IN the old days, Literary giants such as Charles Mungoshi, A Hamutyinei, Shimmer Chinodya, Chenjerai Hove just to mention but a few were “literary” in charge.
Not so many women were actively involved in the Literary sector except the likes of Yvonne Vera (now late) and Tsitsi Dangarembga who had been probably the only voices championing equality and women empowerment in post-independent Zimbabwe.
Patriarchal society hindered women from expressing themselves. Fast-forward to today, tables have turned and women are taking over as they seem to be dominating the sector and are determined to transform the literary and book space if the highlights of the 2023 Literary Year are anything to go by.
My observations are in relation to how women either took exceptionally transformative initiatives from launching books and spearheading the empowerment of other women and authors through publishing and storytelling or how they were nominated, recognized, or awarded accolades in recognition of their work and contribution in the literary sector.
Amongst exceptional Zimbabwean women who made headlines in 2023 are No Violet Bulawayo, Mbira Songstress Hope Masike, UK-based lawyer and publisher Rumbidzai Samantha Vazhure through Carnelian Heart Publishing, Author(s) and Publisher(s) Audrey Chirenje , Sympathy Mangwenya Sibanda and Irene Staunton just to mention but a few.
In 2022, South African-based Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi, and Zimbabwean top communications and publishing consultant Selina Zigomo headlined some of the women who made and continue to make social impact through Books and Literature.
Zigomo is the Founder and Self-Publishing Strategist at Ngano Hub Consultants and is the host of the The Thando Book Club which started airing a series of conversations with African female storytellers on 3KTV and DSTV in 2022.
In August this year, I wrote an article titled BBC Features Exceptional Zimbabwean Women Authors in New Documentary–and the article resonated with my latest observations as they relate to the 2023 Literary/Book Year.
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Here are some of the key highlights of the 2023 Literary year,
March 2023
No Violet Bulawayo shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
No Violet Bulawayo
No Violet Bulawayo, a United States-based Zimbabwean author is shortlisted for the 2023 Rathbones Folio Prize and also makes the longlist for the Women’s Prize for her second novel Glory.
Inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the book focuses on the fall of long-time Zimbabwean ruler President Robert Mugabe with Glory being a modern-day folktale that captures the chaos of a failing regime as narrated by a goat.
First-awarded in 2014(originally known as The Folio Prize), the Rathbones Folio Prize is open to all works of literature written in English and Published in the UK and is worth over US $35000.
Treasure Trove closes its doors
On one random day, I am to get to my favourite antique store only to learn of the terrible news of the closure of Treasure Trove–a book antique store located at Corner Second Street and George Silundika in Harare’s Central Business District.
Treasure Trove was undoubtedly one of Harare’s oldest and most popular antique stores.
Fast-forward to today, the once vibrant fountain of knowledge and treasured antiques has now been replaced by a series of shopping malls.
Treasure Trove was not just a book store, it also sold old furniture, bookshelves, office chairs just to mention but a few.
Sometimes I entered the store to buy books, then on some days it provided a refreshing atmosphere and resembled a modern-day Museum which was located in the heartbeat of a busy city.
You would find unique stuff from books, watches and so on which you couldn’t find anywhere.
The closure of the antique store after decades of existence deals a major blow to the bookworms and antique fanatics who had developed some special bond with the store.
June 2023
Gappah translates Animal Farm to Shona
Petina Gappah
Respected lawyer and author Petina Gappah successfully translates George Orwell’s Animal Farm to Chimurenga Chemhuka with the assistance of poet Tinashe Muchuri.
In settling for the name Chimurenga Chemhuka, Gappah and fellow translator, poet Muchuri says they chose to settle for a slight twist of the title in shona meaning animal revolution and they used the word Chimurenga in reference to the liberation war fought during the white minority rule which led to the attainment of independence in 1980.
Through the Shona translation, Gappah say they had been able to bring added depth, meaning and humour for the readers as their characters uses different Shona dialects that are spoken around Zimbabwe.
“In the 1960’s the language was standardised throughout the entire country. What we thought we would do with the book is to have the narration in standard shona, but the Animals all speak different shona dialects, almost as if they are coming from the few corners of Zimbabwe”.
Gappah’s other titles include An Elegy for Easterly (2009) The Book of Memory (2015) and Out of Darkness (2019)
July 2023
BBC releases a podcast featuring Women Writing Zimbabwe
In the documentary, book enthusiast and journalist Tawanda Mudzonga embarked on an explorative journey aimed at explaining why each year Zimbabwean women writers were increasingly becoming recognized internationally in several fiction prizes such as The Guardian, The Booker Prize, and Caine Prize just to name but a few.
