"These My Gifted Hands"

Mary Machado, a member of Bilaal Islamic Academy writers' club, Epworth

Chirere Enamoured By The Short Story

In the early evening of October 16, 2012, writers in Harare met at the Spanish Embassy's Culture Centre to take pleasure in a reading by award-winning short story writer Memory Chirere. The discussion  was one of the regular book club meetings initiated by the Culture Centre this year. Chirere read with touching lucidity a story from his collection Tudikidiki and then later invited writers to comment, ask questions and discuss different aspects of the story. The short story was translated into English to benefit book club members who do not understand Shona. Below are pictures from the book club discussion:

Memory Chirere referring to Tudikidiki after reading a story

 The group that attended

 Tinashe Muchuri explaining some point during open discussion

 Beatrice Sithole making a point during discussion

 Virginia Phiri (left) enjoying the discussion

 Shimmer Chinodya (seated) looks on as Chirere signs a copy of his book

 Chirere and Ximena  Sartori, Deputy Head of Mission at Spanish Embassy

 Chirere poses with Portia Nyambayo, a lecturer at the Catholic University in Zimbabwe

DID YOU KNOW?.......CHIRERE'S ENGLISH SHORT STORY ANTHOLOGY  "SOMEWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY" HAS BEEN SELECTED AMONG OTHER BOOKS AS A SCHOOL SET BOOK FOR ADVANCED LEVEL LITERATURE STUDIES (2013)IN ZIMBABWE

(All photos by Writers International Network Zimbabwe)

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 58

EDITORIAL

WIN's iniatives are mainly targeted at schools and out-of-school aspiring writers and poets. We are so glad that we are gradually capturing the new aspiring writers with the support of parents, teachers and guardians. Manuscripts being submitted for assessment by these new writers from across Zimbabwe give the strongest conviction that untapped writing talent exists in our country and WIN shall not tire to do all it can to realize the dreams of these young  authors. Congrats for the umpteenth time to all winners in different categories of our inaugural writing competition. We also would like to congratulate Violette Kee-Tui for grabbing this year's Yvonne Vera Award at the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo. This newsletter summarises a point, that if you are a writer, the secret to winning is reading. We urge unpublished writers to read as much as they can. WIN has reading material at its partner's office, that is, the Global Arts Office and at its outreach office in Epworth. We are grateful to individuals and organisations that have donated books to us in recognition of the work we are doing. Should you need a different book to read, at least join the WIN family and launch yourself to informed higher levels of creativity. We hope this issue brings you closer and closer to the pool of literary knowledge and information. Thank you,

Beaven Tapureta

Founder & Director

EPWORTH NEW WRITERS RISE

Bilaal Writers’ Club (at Bilaal Islamic Academy) in Domboramwari, Epworth, the first school writers’ club to be launched in Epworth under WIN’s community outreach programme,  this term begins its weekly meetings expected to sharpen writing skills of its members.

The club patron Mrs. Tapureta, who also teaches at the academy, said the membership is growing as students are finding it helpful to affiliate to the club to improve their language skills.

She said one of first tasks of the club will be to elect a club committee and come up with relevant activities.

One of the writers’ club members Panashe Banda, won 2^nd Prize in the WIN/GAT 2012 Short Story Writing Competition in the English Category. 

Another unpublished writer, Supa Mafuta, who lives in Epworth, won 2^nd Prize in the competition’s Shona language category and this only confirms the talent in Epworth.

Ali Simbi, who also scooped a prize in WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition, has relocated to Epworth and is eager to see Epworth Branch grow.

WIN embarked on the Outreach Programme in February this year to help unpublished writers and poets in the Epworth community develop their writing talents and introduce platforms to showcase these talents. The program also aims to provide reading resources and promote reading culture.

Bilaal Writers' Club Patron Mrs. Tapureta whose passion for promoting young writers in Epworth is immeasurable

 

Some members of the Bilaal Writers' Club pose with their patron Mrs. Tapureta, a teacher at Bilaal

Bilaal Writers Club, Epworth

Supa Mafuta shows his certificate and book prize at WIN's Office in Epworth; he is one of the winners in the 2012 writing competition

Supa posing next to the loaded book shelf at WIN's office in Epworth

 ...the skills training workshop may have lapsed in  the past but its memories are still fresh...

 Mrs. Nonhlanhla Siziba from Mazowe, author of A Timeless Marriage also attended the workshop to learn more about short fiction writing.

