WIN Newsletter, Issue No 81 Coming Soon

Down Memory Lane ...Let Passion Lead

The WIN Newsletter has so far come in 80 issues and as we walk back down the path ...to the very first newsletter, a two item piece, we think we ought to be thankful to you for reading and growing with it.

We may grow slowly but surely we do.

The Inaugural WIN Newsletter, Issue No 1 

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 80

EDITORIAL

 

Flashback: Writers enjoying 2011 WIN Writers’ End of Year Get-Together at the Book Café in Harare. From left: Clever Kavenga, Mashingaidze Gomo and Lexta Mafumhe Mutasa

We are glad that aspiring writers are actively participating in writing events around them and this is commendable.  We urge new writers to read as much local literature as they can so as to gain enough knowledge and be conscious of what others before them have written. A lot more other literary events are happening around us and what else can placate our hunger but to be part of all this inspiration.

Members may also have been wondering what is happening to the ‘4 in 1’ Poetry Anthology we are putting together.  We would like to make a reminder that WIN normally would love to step on every ground, albeit potholes and thorns thereon, to reach its Destiny. A book published should reach its readers and readers are not only reviewers, intellectuals, friends, relatives or teachers of the author, but readers are right in the community. WIN would like to publish works that get into the homes of Zimbabweans and/or neighboring countries and get the people sing the book like a popular song that will change lives/thoughts and celebrate African talent. Our elders did it with the Mapatya’s, the Tambaoga Mwanangu’s, the Coming of the Dry Season’s etc. A generation of our elder brothers and sisters still remember these books which they encountered long ago at school and at home. We can also do it. The ‘4 in 1’ Poetry Anthology, which is the first publishing project WIN has bravely taken up, is one of the books we want to unleash to celebrate our cultural diversity and gifts of poetry. We call upon aspiring poets writing in Ndebele and Tonga languages to send their poems to us for possible inclusion in the anthology. We thank you all for the support.

Please enjoy.

WIN INTRODUCES 'INSPIRATIONAL SATURDAYS' FOR MEMBERS

In response to its members’ desire to learn and exchange ideas, Writers International Network Zimbabwe has come up with a schedule of meetings dubbed ‘Inspirational Saturdays’ to be held at the association’s office in Harare every Saturday afternoon.

Different groups will be contacted to meet on certain Saturdays to discuss any chosen aspect of writing which the office deems pertinent to new writers. This also helps members get used to the office and updates. Reading each other’s pieces of works, discussing a certain topic and sharing new ideas will be some of the activities.  WIN will occasionally invite an established writer to share the afternoon with the members.

For more information, contact WIN.

GET YOUR COPY OF CHIRERE’S BHUKU RISINA BASA! 

Bhuku Risina Basa is now available in Harare at the Book Café Bookshop, 139 Samora Machel Avenue for $11 USD.

In the UK or in the neighbourhood, get in touch with Dr. Robert Masunga in Birmingham for your copy. It's going for £6.99 including postage in the UK. Phone: 00447788248187 Email: rmasungal@yahoo.co.uk (Taken From KwaChirere)

ZVIDZIDZO KUBVA MUMUTAKUNANZVA WENGANO DZAVAMABASA

Na Odreck Nyika

Some of WIN members with writer  Ignatius T Mabasa (second from right) at the Alliance Francaise on August 29, 2014.  Mabasa held storytelling events on this day and the following day at the venue. From left: WIN Volunteer Odreck Nyika, Mudikani Gondora, and Beloved Maridzanyere. WIN is grateful to writer Mabasa for according our members a chance to listen and learn from his storytelling.

Hapaidanwa anonzwa paAlliance Francaise musi wa 29 Nyamavhuvhu apo zuva rakanga rorereka. Takapakurirwa semanhanga nyaya dzinokodza moyo. Nyaya dzavaMabasa  dzaive nechenjedzo nezvidzidzo zvakakosha muhupenyu hwemunhu wese zvake. Chete bedzi kure kwemeso nzeve dzinonzwa. Idonzwaiwo zvimwe zvezvatakagoverwa munzeve dzedu.

