt’. In the same chapter she also
explains the job of an outside or consulted editor.
This small e-book is
enlightening, with more chapters such Chapters that deal with issues budding
writers have to be wary of after they are sure the manuscript is complete and
edited include ‘Beauty Smells Good’ which sheds light on the value of book
designing, ‘Books Got DNA Too’ which explains why the ISBN or EAN is important,
‘Author Photo Is A Big Deal’, ‘Blurb: What’s That Word?’ and ‘Self-Publishing
Versus Indie Publishing’.
Sympathy is the
author of a poetry collection titled Matters
Of Life. She is also an award winning entrepreneur, humanitarian and
celebrity ghost-writer. Her company that
offers book consultancy services (ghost-writing, editing and publishing) to
people from all walks of life. They have worked with politicians, business
personnel, Pastors, students among many others. They encourage people to
document experiences for the sake of telling authentic stories and building
legacies.
THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE
Mimi Machakaire
It’s 2022
As
writers, we have our goals that we want to accomplish. There are those who say
they want to see returns from their work, whatever it maybe and there are those
who simply want to get published on whatever platform they find, whether they
are paid or not. So you have to think
for yourself and ask what are you doing or what have you accomplished within
these months that have already passed? What do you want out of life and how are
you going to work towards it? There are steps one can take to achieve this.
Now
you may ask yourself what is manifesting. For those who don’t know, manifesting
is based on the "law of attraction",
or the idea that you get what you put out into the world. Ever had a relative
tell you when you were younger, "You'll attract more flies with honey than
vinegar"? It's kind of like that.
Manifesting
is all about using your thought patterns, mindset, and self-beliefs to attract
what you want most.
Your
thoughts and beliefs have immense power to shape your reality. If you have a
negative outlook, or focus on the obstacles, the way you think can hold you
back.
On
the other hand, if you shift the way you think towards being more positive and
proactive, it can help move you forward in seriously incredible ways.
· You
have a goal that you're motivated to achieve.
· You've
felt stuck when trying to meet your goals in the past.
· You're
ready to adopt a more positive mindset.
1.
Get crystal clear
on what you want to manifest
· I
want to have a bigger house
· I
want a new designer bag
· I
want more money
·
Try
creating vision boards either digitally or manually, with the exact house you
want or that Chanel bag you’ve always dreamt of. Often at
times, people have recommended Pinterest that can help as a source of
inspiration. Take as much time as needed to realize what you really want and
desire, make it as real as possible, so it’s almost like it’s yours already.
2.
Affirm Your Goals
Start
creating affirmations on what you really want and repeat them over the shower
or otherwise. When you wake up, before going to sleep, make this a habit into
your daily routine and most importantly believe in what you’re saying, it
really makes the difference.
3.
Work and Take Action
4.
Keep your vibes as high as possible
5.
Act as IF
Some
few extra activities used by others that might help you on the way of creating
your dream life by manifestation are meditation, yoga, podcasting,
or crystal vibes.
Surround yourself of high vibes and believe you can and deserve to have
everything you want. Once you’ll be ready to do the step of trust the universe
will give you back. And this is just the start on your journey.
CONCLUSION
As
youth, we need to focus on our career goals and the life we want to build for ourselves
without sinking into negativity and other unnecessary drama. Drink water, keep
healthy, work on your dreams, mind your business and leap into a better version
of yourself than what you were yesterday. Its 2022, if your life hasn’t changed
by now, still there is time to start manifesting.
CHILDREN’S
LITERATURE IN ZIMBABWE
As
we celebrate with 10-year old genius Onald Gwiriri who scooped the Outstanding
Children’s Book award at the NAMAs this year, we ask: why writers still seem to
be ‘slow’ to get into writing children’s literature in Zimbabwe?
Onald Gwiriri: History Maker
Aleck Kaposa
That ten-year old Onald Gwiriri’s
book, The Cursing Tortoise published by
Essential Books Publishing Company won a NAMA award in the Outstanding
Children’s Books Category was probably
the biggest news of this year’s edition of the prestigious awards is
undeniable. As soon as the nominees’ list was released, the young boy’s name
started making headlines in all major newspapers in Zimbabwe.