 Portfer Gwengweni, an upper six student at Mt Pleasant High, Harare, won 3rd Prize in the WIN/GAT Writing Competition (English Category)

 David Major from Norton displays his Certificate of Participation

SPANISH EMBASSY'S CULTURE CENTRE RESUMES 
BOOK CLUB ACTIVITIES

 The Cultural Centre at Spanish Embassy in Zimbabwe has resumed its Book Club activities after a lull likely to have been caused by the death of the then Ambassador Pilar Fuertes Ferragut, in April and transference of its two diplomats, Victoria Tur Gomez and Marina Garcia, to other countries a few months later.

According to an invitation sent to writers, the Book Club, launched in March this year to motivate critical reading of creative works through focused discussions on monthly basis, will meet at the Culture Centre next week October 16, 2012, at 5pm to discuss Memory Chirere’s award winning  books Tudikidiki and Toriro and His Goats.

At the last meeting some months ago, the Book Club discussed Lawrence Hoba’s short story collection The Trek and Other Stories and also touched on Dorothy Chanakira’s A Mother’s Desire.

The revival of the Book Club’s monthly meetings will no doubt add to the growing frequency of various writers’ meetings being organized in Harare to provide writers with opportunities for exchange of ideas and literary information

The Cultural Centre is situated at 16 Phillips Avenue (off 2^nd Street), Belgravia, Harare, and those who wish to attend Book Club monthly meetings can contact Romee Fisher at the following email romee.fisher@maec.es

2012 INTWASA SHORT STORY WRITING COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED 
(THE YVONNE VERA AWARD)

The late Zimbabwean writer Yvonne Vera

Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo has announced this year’s winner of The Yvonne Vera Award for short story writing. This year’s winner is Violette Kee-Tui with her short story Tattered Cloth. The short story was judged the best out of 81 short stories submitted this year. The Intwasa Short Story Competition is an annual event organised by Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo. Violette Kee-Tui’s Tattered Cloth faced stiff competition from Sipho Mpofu’s A Congenial Man and Nixon Nembaware’s The Rain God of Nyatanga Hill.  For her efforts Violette Kee –Tui won $500. The Yvonne Vera Award is supported by Hivos and the Norwegian Embassy and seeks to promote and honour creative writing, particularly short story writing in Zimbabwe.

In short Tattered Cloth is the story of forbidden love, and a relationship that is doomed from the beginning. It is well told and almost seamless. The judges fell in love with the story and heaped praise upon praise on Violette Kee-Tui’s narrative skills. 

Previous winners of the Intwasa Short Story Competition, which has developed into Zimbabwe's leading writing competition, include 'amaBooks writers Thabisani Ndlovu, Bryony Rheam, Chaltone Tshabangu, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma and Bongani Ncube.

(Adapted from the ‘amaBooks blog)

THE REGULAR WRITER

(The following short story 2^nd Prize in the WIN/GAT 2012 Short Story Writing Competition English language category)

Wife Used Husband To Carry Letter To Boyfriend

By Panashe Banda

Like any other policemen, I wore my cap to work everyday. Yesterday it somehow dropped, I don’t know how. I picked it up and I was about to put it on when I noticed a small piece of folded paper peeping out of a slit. Half of the other piece was still embedded in the folder. I was filled with deep suspicion and curiosity. The crumpled paper read, “My sweetheart Tau, how is your day, today…..boring because you didn’t come yesterday. Maybe my husband was overworking you. Reply please, your loving sweetheart Lucy.”

I was dumbfounded, my heart started beating violently, and anger choked me! My very own wife playing dirty tricks on me! With my best friend for that matter! I must do something straight away, I was saying this to myself. Set a thief to catch a thief as the saying goes. I took the note and pocketed it. I was burning with revenge. That word “revenge” came to my mind again and again. But something worried me, how can I return evil with evil? I couldn’t do what my best friend was doing with my best wife. His wife lived very far away in the rural areas.

I am a 26 year old father of two, married to Lucy my childhood sweetheart. Our love is of highest order, we are glued together. We are inseparable. Taurai Mhamha had warned me one day. His advice fell on deaf ears. The two of us are both policemen and Lucy stood by my side; come what man will never attract me. She assured me, “till death do us part,” I was saying this in return.

I could not have failed her. My wife is pretty, to put it mildly. I don’t know how I, a mere policeman managed to snatch her from other eligible bachelors. I nearly jumped sky high. I couldn’t believe it. The net was closed and the two big fish were caught. After work I invited Tau to my place as I always did. We had our supper the three of us at the same table like what Jesus did with Judas Iscariot.

I had promised Tau an interesting story as I had promised the same thing to Lucy. They had waited with patience for I always told them interesting stories. I looked at Lucy then at Tau. Both faces were waiting, Lucy lost patience and demanded to hear the story I had promised and I knew it was time to go for it. Though fear took hold of me, I made up my mind to take the plunger.

