Wednesday, September 28, 2011

call to support Charles Mungoshi's new book


Followers of Dr. Charles Mungoshi literature all over the world will be delighted to know that although he has not been feeling well for the past one year, a new book by the veteran writer (completed before he was taken ill)is soon to hit the streets! His family has decided to go it alone and publish his novel script called 'Branching Streams Flow In The Dark'. The typeset is ready. Those who would want to assist the family to publish this book can contact, Jesesi Mungoshi +263774054341, +263773616247, +263772634918 or email: themovietrain@gmail.com, info@cjmf.com thank you.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Mashingaidze Gomo takes his Congo war novel to the UZ


picture: Mashingaidze Gomo)

As part of the ongoing University of Zimbabwe Arts Festival, Mashingaidze Gomo: author of 'A Fine Madness' and former Airforce of Zimbabwe gunner and helicopter technician will be talking about and reading from his Nama Award winning novel (which is based on his experiences in the recent Congo war.) He will be joined by Madlozi Moyo who has just published poems in 'Ghetto Diary and Other poems' at the university's Beit Hall on Friday 23 September 2011 from 8-10am. Entry is free!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Primrose Dzenga clashes with David Mungoshi


Primrose Dzenga, author of 'Destiny in My Hands' and David Mungoshi, author of the prize-winning novel, 'The Fading Sun' will be reading and talking about writing on Thursday 22 September 2011 at the University of Zimbabwe's Beit Hall from 8-10:30am. This is part of the ongoing UZ Arts festival. Be there! Entry: free!

Tonight, 21 September: 5-8pm there will be the official opening of the UZ Arts festival at the university's Great Hall and writer Ignatius Mabasa will be guest speaker.Entry: free!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Zimbabwe Writers Association: news release


Following the election of a substantive board of the Zimbabwe Writers Association (ZWA) on June 4, 2011 June 4 2011, dear members , take note of the issues below and regularise your membership by getting in touch with the secretary and treasurer:

a.Ordinary Membership US$10,00. Ordinary membership shall be reserved for individuals who qualify on account of being bona fide authors of Zimbabwe, new or established. Individuals shall willingly join even if writer organisations to which they are already members may wish to or have joined ZWA on Affiliate status. Each ordinary member shall have one vote at any general meeting of ZWA.

b.Affiliate Membership US$20,00 Affiliate membership shall be reserved for willing and recognized Zimbabwean writer organizations and/or associations whose objectives serve the interests and welfare of writers of Zimbabwe whose application for membership is approved by the Board. This shall apply to organizations which seek to participate in the work of ZWA on behalf of their members. Each affiliated member shall have one vote at any general meeting of ZWA.

c.Honorary Membership pay in form of donations. Honorarary membership shall be reserved for members of the cultural community who have a proven interest in the promotion of Zimabwean Literature and the arts in general as well as being supportive of the Organization’s goals and who may add value to it through their links with the funding or business community. Normally they are invited to join by the Board. Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote.

d.Associate Membership US$20, 00. Associate membership shall be reserved for willing Zimbabwean and non Zimbabwean writer or arts organizations, non Zimbabwean citizens or non resident writers who have an interest in literature and the arts and who wish to participate in the work of ZWA at the level of mutual partnership. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote.

For now, ZWA uses Department of English, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP 167 Mt Pleasant Harare Zimbabwe, as its postal address and physical address.

1. ZWA email address: zimbabwewiters@gmail.com
2. ZWA is now in possession of a National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Registration Certificate
3. ZWA now has a Logo (indicated above)
4. ZWA objectives are explained in the Constitution previously circulated to you
5. ZWA’s By-line: A WHOLE WORLD IN A WORD’
6. Treasurer’s email: beatricesithole@yahoo.com, 0712 401 787
7. Secretary’s email and cell number: tmuchuri@gmail.com 0733 843 455

++ From Memory Chirere, ZWA committee member

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Shimmer Chinodya's boy is looking for his mother


Title: TINDO’s QUEST
Author: Shimmer Chinodya
Publisher: Longman Zimbabwe, 2011
Isbn: 978-1-779-03492-2
Pages: 61
Reviewer: Memory Chirere

Prominent Zimbabwean writer Shimmer Chinodya has published yet another scintillating novel for young people, entitled Tindo’s Quest.

In this story, a twelve year old boy slowly realises that perhaps the woman whom he calls mother is not his real mother! Sadly, nobody in the family is prepared to tell him the truth. He pieces together scanty information and sets out on a solo and unauthorised search for his real mother. His resolve is unbreakable as it is nearly self destructive.

The journey takes this gangly boy across Zimbabwe. First he goes to Chegutu, to pick very vital information, and back to Harare. He does not go back home because he is now very inspired. He hitchhikes to Kriste Mambo and Bonda HighSchools where his mysterious mother could have attended, and back to Harare. He does not go back home because mother must be found. Finally he goes to Bulawayo by train.

The search becomes a fight!

The search for one Maybe Mhlanga takes Tindo through light and darkness. He eventually learns that both his real mother and his foster mother are women who have little choices in this life. His father, Shingi has made many mistakes in his life, one of which being not being able to tell the truth to the right people at the right time.

But because all this happen during the period of Zimbabwe’s recent economic meltdown, Tindo’s quest takes him to the depths of a society torn apart and characterised by deep ironies. Once in a while one’s luck runs low and sometimes one is helped out, ironically by street people, shebeen queens and women of the night. In this story suffering unites people and, strangely, love separates people.

This is a book for ordinary readers and for those into family law, culture, anthropoly and history. It is not easy to search for a woman whose identity continues to shift as you come closer and closer to her. Sometimes you are taken to the wrong woman. Then you begin to meet people who tell you that your description fits a certain woman across the road but her name is not Maybe Mhlanga! You come across people who say they saw the woman you are talking about a few days ago, but when you meet her, you discover that this is not Maybe Mhlanga! So the search continues and people in the Bulawayo townships get to know you ‘as the boy who is searching for his mother’ and your story touches all the gamblers, pimps and the police and the whole community joins in the search with you.

Shimmer Chinodya has been one of the most outstanding writers from among those who became prominent after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. His writing tends to dwell on the young individual in the family in the fast changing times in Zimbabwe.

The literary community of Harare gathered at the Zimbabwe- Germany Society early this year to launch Shimmer Chinodya’s German translation of his 2007 Noma Award winning novel, Strife. The German version is called Zwietracht and was translated from English by Dr Manfred Loimeier under the Afrikawunderhorn series.

A veteran educationist, Shimmer Chinodya is close to children’s issues and is also an author of schools textbooks. His series called Step Ahead: New Secondary School English Course is read in nearly all-Zimbabwean schools. In 1995-1997 he was Visiting Professor in Creative Writing and African literature at St Lawrence University in the USA. He also holds an Honours Degree in English from the University of Zimbabwe and an MA in Creative Writing from Iowa. Tindo’s Quest will surely add a feather to Chinodya’s growing plumage.