Mune imwe nyaya vaMabasa vakabudisa pfungwa dzinoti ndambakuudzwa akaonekwa nembonje pahuma. Chidzidzo ichi chakafugurika senguwo yatorwa nemhepo apo vana vaHuku vananhiyo vakapinda muna taisireva. Kusateya nzeve kwavo kwakavaparira apo pavakanzi namai vavo musafambe-fambe. Vakafarisa zvekubvarura nguwo apo mumwe wavo akanhonga gonye. Gonye irori ndiro rakonzeresa zvose.

Mungano inonzi Mary neBhutsu Tsvuku kuda zvisizvake kwakaparira chimhandarasikana Mary. Hapana chimwe chinhu chakaba moyo waMary kupfuura bhutsu tsvuku yaakasangana nayo achienda kwambuya vake. Pfungwa dzaMary dzaida kuedza kubatanidza zvakanga zvichiitika asi pazvimbo yekuti bhutsu tsvuku idzi dzive dzake, iye akasara ari pagwenga.

Njere ndedzekufunga chokwadi sekubuda kwazvakaita mungano yaShumba naGava iyo yakataurwa navaMabasa vachishandisa mutauro unodakadza. Izvi zvakabuda pachena semhanza yembudzi iri pamabvi. Gava akashandisa Shumba zvinova zvakavhundutsa mhuka dzesango dzose. Gava haana kana kuzodyiwa naShumba!

VamaMabasa vakataurazve imwengano yedende. Imiwe kushora mbodza neinozvimbira kunowanikwa mazuva ano muhupenyu hwedu vanhu. Akashorwa nevamwe vose kamba apo akakumbira mukana wekuchera tsime remvura raicherwa nemhuka dzesango.  Nyaya iyi inonakidza nekuti Tsuro, uyo akaramba kubata basa nevamwe, aive netwakewo twunotemesa musoro mhuka dzesango. Inonakidzazve nekuti mhuka idzi dzinenge dzichishandisa nharembozha (cell phones). Ndatenda!

Nemiwo munogona kunakirwa nengano dzavaMabasa. Verengai zvizere nezvechirongwa chavo chengano icho chinonzi “Dende Rengano”:

THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

With

Mimi Machakaire (above)

Parents Should Support Their Children who Choose a Career in the Arts

There have been many misconceptions when it comes to children wanting to be artists such as singers, rappers, writers or to just generally be involved in the creative and performing arts. This is disheartening, because while it is understandable that some people really are not talented and should pursue other options, there are those who actually are, and might limit themselves from a potentially fulfilling and lucrative career. The truth is that there are people who can blow you away with their remarkable skills of drawing, telling stories, crazy dance moves and many more. I wish I had half the talent that some of these amazing young people have, and the fact is when they do have it, they will not stop until people notice who they are. It is not just a pipe dream to them; it is their life. 

Most parents think that when their child comes up to them and says that they would like to pursue a career in the performing arts this idea will not last long. While this is true in some cases, the same cannot be said about those who are genuinely talented and determined to realise their potential. Due to the volatile nature of performing arts careers and the fact that most establishing artists will not be paid or will be paid very little, it should be encouraged they can have something to fall back on if their first-choice career does not work out. 

But the smart thing to do would be to just support them. Get them used to performing in front of people. Whether it may be at weddings, parties, clubs, or even school assemblies, anything that involves a crowd large enough for them to gain the experience and build enough nerve to do a more professional event for the future. If they are not good enough, the crowd will tell them and reality will set in the moment they either forget their words or moves, or they hear their first “boooo!” If they are good, the crowd will cheer and enjoy themselves; that way you will know for sure if your child really has a chance at this or not. For the ones who get a positive reaction from the crowd, the more practice they get at being on stage, the more chances they have at becoming noticed by someone influential who may be watching them in the audience. You will never know who might be looking for new talent in the entertainment industry, and therefore you have to take every opportunity possible to expose the talents of your ambitious child. 

If your child wants to be a writer or author, look for magazines, websites and newspapers where they can send articles to on a weekly or monthly basis. Also, keep a watch out for any competitions they can take part in and stay in touch with other authors or writers who have made it, because they can also give your child advice on how to write better and get noticed that much faster. Help them sign up for any local workshops they can participate in over the weekend just to keep their creative juices flowing. The point is to make sure that their skills are continuously developing, and by the time they look for work or a paying opportunity arises it will not be as hard to find as compared to others who did not get that exposure and experience. 