“Beware of sheep in wolf skins,” I started my story, none of the two got what I was driving at. ‘The Bible warned us, didn’t it.”
"O you and your Bible," Lucy snapped.
In spite of her interruption I continued, ‘I don’t know what to say when things are falling apart like this. The centre can’t hold".

I was now speaking like a possessed man. My listeners looked at each other like a calves mesmerized by a python as I gave them their letters. A graveyard silence followed. What should I have said? Silence comes by wisdom and shouting by nature.

I lifted my head and saw both faces telling the same story…….Trickles of tears, tears, tears even me too…….tear. Shame is worse than death.

(Copyright: Panashe Banda)

THEATRE CORNER

Thespians here is an opportunity to enjoy theatre at its best. There are two plays, When Angels Weep and Diamonds In His Son's Grave, which will be running at different venues and be there to cool off the Harare heat.

When Angels Weep, a play written by award-winning Blessing Hungwe, will run at RepsTheatre Upstairs from October 3 to 5. All shows will start at 7pm save for Saturday when the show starts at 2pm. That Hungwe is a gifted playwright is no deception as his plays, including the 2012 NAMA winning play Burn Mukwerekwere Burn (Best Theatrical Production), have during tours touched many hearts by their excellent handling of topical issues. When Angels Weep, directed by Giles Ramsay (UK) features a cast that will not disappoint: Michael Kudakwashe, Privilege Mutendera, Rumbidzai Karize, Blessing Hungwe, Patrick Tembo and Julius Julius.

Diamonds In His Son's Grave, written by veteran playwright Stephen Chifunyise, will run from October 10 to 20 at the Theatre In The Park. The shows will be held from 5pm daily.

According to the play's summary, while digging a grave for his late brother-in-law, Farai Mutero discovers diamonds. An urgent meeting is convened with his in-laws to inform them on their find. The family welcomes the news with loud cheers except the head of house, Chituro Zinyemba, who is also the Headman and spirit medium in the community. While pondering on their move, an unexpected visitor drops a bombshell that spells disaster for the family.

Diamnonds In His Son's Grave was directed by Eunice Tava and produced by Daves Guzha. It features actors Charles Matare, Tinashe Chirisa, Priscilla Mutendera, and Getrude Munhamo.

NGATINYOREI

(The following short story won 2^nd Prize in the WIN/GAT 2012 Short Story Writing Competition Shona Category)

Kuyambutsa Datya

By Supa Mafuta (above)

Manyimbiri akadzungudza musoro. Muitiro waMambo Kadehwe wakamukandisa mapfumo pasi. Kwete iye oga. Mutsitsa wavanhu waivapo pamusi wokusarudzwa kwemukuwasha wamambo wakaomesa mate mukanwa sekasipiti komumhare. Manyimbiri akamboti pada airota. Akazvitswinya pabvi ndokuona kuti izvi zvaitoitika. Tenzi vaive vorarira mutakura pasisina chembwa. Manyimbiri akadzokera kumba kwake iwo muromo uri mumhuno.

Chomusi uyu chaida kuzvionera woga mumhuno sefodya. Venhomba yenyama vakadzamara vangoiti tuzu, ko vaigodii iyo ichinge mazhanje akada zvawo kubereka? Iriwo doro kuripedza zvakakona n’anga murapwa achida. Vana Gararirimo nana Musiyadzasukwa vaive vagonerwa. Wakabva wava mutambo chaiwo wakakodzera kuitirwa pamuzinda pamambo.

Ngoma yakadandauka. Vanagwenyambira vakaita mashiripiti hosho dzichibvumira. Shasha dzekutamba dzakaita zvidavado. Hakuzonge kuzeya kwenhembe nemhapa. Mitambo yose kusanganisira ngororombe nemuchongoyo yakapfuurwa nemairi. Netuzwi setwekurira kwenyenze vakatsetsenura dzimbo hururu ichitunga gore

Zvokutamba, kudya nekunwa izvi zvakafadza asi kwaingova kuvaraidza zuva. Nguva yekusarudzwa kwemukuwasha wamambo ndiyo chiyo yaive yakamirirwa. Moyo yevazhinji yaisakahadzika kuti Manyimbiri ndiye aizowana mwana wamambo nyangwe zvazvo Manyimbiri aikwikwidzwa nedzimwe shasha mbiri dzaiti Nyamadzawo naGurundoro.

