REPUTABLE Ndau writers, Joyce Simango and Ishmael Penyai, are set to grace the fourth edition of the Ndau Festival of the Arts (Ndafa) scheduled for Paiyapo Arts Centre in Bangira Village, Chipinge, on September 24, festival chairperson, Phillip Kusasa, has said.
BY ARTS CORRESPONDENT
Kusasa said the two authors’ participation was set to give the fiesta a cutting edge, because of its cultural significance.
“That’s a good development because we finally discover a rich cultural vein. Whoever is going to take some of these initiatives seriously is going to change his attitude,” he said.
“Their presence will also confirm the relevance of the Ndau Festival and the creation of arts centres. Children will be inspired to take literary work seriously.”
Simango was the first female writer to publish a Shona novel, Zviuya Zviri Mberi, in 1974, but was forced by policymakers to re-produce the novel in standard Shona, as Ndau was not recognised as an official language then.
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Kusasa said Penyai had published a poetry anthology, Nhekwe Dziri Kanyi, in which he blended Ndau and Manyika.
Last week, he released another book, Tsvura Ngoko, which deals with Ndau idioms, proverbs and riddles.
“I am also working on a new book of folk tales in Ndau. I am going to facilitate a writing workshop in Ndau at the festival,” Penyai said.
The 2013 Constitution saw 16 languages, including Ndau, Venda, Sotho, Kalanga, Tonga, Shangaan and Nambya, upgraded into official languages.
Researchers from University of Zimbabwe and Great Zimbabwe University are also expected to attend the festival, which will explore the Ndau people’s art and culture.
The festival is a community-based inventory of the intangible cultural heritage by the people of Bangira aimed at increasing access to Ndau music, art, crafts, folklore and theatre.