For artists, I can understand why adults and parents may be scared about the idea of them pursuing their creative careers, since it is a highly competitive and unstable career. But if he or she has the drive and ambition, in order to avoid them ending up penniless in pursuit of their passion, search for schools they can go to that focus on the arts. That way the teachers or other facilitators at those schools can help them get connected to other artists and keep them in the know of any projects that they can participate in. It is easier to pursue your dream with a strong network of support, and when you are surrounded by other people who are just like you and share your interests. If worst comes to worst they can just as simply still become teachers or mentors in their chosen fields due to the contacts they have made; either way, they can do what they love and get a steady salary. 

The fact of the matter is there have been success stories of people who involved themselves in the creative arts. JK Rowling for example struggled to be an author but now she has one of the world’s most recognisable faces and stories. Oliver Mtukudzi struggled to be a singer and now his name is known even in places like Europe and USA. What is important is just how much passion that person has in order for them to go as far as they really want to. If parents keep saying no, there is the risk that children are stubbornly not going to listen to anyone, and at some point they will fail to realise that they are going in all the wrong directions in the hopes that they prove their point. But if, as a parent, you show your support, then they will look at all the options that will be presented to them and hopefully pick the right one in the hopes that they will make you proud as parents. Being involved in the creative arts is all about chance and talent. You either have it or you don’t, and if you have it then the chances of success are that much higher. There is a big difference between wanting to prove someone wrong and wanting to prove someone right. It all comes through how the adults of today react to the decisions that the adults of tomorrow will make.

NEW SHONA POETRY ANTHOLOGY PUBLISHED

 

Pictured above is a Shona poetry anthology Zviri Mugapu (ISBN 978-0-7974-6004-1) published this year. The anthology, edited by contributing poets Brian Tafadzwa Penny, CJ Mylton and Givemore Mhlanga, sparkles with variegated gifts of Shona language. Other poets featured in this book are: Munyaradzi Chiweshe, Admire Gomo, Kamuzezuru Shepherd Shadreck, Joel Masaidzi, Edwin Msipa Muketiwa, Emmelina Murawu, Lydia Ngore, Patrick Njanike, and Tafireyi Cosmos.

Book review coming soon!

POETRY/NHETEMBO

Ndini WIN-Zimbabwe

Na Odreck Nyika (above)

Vananyanduri idzi dzawira mutswanda hadzichanetsi kunhonga

Chinono chinengwe bere rakadya richifamba

Huyai ndinokukokayi vanyori

Kumamisha kumapfanya kumaruzeva

Vananyanduri varikutanga muzere hamuzivane

Mumadhorobha muchirungu kumagetsi

Muzere vanyori asi hamuzivane

Huyai

Ndini WIN-Zimbabwe

Nganonyorwa nyorai mundiigire pauzima

Nduri nyorai

Yakagukuchira yakapfuma mitauro ndinoitambira

Shona, Ndebele, Chirungu kana Tonga

Husahwira hwangu kwamuri

Ndehwemukombe nechirongo

Nokuti imi murimatende anorema anemhodzi

Semombe kumafuro nyika munoidzora kuhunhu

Handirambe bodo kudyidzana nevamwe vanyori

Huyai Ndini WIN-Zimbabwe

Chinzwai imi vanyori vachirikutanga

Regai kudzipwa neganda nyama iripo

Chiregai kuti pamusasa pamunhondo

Chinzwai imi vanyori

Ndirikuti

Chinono

Chinono chinono chinono chinengwe iwe….

Thank you for reading our Newsletter.

Newsletter Number 80 coming soon..

Remembering our elders...

The late great artist Walter Lambert Muparutsa

As WIN, we will always be inspired by the road we walked with you 'Mambo'

___________________

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 80 will be here soon

WIN Newsletter, Issue No 79

EDITORIAL

Stars of tomorrow: Pupils from different primary schools in Harare expressed promising understanding of literature at the Children’s Reading Tent during the 2014 ZIBF. The Tent is annually run by Harare City Library.

At times a writer’s work gets so overwhelming and interesting, you suddenly realize the sun has just set and still, for you, the sun (the midnight candle) has just risen. There is a book to read through the night, a story or poem to write, a certain idea you have to ponder, there is always something you haven’t written….