Vanhu vakachizoti pasi ware kugara. Nguva yokutaura yakasiirwa gurukota guru ramambo, Nyumbwiri. Nyumbwiri akapukuta dikita kumeso asati atanga kutaura achiti:

“Changamire mutekwatekwa, makurukota, machinda navose varipano pamusha pamambo, pamusoroi.” Varume vakati maoko bu bu bu kuombera. Mhururu mheterwa zvakanzi kwetsu. Nyumbwiri akazoenderera mberi oti, “Nhasi kwanga kuri kumakunya nguo chaiko. Tafara tikazvirega. Vamwe tange tichatotsemuka nhumbu nekudya. Tose tinoziva kuti kukwira gomo hupotera. Zvose zvaingunoitika izvi kwanga kurikuvavarira kusvika pane ino nguva inotapira seuchi hwemonga. Mutsva panyaya yacho hapana saka ini Nyumbwiri kuwanza mashoko bodo. Kuti dzipakate handi kunzi dziridze. Pangu ndasakura ndazunza. Zvino ndochisimudza vaChibwechitedza. Chirera nherera vezamu rakasisa zvaro nemukaka. Changamire Mutekwatekwa,  Mambo Kadehwe, bapiro rakabvumbamira isu hukwana."
Mambo Kadehwe vakasimuka  kubva pachigaro chavo choushe izvozvo dumbu ravo seratagutapadare richinge richanzvenzvera pasi. Muruoko rwerudyi, Mambo  Kadehwe aive akabata tsvimbo youmambo. Changamire vakati koso koso ndokuchizotangisa kutaura neravo gobvu izwi serehandira ino kuma mumakura. Mambo haana zvizhinji zvaakataura. Akatenda gurukota rake Nyumbwiri uyo waakabva adzosa nguva kwaari zvakare mushure mokunge ati:

“Kutapira mwana wangu  akombodza. Asvika panguva yokuti achibikira murume. Haangakombere munhanga senhanga. Pashoko rangu riya rakare handipinduki. Ndinopinduka pakuvata chete. Ndakagara ndadudza newangu muromo kuti pfuma bedzi yandinotarisira kubva kumukwasha ndihwo umhare, uhombarume nehuhurudza. Ini sababa handina kukodzera  kudoma mukuwasha. Ndingatozodaro chete kana kwenyu imi ruzhinji kusarudza kwapoya.”

Nguva zvayainge yadzoswa kwaari, Nyumbwiri akati:

"Mutambo uya zvino watsvuka ropa. Tasvika pamoyo chaipo penyaya saka ivo tete vaKutapira ngavachinotora zvavo Kutapira.” Nyumbwiri akatuma zvakare Machaya rimwe ramachinda  amambo kuti andotorawo Manyimbiri, Nyamadzawo naGurundoro. Panguva yese iyi Kutapira aive munhanga make navaranda vake vatatu vaiti Reriya, Chioniso naChipochedenga. Hana yaKutapira yaingoti dhi dhi dhi achifungisisa kuti ndiyani aizo sarudzwa nevanhu kuti iye agozova mukwenyi wake wemhezi dzokumusana. Avawo Manyimbiri, Nyamadzawo naGurundoro yaingova fungira mumoyo. Nyamadzawo aizvibvunza mubvunzo wokuti mambo haazoputsa here chirangano achizomubatisa pasi. Kana aivapo murume ainyatsotendeseka kuti aifanira kuwana Kutapira, murume uyu aiva  Manyimbiri. Manyimbiri , Nyamadzawo naGurundoro vakazongoerekana vaona Machaya ati ngori mumba mavaive vari. Aive auya neriya  shoko  raaive atumwa naro raNyumbwiri rokuti vakwikwidzi vatatu ava vachiuya kumutambo. Vanyayi vakandotorawo Kutapira.

Meso avanhu vazhinji akanzi pana Kutapira ji. Deno runako rwaidyiwa mumaoko rwaKutapira rwunofanirwa kuva rwaitapira. Muromo waKutapira wakanyatsokomberwa sejira ramambo. Iwo meso airangaridza nyenyedzi nyamatsatse. Mwana wamambo aive shongarunako.

 Kutarisa kwavanhu kwaiti kukabva  pana Kutapira kwoenda paive pamire Munyambiri, Nyamadzawo naGurundoro. Varume vatatu vaive vamire vakapakata mapfumo avo nyangwe zvazvo yaisava nguva yehondo. Pamakore iwayo kwaitonga kutaura kwokuti kuva murume kutamba nepfumo. Mhandu hayaizivikanwa nguva yayainyuka  saka kwaaienda munhurume aitakura pfumo.