Although Essential Books Publishing
Company had another nominee in the same children’s books category, veteran
writer, actor and journalist Tinashe Muchuri, it was Onald on whose eyes the
media focussed. Journalists from The Herald, The Sunday Mail, The Standard,
The Chronicle, NewsDay and other papers, sought to interview the boy who
had suddenly become a celebrity, his parents, his publishers, his teachers and
even brothers and sisters. Towards the
awards night and soon after there were so many photoshoot sessions and
interviews. Whilst there was that visible scramble, behind the scenes there was
an unnoticed group that engaged in its
own gold rush that the media took no notice of, the scores of writers who have
trekked to our company to seal publishing deals because of our unparalled history
of half a dozen appearances at NAMA awards.
Essential Books Publishing
Company is indeed proud to have contributed to the history-making feat,
publishing the youngest writer ever to win a NAMA award. We give all the glory
to the Most High God.
Children's Literature: A
Neglected Area in Zimbabwean Literature
Dr
Ignatius Mabasa
(Article
first appeared in the BWAZ Writers
Scroll, 2002)
Dr Mabasa telling a story to children in 2014 at the ZIBF
(Photo: Winzim Online)
Well, maybe writers
are not to blame; maybe there is no market for children’s books in Zimbabwe.
But, that is just an excuse; writing should not be determined by the market,
especially good writing. A good writer should just tell his or her story and
worry about market and profits afterwards.
In any case, the
market is there for children’s literature in Zimbabwe; the only problem is that
we tend to think that imported foreign stories are better than ours. I think it
is time to make local publishers think otherwise. Remember those cheap-priced
Literature Bureau books we used to buy for 2 cents and 5 cents some years ago?
Writing for children
is a very interesting area which I encourage budding writers to explore.
Children need stories more than adults do, and children are better when it
comes to visualising places, characters and other things that happen in their
novels, stories, etc. That is why I always argue that it is better to tell/read
a story to a child than hiring or showing them a video where all the
characters, setting, voices, etc. are a creation of somebody.
Stories, unlike
movies, allow children to visualise and build their own characters and settings
and dress the characters the way they want. Videos do all that for children,
theirs is to just sit and absorb – the mind is not challenged to be
imaginative.
Like I have already
mentioned above, it is good thing if budding writers could try to explore the
genre of children’s literature. The themes are simple and often it is easy to
have control over the story and its characters, unlike in adult works.
VOICE FROM THE
MOUNTAINS
Clever Simbarashe
Kavenga
(Mutare)
Tichamupeyi Comfort Nyandoro
IT IS REFRESHING to be back
online again. Greetings to you all our dear readers.
In the world that we live today
it looks like it's now a dog-eat-dog situation. Yes, some would say each man
for himself but God for us all. In these
bad situations the least you can expect is someone who sacrifices his or her
precious time for others.
In these shambles of
tattered hearts stars do shine. As the great minds say, the star shines brightest during the darkest hour, so it comes to
be true to us as we have our own every day unsung heroes and heroines and in
the arts sector, Tichamupei Comfort Nyandoro is one of our everyday unsung
heroine.
Through 2nd Street
Writes, a writer’s organization based in the city of Mutare, I got in touch with
Tichamupei Comfort Nyandoro. She is well known in the local art circles as
Teacher Comfort. Once she was a teacher but she is retired now to dedicate much
of her precious time to the arts.
Tichamupei has
authored a book Women Exceed published
on Amazon. She also has got Shona poems published in a number of anthologies
such as Mupakwa Parwendo, Ngoma
yeDzimbahwe, Yarira Ngoma yeNhetembo, Chainga Chenduri and Nduri Upenyu. Her play entitled Zvichatinakira is her latest book
published by Progressive Book Publishers. And by the way, Mupakwa Parwendo is in the current school syllabus for A’ Level.
Tichamupei works
with 2nd Street Writes as its program coordinator; she has run a number of
online writing lessons to sharpen creative skills of younger and other willing
fellow writers.
Teacher Comfort has a
soft spot for the children, women, and the marginalized poor people, those that
cannot stand up for themselves. Through her works she is the voice of the
voiceless.
Her never-say-die
attitude has seen her art organization called ZIMPAST (Zimbabwe Performing Arts
for Schools Trust) which has partnered with 2nd Street Writes to produce radio
dramas. ZIMPAST is based in Masvingo town where Tichamupeyi currently lives.
Before I pen off it
would be my pleasure to say, go on,
sister, go on thinking outside the box!
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