We welcome you to our long-awaited 79^th issue of the WIN Newsletter, we hope you will enjoy. 

WIN-ZIM WELCOMES NEW VOLUNTEER

Odreck Nyika, the new volunteer

We would like to welcome our new volunteer Odreck Nyika, who becomes the fifth volunteer to help in WIN-Zimbabwe ever since the association was formed in 2010.

 Supa Mafuta, an aspiring writer, is currently volunteering in Epworth where WIN has a running outreach programme. Mafuta also chairs the Epworth branch. Three other hard working volunteers who have been with WIN in the past are Moira Marangwanda, Paida Mudzamba, and Tawanda Kandenga.

We are indeed very grateful to these volunteers for committing themselves to the WIN dream.

WIN-Zimbabwe believes that volunteerism is one way among others that can keep the organisation going until such a time when the organisation will be capable of remunerating.  Volunteers, who are also mostly aspirants in writing world, also learn as they carry out their work.  Through donation of their time, ideas, and labour to the organisation, volunteers have become a major part of WIN in terms of coordination of work. We thank everyone who has believed in us.

Supa Mafuta, volunteer and Chairperson of WIN Epworth Branch. Mafuta has been with WIN from its birth.

Previous WIN Volunteers

Moira Marangwanda volunteered in WIN in 2012. 

 

Tawanda Kandenga is seen here in office at our previous location in Highlands. Kandenga helped in WIN as an attaché & volunteer from September 2013 to earlier this year

 

Paida Mudzamba, a violin-lover, also helped in WIN  last year

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK – MIMI MACHAKAIRE

 Mimi Machakaire holds her baby at the BookLove stand at this year's ZIBF

Mimi Machakaire (pictured above) , who is a regular contributor to the exciting Youth Perspective column in WIN Newsletters,  is a happy young writer after she had her debut novel Princess Gangster published this year by BookLove Publishers, Gweru (Zimbabwe). The novel was launched at the 2014 Zimbabwe International Book Fair.

 

Mimi (in red T-shirt) with her peers at the Matthew Rusike College

Soon after the Book Fair, Mimi accompanied WIN to Matthew Rusike College Writers Club (Matthew Rusike Children’s Home) in Epworth where she spoke about her book and encouraged her peers to continue to write and persevere. The visit to Epworth was part of the follow-up meetings with writers’ club falling under the WIN Epworth Community Outreach Programme. The visits will resume next term.

Princess Gangster is available at the WIN office for members to read and construct their own critical reviews.

A CHANCE TO ENJOY STORYTELLING

Ten Tickets for WIN!

Writer and storyteller Ignatius Mabasa has donated ten tickets to WIN; that means ten of our members will attend and enjoy the above storytelling events for free! Thank you Mr. Mabasa, thanks for the support.

THE YOUTH PERSPECTIVE

With

 Mimi Machakaire

Book Review

Title: Skizzo Vs The Bully

Author: Martin Mahenga

Year of Publication: 2014

Publisher: Self

Category: Comic picture book for children

We have all had those moments at school when we were called names and made fun of for just about everything we did. School kids these days can be mean and if you don’t have at least one good friend that you can rely on for the rest of the school year then you are in trouble. I for one don’t condone bullying because I’ve been bullied before and I know how it feels to have your self-esteem ripped apart. There even comes a time when you are forced into bullying someone else because of peer pressure and you feel like if you don’t you won’t fit in the group. Its survival of the fittest out there in the school playground and only the people with the most confident personalities know how to survive.

Just recently I was given an opportunity by WINZ to review a comic picture book on bullying entitled Skizzo VS The Bully by Martin Mahenga. This is a touching story about Skizzo’s battle with the big, the bad, and the ugly bullies who terrorize him at school, along with several other students. It all starts with his transfer from boarding school to another High school during the start of second term and he is in for a rude awakening on how different things are going to be from now on.  His first encounter with bullies named Franko Mvundla A.K.A “GENERAL”, Dennis Hawlett A.K.A “XERXES” and Penwell Chitupa A.K.A “SLASH” unfortunately happens on his first day at school when he arrives late.  The bullies corner him by the gate and attempt to force him to pay a fine for coming late. Taking this as a joke Skizzo casually ignores their unreasonable request and continues on his way to class. Sadly he’s been paying for that encounter since then and things only go from bad to worse.