“Zvino achanzi mukuwasha wamambo Kadehwe achabva pavarume vatatu ava,” akadaro Nyumbwiri achinongedza vakwikwidzi. Achingodaro chete vanhu vakati vatanga kushamatata vachikuza. Vamwe vaikuza Manyimbiri, vamwe Nyamadzawo uye vamwe vachikuza Gurundoro. Nyambwiri akadanidzira runyararo. Akazoti, “Izvi hatingangozviite chimvokochera nhaka yemakonzo. Zvotoita ndezvekudai, avo vanosarudza Manyimbiri vachandomira seri kwakeriya. Vanosarudza Nyamadzawo vachandomira seri kwaChioniso vasarudzi vaGurundoro ndivo vachandomira seri kwaChipochedenga. Varanda vatatu ava vaKutapira ngavachimira vakataramukana kuitira kuti vasarudzi musatsokonyedzane. Ini naMachaya tichaverenga vasarudzi vevakwikwidzi vatatu.”

Vasarudzi vaManyimbiri vakasvika churu nemazana mana. VaNyamadzawo vakasvika mazana matatu nevanhu vatatu pamusoro zvimwechetewo navaGurundoro. Zvakabva zvangojeka  kuti Manyimbiri ndiye aive pamoyo yevakawanda. Zvaisagodaro nei iye aive atungamira hondo dzakawanda achikunda. Pamusoro pazvo pakurima Manyimbiri aive shuramatongo. Mombe Manyimbiri aiva nerufaya zvekuti aitoronzera vakanga vasina.

“Changamire Mutekwatekwa,” akadaro Nyumbwiri kunaMambo Kadehwe. “Kusarudza kwevanhu venyu vamunotungamira kwasvika kwamvura yacheka makumbo. Chido chavazhinji chareva kuti Manyimbiri ndiye achauchira gusvi pamusha penyu. Zvino tisati tapira makotsi tichidzokera kumisha yedu nguva kwamuri ndinodzosa.”

Mambo Kadehwe akasimuka achizvikakanyadza sehoromba yebveni. Vaivepo vakati pada kwaive kufarira kuwanirwa mwana nemutsikapatinhira werume, Manyimbiri. Asi zvakazobuda kubva mumuromo mamambo zvakavasiya vaota sedehwe.

Semuitiro wake wenguva zhinji, Kadehwe akakosora asati atanga kutaura akati:

“Chokwadi vanhu vemunyika mangu munondikatyamadza . Maratidza kuti hamushuviri ini mambo wenyu raramo. Makanganwa here makore matatu adarika patakarwisana nehondo yemadzviti? Ini Kadehwe ndaive ndotoda kunyudzwa pfumo nerimwe zidzviti rokusviba zvokuti rikabata kacheche kanobva karara kachiti kwadoka. Asi Nyamadzawo akazoriti nenyundo nechapano pakati pomusoro ga richibva rati rabada, kutaura kudai ndingadai ndakadzikotsira dzamabweadziva dzisina zviroto. Zvino mukuwasha ndaizomuwana sei ini ndatsamira churu? Vanhu vangu rangarirai kuti pakutanga ndamboti, ini samambo hazviiti ndidome mukuwasha. Ndingatozongodaro chete kana imi veruzhinji kusarudza kwenyu kwapoya. Zvino dama rangu nokuvhara musasa nderiri, pano ndakuunganidzirai kuti muzvionere ndichipa Kutapira kunaNyamadzawo.” Mambo akabva agare zvake pasi.
Nezuva raitevera racho Kutapira aizenge achindoperekwa pamusha paNyamadzwo. Usiku hwemusi waunganira vanhu kusarudza mukuwasha wamambo Kutapira akandovata kwavatete vake vaNyaya achirairwa. VaNyaya vakatemera Kutapira nyora vachiti dzaiva nyora dzekuti asazogara ari ndonda. Kutapira haana kuziva kuti aiva atotemerwa nyora dzegona rokusabvarura machira.

Sokubuda kwazvo zvinonzi pamambakwedza kutapira ava nemazuva matatu achigara naNyamadzawo, akarota achiruma guvhu ra Nyamadzawo fume mangwana wanike Nyamadzawo chava chando. Zvakatozonzwikwa kun’anga kuti Nyamadzawo aive auraiwa neuroyi hwaKutapira. Achinzwa izvi Manyimbiri akatenda varikumhepo achiti:

Makandibvira nepi varere mumakomo?

Zvandakasvika pamutambo wokusarudzwa kwemukuwasha

Wamambo ndaiva ndaisa munyundwa ndichiti ndichakunda

Vadzimu vangu makarwa mumire semvumba

Rwenyu rudo nhasi rwandiita ndibire mhiri neraramo

Makabata moyo waKadehwe iye ndokundivirimira

Changamire havana kuziva kuti kukava datya kuriyambutsa.