Among Zimbabwean Women who have either been nominated or won several writing accolades include literary guru Tsitsi Dangarembga who has won several writing accolades, No Violet Bulawayo, and Sue Nyathi just to name but a few.
The documentary podcast explores why Zimbabwe has produced so many talented and renowned women writers. She spoke to emerging authors including No Violet Bulawayo, Valerie Tagwira, Ross Tshuma and Nyathi among others.
Tagwira’s Uncertainty of Hope won a National Arts Merit Award (NAMA) in 2008 and has received widespread favourable reviews.
In the BBC documentary, women writers share how having an opinion in Zimbabwe can be dangerous and how fiction is used to state the facts for fear of persecution by the state.
The documentary also features Samantha Vazhure whose book The Brilliance of Hope I reviewed and featured sometime in 2021 as well as renowned Bulawayo author Elizabeth Zandile Tshele popularly known as No Violet Bulawayo whose books We Need New Names and No Glory, shortlisted for the Booker Prize (2013) and (2022) respectively. She has also been recognised among 100 most Influential Africans by the New Africa Magazine in 2014.
August-September 2023
Hope Masike
Musician-cum-writer Hope Masike publishes third book titled “Die with Me”in which the mbira songstress explores the effects of western culture on Africans.
In the book, she expresses her deep love for local culture and encourages Zimbabweans to love themselves. In the preceding weeks and months, Masike announces a nationwide book tour starting with Pikicha Gallery in Harare before proceeding to Bulawayo, Gweru, and Manicaland. During the tours, Masike announces her intention to bring her poetry readings, book signings and her signature mbira music to several provinces across the country.
Earlier during the year, Masike also successfully chairs the adjudication of the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) where she expresses her concerns on the shortfalls in the work submitted across all categories.
She however indicates the impressive entries entered in the literary works category followed by film and television, visual arts, music and media across all ten provinces.
October 2023
Script and Bars delivers Business of Books Cohort
Script and Bars in partnership with Thando Book Club delivers Business of Books Cohort which attracts 75 Literature Creatives and some of the key players within the literary and publishing industry.
A project of Kays Media Africa, Script and Bars Incubator Project is aimed at equipping artists with industry knowledge and marketability and is supported by the British Council Creative Economy Program which supports cultural professionals and artists to develop their knowledge, artistic practice, skills, and networks contributing to greater prosperity and sustained livelihoods.
Harare Open Book Festival
Book Fantastics in partnership with UK-based Carnelian Heart Publishing successfully organizes and conducts the second edition of the Harare Open Book Festival under the theme Telling our stories, securing our future.
The Harare Open Book Festival Features conversations with renowned literary giants such as Dr Ignatius Mabasa, Memory Chirere, Poet Tinashe Muchuri and Petina Gappah.
November 2023
Irene Staunton
Veteran Publisher and Founder of Weaver Press Irene Staunton is honoured with a lifetime award courtesy of Phoenix Publishing–a woman led publishing company which is equally making an impact on the literary landscape.
Staunton has worked in the arts and literature since 1970 and through Weaver Press has been directly in the publishing game for the past 25 years.
December 2023
Women Writers Support Network Launches Second Anthology
Women Writers Support Network(WWSN) led by journalist and media personality Sympathy Mangwenya Sibanda launches the second edition of Seasons–an anthology consisting of short story contributions from Zimbabwean women. WWSN has previously partnered the Palestinian Embassy in its first edition.
Vazhure Scoops International Publishing Award
Rumbidzai Vazhure
UK-based lawyer and publisher Rumbidzai Samantha Vazhure is awarded the 2023 Brittle Paper Publisher of the Year in honour of her work with Carnelian Heart Publishing.
Brittle Paper is an online literary Magazine for readers of African Literature.
Vazhure took to X to express her reaction to the award: “Thank you for the recognition Brittle Paper, it’s an honour to be featured by you. Thanks to Dr Ainehi Edoro for capturing my story with such care and insights in this special tribute piece. Congratulations to all women rocking the African Literary scene!. What a beautiful end to the year.
Brittle Literary Persons of the Year Awards recognizes individuals who have done outstanding work in advancing African literary culture and industry in that given year.
These were some of the key highlights of the 2023 Literary Arts Sector. Feel free to share your feedback and thoughts.
Wishing you all a prosperous 2024.
- Fungayi Antony Sox is an accomplished communications and publishing specialist who has advised and consulted for CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, youth-focused start-ups, businesses, several institutions, and organizations. For feedback contact him on 0776 030 949, connect with him on LinkedIn on Fungayi Antony Sox, or follow him on X @AntonySox.
