Registered under the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe

07 April 2022

WIN LITERARY NEWSLETTER, VOL 2, ISSUE 19

 (This is an official newsletter of Writers International Network Zimbabwe, edited and published by its Publishing Unit)

 

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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

 Comment by Emmanuel Sigauke (writer)


“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

 

  THE INTERVIEW WITH MABASA


 

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

Click Here



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.

 (Read an interview with Bryony published in our previous issue, DOWN MEMORY LANE )

 

 

 GLORY: REFLECTIONS ON AN INSPIRED READING

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).


When Glory was virtually launched in California, an event co-hosted by a Los Angeles and a San Francisco bookstore, I was there, holding a conversation with the author; we were introduced as two California-based Zimbabwean writers chatting in front of a virtual audience.  For both of us, this was a good moment for Zimbabwean literature, and for the new novel. The author had requested that the dialogue be moderated by a Zimbabwean to allow for an insider perspective of issues covered in the novel. I agreed with that approach. As it turned out, the conversation, occasionally interrupted by jealous technology glitches, organically focused on some of key issues of the novel. We didn’t cover everything (it’s impossible and inadvisable to do so), but we touched on issues that truly resonated with me.

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.’

 -Charles Mungoshi (from the poem ‘The Lonely People’ in The Milkman Doesn’t Only Deliver Milk, Baobab Books, 1998)

 

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

 

 AWARD-WINNING POET Catherine Magodo-Mutukwa has launched an organization called Rootz Foundation that will work with children and youths to ensure that they enjoy their “fundamental rights to reach their full potential”.

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.

 

 WE LOVE YOU MAMA GWETAI

 

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.

 CLICK HERE


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


 ‘SO YOU WANNA WRITE: SPREADING THE MESSAGE’  is a helpful, 30-paged free e-book put together by poet, humanitarian and entrepreneur Sympathy Sibanda to help beginning writers learn the general writing and publishing process.

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

 It’s 2022 and we all had our resolutions as the year began. We are now 4 months into the year and what have you accomplished? Yes, some may say they have accomplished a lot and others, for some reason, some things haven’t so far worked out the way they planned. Is there any reason to give up or any motivation to keep going?

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.

 5 Ways to Understand What Is Manifesting and How to Use It

 So how do we get the things that we want? Well through hard work, prayer and manifesting, all is possible. This means putting in all the good energy out into the world, having a positive mindset and working towards your goals in a step-by-step fashion.

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.

 Give manifesting a try if... 

·  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

 You need to be specific on what you want to start manifesting. This doesn’t work like:

·  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

 If you truly want something, you need to ask for it most of the time, right? If you want a coffee, you order it and so on, when manifesting there is not much difference.

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

 Journaling is one of the best ways to work on your goals, start step by step and don’t overcome yourself with too much rambling detail. This is a journey that you have to enjoy and take with ease. You can do it in the morning as you write down how you want your day to be, don’t forget to be specific, or just before going to sleep you can write down everything you’re grateful for; it should become another habit to feel that confidence and motivation within yourself.

 

4. Keep your vibes as high as possible

 According to the Law of Attraction, you attract what you are sending out. So to attract more of what you want, you just need to raise your vibration. These vibrations will be like little signals you are continuously sending out to the universe. You must tune your signal to a vibration worthy of receiving it; at this point, you’ll probably start seeing results.

 

5. Act as IF

 The best and most powerful way to apply manifestation is: Act as if it is already true. Act like the person you want to be. Act as if you already have everything you want. Act as if everything you need has already been provided. When manifesting, think yourself living in the house you want or working in the office you want.

Some few extra activities used by others that might help you on the way of creating your dream life by manifestation are meditationyoga, 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

 In the end, the truth is that the power to manifest lies within you. Whether you’re a writer, journalist, artist, doctor or lawyer, you just have to learn how to use it. Whatever you think about, you are manifesting into your life. If you constantly think about what you don’t want to see happen, that is exactly what you will manifest.

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)

 

 ALMOST ALWAYS, you hear budding writers talk of writing poetry, short stories, novels, plays, but you never hear them mention that in these genres they are actually focusing on writing for children.

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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