(Copyright Supa Mafuta)

Editor's Note: Should anyone thinks any of the short stories we are publishing have inklings of plagiarism, feel free to notify us, as we may have overlooked plagiarised features. Plagiarism is a serious crime. Lets help our new writers. Thank you

POETRY

The late Dambudzo Marechera Continues to Thrill

Read More on the following link:

AMELIA (poem of the Month)

KEEP READING, KEEP WRITING!

        

Issue No 58 coming soon...

'I am a Winner!'

Portfer Gwengweni, a committed aspiring writer and poet, also an upper six student at Mt. Pleasant High, Harare, shows off his Certificate of Participation. He won a prize in the inaugural 2012 WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition

MORE IN THE WIN NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO 58

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 57

EDITORIAL

Evelyn Chiradza, Glen View 2 High student, posing with some of the books she won in the writing contest organized by WIN/GAT in July/August
(Photo: WIN)

We applaud Glen View 2 High for leading by example. Surely, the school shall be a place from which winners in literature will emerge. This issue is deliberately short but has some important advice for writers, that we can make a living out the labor of our minds. This is real, though patience counts to fully enjoy the harvest. Congrats to our sister Novuyo Rosa Tshuma for her book Shadows which was recently launched in Harare. We are but glad the bus is moving on...moving on....please enjoy.

GLEN VIEW WRITERS’ CLUB SHINES

 On September 19 Glen View 2 High held its own memorable certificate presentation ceremony for members of its writers club (commonly known at the school as the News Agency Club) who participated in the inaugural 2012 WIN/GAT Short Story Writing Competition & the follow-up writing skills training workshop conducted last month (August). 

The Headmaster Mr. Masiiwa presented the certificates of participation to the seven members of the club who took the opportunity to shine in front of the whole school.The ceremony was held during the school assembly.

In his short speech Mr. Masiiwa said the writers’ club members should be proud as they are counted among the future writers of Zimbabwe.

In May and June this year some members of the Writers Club also participated in a Young Writers Project organized by the Centre for the Development of Women and Children (CDWC) in partnership with Writers International Network Zimbabwe.

The project involved three training workshops, running on Saturdays only, which were held at YWCA Westwood, Kambuzuma and were facilitated by renowned writers Memory Chirere and David Mungoshi.

Mr. Masiiwa gave credit to the writers’ club patron Mr. Chirumbwana, a teacher at the school, who has committed himself to identifying and nurturing talent in the youths. He also thanked other Glen View 2 High teachers for making sure that talent is not lost in all the fields that the students choose to pursue.

The seven writers’ club members who received their certificates are Evelyn Chiradza who won the Third Prize in the Shona Category, Tilda Gozho, Fanwell Sibanda, Zacharia Ganyaupfu, David Majuta, Isaiah Nyoni and Tatenda Mupariwa.

 The Ceremony in Pictures:

(All pictures by WIN)

 Ruvimbo Manyani performing at the assembly before the presentation

Tilda Gozho also did a poem at the assembly

 Tatenda Mupariwa speaking about what he and other writers' club members learnt from the WIN/GAT writing skills training workshop in August

Evelyn Chiradza, whose Shona short story won 3rd Prize in the writing competition, receives her prize from the Headmaster Mr. Masiiwa

 Fanwell Sibanda receiving his Certificate of Participation from the Headmaster

Zacharia Sibanda, another participant in the writing competition and workshop, receives his certificate

Students display their certificates

 With their club patron Mr. Chirumbwana

  This group participated in the  CDWC/WIN writing project in May/June this year
 

NOVUYA TSHUMA’S SHADOWS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN HARARE

Shadows, a debut novella by Zimbabwean writer Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, was officially launched at the Book Café in Harare on September 18. Below is the launch in pictures, more about the launch and book's review in our next issue:

(All pictures by WIN)

Memory Chirere and Tinashe Muchuri enjoying themselves

Tinashe Mushakavanhu who directed the launch

Tinashe Mushakavanhu shakes hands with Musaemura Zimunya

Novuyo talking to a reader

Novuyo reading from her book Shadows

That autograph is important!

Shadows lying on the table, ready to walk own journey

The launch also kept stomachs entertained

Musaemura Zimunya and Rutendo Chigudu enjoying the launch

Part of the crowd that attended the launch

WRITERS URGED TO BE BUSINESS-MINDED

Albert Nyathi, one of the presenters at the ZWA meeting held earlier this month

Established writers who have lived through it all in the industry have called upon their fellow artists to fully utilize the business aspect of their art.