After his condemnable efforts at changing how things were done at the school by going to the teachers and reporting the matter, forlornly he still failed as the teachers and even his parents did not see the seriousness behind his case. His last option was to approach Principal Stox but that did not work also. Lost and confused he resorted to drastic measures and brought a gun into school, hoping that it would at least scare off his bullies. His intentions were not to hurt anyone but he thought that he would look tougher than he was if he held it in his hands. There was good news and bad news to this behavior. He managed to scare off his bullies but only for the moment and he was suspended for three weeks for unwanted violence in the school. Little did Skizzo know that things were going to change as time went on because on his arrival back to school things had changed for the better.

A new principal had arrived after the old principal was fired for embezzling school funds and this time they got a principal who was understanding, caring and valued the opinion of others. This new change gave Skizzo hope and he saw this as an opportunity to tell his side to the story despite the bullies’ attempt to make him look bad in front of the new principal Mr. Mshengu. A lot happened later and Skizzo was the main force behind the creation of a better school environment. 

I think the author’s portrayal of bullying is quite compelling as he manages to generalize on the state of things and still create an interesting take on the victim. How he focused on the reaction by Skizzo brings about a very important issue that has often occurred in different situations at schools. We have all seen or heard this on the news about kids bringing guns to school and we fear that there are some disturbed minds at play but we forget to look at it from the children’s point of view and understand what their intentions were at the time that thought came to mind. Yes it is scary to think that someone could have gotten hurt but with counseling and extensive therapy we can make a difference to these troubled kids because we know we have been victims at some point.

Overall I think that the storyline itself offers some food for thought as the characters that the writer created are easy to identify with. The illustrations on their own matched the emotions of the characters that were being portrayed in the story and made it that much more entertaining. The book also offers some helpful tips on how to handle bullies at school and can be read leisurely. 

 

POETRY

A Gift I Will Always Cherish

 By Mudikani Gondora (above)

The moment I started this life’s journey

With a loud cry

I embarked on it with a passion

Into your loving arms you held me

And in them I would remain

As I took my first steps

Your eagle-eyes never left me

And your tender hands were always there

Patience you never lacked

and joy you always showed

Your smile warm and bright

Was my the light

Careful not to lead me astray

You endeavored to bring the best out of me

With unaltered love you were always present

Those hands for me are now cracked

So that I could never say I lacked

(Seventeen year old Mudikani Gondora is doing her Lower Six at Marlborough High School, Harare. She did her secondary education at Hartzel High in Mutare and primary at Old Windsor Primary School in Ruwa. Mudikani says her favourite writers are William Shakespeare, Charles Mungoshi and Ignatius Mabasa. Poetry for her is not ‘hobby’ but a something so dear that she hopes to take it to greater heights.)

Handidi

Na Tsoka Vaida, Muguta Writers Club, Epworth

Handinyengereri, ndakanyenga kare

Handikusekereri, ndakaseka kare

Handikunyenamire, ndakanyenama zvakapera

Handikuregereri, ndakaregerera zvikapera

Wajaira, ini handijairi

Wandiona nezhara rega ndiziye

Wandiona ndichikamhina, usandisundidzira

Mafambiro anosiyana

Marongero haafanani

WHAT IS AN AFRICAN STORY?

 There is a new wave of intellectual criticism that is sweeping across Africa regarding the role of Western literary prizes in shaping the African story. In 2009 I covered a literary discussion at the Book Café then situated at Fife Avenue Shopping centre in Harare, where the topic was ‘‘Do prizes play a role in arts development?’’ Read More...

2014 Caine Prize: ‘The Gonjon Pin and Other Stories’ Launch in Pictures

Writer and academic Memory Chirere anchored a discussion at the launch

 Damary Nafula, Consular of Kenyan Embassy in Zimbabwe, who was Guest of Honour, presenting her speech

 Isabella Matambanadzo reading her story in "The Gonjon Pin and Other Stories" anthology

 

 Lawrence Hoba also read his story 'Pam Pam' in the Gonjon Pin anthology

 Award-winning poet Philani A Nyoni read his story 'The Sonneteer', also in the anthology

 Violet Masilo reading her short story in the anthology

Thank you for Reading our Newsletter

We welcome feedback:

winzimbabwe@gmail.com