The clarion call was made at a writers’ meeting hosted by Zimbabwe Writers Association beginning of this month at the British Council. An assorted group of writers attended the meeting.

Experienced writers such as Stephen Chifunyise, Musaemura Zimunya, Shimmer Chinodya, Aaron Chiundura Moyo, Virginia Phiri, who chaired the meeting, Albert Nyathi and others expressed concern at the desperate lives that artists live after they have worked so hard and made a name locally and internationally.

Although success cannot be measured in monetary terms per se, Albert Nyathi in his presentation said writers need to diversify in order to complement their meagre royalties.

“I am lucky that I happen to be both a writer and musician,” he said, adding that the local music industry has advanced more than the writing industry.

He said a number of local musicians have studios of their own now although the quality is in some cases compromised.

“People have set up their own studios and own record labels, making more money than they would have made had they followed the formal recording companies. At least musicians are now living in an environment that is negotiable,” he said.

The copyright trend in music has also been positive, said Nyathi. Nowadays, anyone playing an artist’s music to enhance their work (whether it is a restaurant, broadcaster, in a train or public bus, etc.) has to pay the artist.

Turning to the local writing industry, Nyathi said he may want to propose that when a book is published, a committee is set up to value the book and recommend government to buy say about 500-1000 copies of the published book.

He also urged writers to think outside the box and diversify their works and creativity. Film, music, adverts, etc., are fertile ground for a writer to make money.

His popular poem ‘I Will Not Speak’ was given to him by Chenjerai Hove and by permission re-worked it. Today the poem, produced as a song on one of Nyathi’s music CDs, is working very well for him everywhere he goes to perform.

He added that another way to earn a living through one’s writing is, for poets in particular, to be part of the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) which caters for composers as well. This is so because music is poetry and vice versa, he said. A poet can write a song for a popular musician and he/she can get paid by virtue of having composed or co-composed a song for/with a musician and get paid each time the song is played.

Nyathi encouraged writers to take with them their works whenever they travel. He said he has sold lots of copies of his CDs and books after performing locally and internationally as people always want to take something home as souvenirs.

“Performance has enabled me to survive and I am sure that the arts are capable of sustaining our lives,” he said.

Stephen Chifunyise’s presentation was read on his behalf by Monica Cheru as he could not attend the meeting due to circumstances beyond his control. Another presenter Virginia Jekanyika was also not able to attend.

Chifunyise laid out a few tips for writers to make their writing make more money.

He urged writers to make use of platforms such as the ZIBF, Harare Agriculture Show, and Zimbabwe International Trade Fair by setting up exhibition stands where people can buy their books.

The Writers’ Collective Stand, which Chifunyise initiated last year at the ZIBF, has come to the rescue of writers, particularly self-published writers who have difficulties in selling their books.

Another way to make a living out of writing propounded by Chifunyise is by taking advantage of the multiplicity of newspapers and magazines in the country and the birth of new radio stations.

“Writers must take up the challenge to become columnists or regular correspondents. They must approach editors to indicate subjects they would like to write about as well as research they would like to undertake in order to produce features that could be published. Radio channels need to be approached by writers who indicate that they can write for them, especially drama,” he said.

Chifunyise, whose passion is theatre, said there is a strong feeling among actors, directors and producers in Zimbabwean theatre that the shortage of scripts is a major challenge being faced.

“Writers interested in drama scripts for radio or stage or TV should seek partnerships with theatre groups. One can also approach actors whom they see on stage or TV and offer to write plays which they can present to producers of commercial theatre. Alternatively, writers can approach producers with their scripts and indicate the actors they had in mind when they wrote the script/play. Writers of such plays are paid once off fees or a percentage of the gate-takings when their plays are performed,” said the veteran playwright.

During open discussion another writer Memory Chirere Memory Chirere encouraged writers to write about things around them. He gave an example of another young writer from Shamva who is writing about the folklore in his area, specifically about the Chipadze Mountains in Bindura. Chirere said this new writer went to the traditional Chief in this area of Chipadze and had the Chief’s support in his writing project.

Chirere told new writers to write wherever they are. If new writers talk or approach people properly, it can be done, he said.

Shimmer Chinodya urged writers to take themselves beyond the book, beyond strategies. “What do we do with the money we get after writing?” he asked. Creativity is both the creative act and the business side (which many writers miss), he said, adding that money from art should make more money. Chinodya narrated what he did when he had a breakthrough with Harvest of Thorns which won the Commonwealth Prize (African Region) in 1989. He was invited to countries such as Germany, Sweden, Australia, and Jamaica where they used to give him daily allowances. He saved that as part of his royalties. He urged writers to tie up their moneys like a miser.

“Unosungirira kana wasungirira hazvina kupera, chienda wondotenga video camera or anything that you can sell in Zimbabwe and make more money),” he said to a loud round of applause.

The writers’ meeting was one of an ongoing series of bi-monthly meetings being organized by ZWA under main topic ‘How I Create’. The September 1 meeting was held under a sub-topic ‘How Writers Can Make Money from Their Writing’.

THEATRE CORNER

Actress Finds Inspiration in Family

 Gifted Actress Samantha Ndlovu

Samantha Ndlovu, second from left, with fellow performers

For some artists, the family is an inspiration to their art while for others, it is an opposition. Ruthless comments are made when one does not seem to make money out of it. Patience, known to be a virtue, reaches a point when it snaps and the artist is but an outsider to his family.

However, we know that talent, like a flower, needs water close from home. And this is attested to by the story of one such artist, actress Samantha Ndlovu, whose motivation has been grounded in her family.

The artistic spirit in her family discovered her at her tender age and shoved her onto the road of her own passion – acting.

Samantha’s father, Emiliot Ndlovu, used to play with the musical group called David Livingstone and The Presumers some time back in the 80’s. He playedas part of the crème de la cream of Zimbabwe’s earliest musical personalities and groups such as Safirio Madzikatire, the Zig Zag Band and the Bundu Boys.

Emiliot Ndlovu’s kids, inspired by their father’s deep love for performance, decidedly said yes to the call for their initiation into the larger circle of art.

Samantha’s brother, Gavin Ndlovu, has since formed his own band called The Talking Guitars and is dreaming big.

Her little sister is blessed with a beautiful voice. Although she has to concentrate on her studies right now, the sister is destined for great things in her musical career.

But how did Mother Muse stroke Samantha’s mind and told her to take to acting instead of, perhaps, music?

“I started acting when I was three years old. My father was an actor and musician. Whenever he did radio adverts, he would take me along and sometimes had me involved in the adverts,” says Samantha, who to date has featured in more than twenty theatre productions, and films such as I Want A Wedding Dress (Part One and Two), The Team, New Dawn and others.

Just when she started secondary school, her dad suffered a stroke. This could have broken her dream but it did not. The dream had to be pursued, the dream whose fulfillment she will dedicate to her father. “I joined drama groups when I was at secondary school. I began acting in school plays,” she says.

One day, a theatre director, named Patrick Tembo, watched her perform on television and right away saw talent in Samantha. He invited her to join his Highfield-based group called The Shooting Stars and this was the launch-pad to professional theatre.

Born in 1987, Samantha’s road has not been all that smooth as she met some ‘occupational hazards’ along the way.

Although herfamily has shown the light, she says that society out there is yet to fully accept the potential of the girl child and thatthere are still some people who do not understand what it means to be a female actor.

“Sometimes when I am playing the character of a prostitute, for example, I need to act like a prostitute but society where you come from may misinterpret that and start calling you names,” lamented Samantha.

Asked what she thinks about the state of theatre in Zimbabwe, Samantha says, “We have a long way to go. The problem is that we normally see the same actors over and over again in different productions. At times the actors do not fit in their roles, and therefore you find that although the script may be good, the cast or acting is really bad.

The answer to this, she says, is for the actors to have a desire to learn new things and for directors to understand what casting means.

Apart from acting, Samantha has also put pen to paper to describe the things she daily observes in her society. In 2001, she authored a play called “Confessions” which was accepted as part of HIFA Direct project.

She is today part of another project which is being done by Arts Lab in collaboration with CAFOID; this project deals with children’s rights. Through this project, Samantha and others have received training and have now been sent out to identify young people in different disadvantaged communities, especially schools orphanages, so that they are trained in a genre of theatre called ‘physical theatre’.

Physical theatre mainly employs pictures, movement and dance, says Samantha, who is working with St. Joseph’s Home for Boys under the project.

Asked what exactly she is doing at St. Joseph, Samantha says she equips the boys with knowledge of theatre, physical theatre in particular, and then asks them to tell their own real life experiences in their families and communities (using physical theatre).

“We will finally gather the boys’ parents or guardians so that they watch their children perform the stories they would have done with us. The best two groups will tour Harare and other towns,” she says.

The arts are known to be a bigger consumer of time for the artist, sometimes taking him/her away from friends and family for long periods. However, for Samantha, she never stops being there for her little darling son.

“I work almost from Monday to Sunday, sometimes on public holidays due to the nature of our work. Theatre is on demand every day. But I make sure that I spend time with my immediate family,” she says.

And one can easily imagine, the son is another star in the making.

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