"It is a constant source of frustration, despair almost, for the average African - this Western mindset that insists on seeing the African continent as one unfathomable mass of misery," writes Wordsbody in response to Winona Rasheed's reference to Africa as "a courageous country". The occasion: Publication of a new collection of short stories by … Continue reading Africa a Continent not a Country, Wordsbody Tells Author-Me.com
Month: January 2008
Impressive Responses to Valerie Tagwira’s Short Story
Valerie Tagwira etched a spot for herself in the Zimbabwean literature by producing a whopper of a novel, Uncertainty of Hope, described by early reviewers as an honest statement to the political, economic, and social situation in contemporary Zimbabwe. Now she has turned to another literary medium-- the short story-- and has just produced "Mainini's … Continue reading Impressive Responses to Valerie Tagwira’s Short Story
CRC Celebrates Black History Month
The community is invited to participate in the activities at Cosumnes River College for Black History Month during the month of February. The kickoff event will be Monday, February 4, 12:00 noon in the Recital Hall with keynote speaker Dr. Joycelyn Moody. Dr. Moody is the Sue E. Denman Distinguished Chair in American Literature at … Continue reading CRC Celebrates Black History Month
Sacramento Poetry Reading Update
Frank Graham and Jordan Reynolds were the featured readers at Sacramento Poetry tonight. See more coverage of the event posted on my poetry blog Chisiya Echoes.
South African Play Premiers in Canada
Karen Dempster has announced that The African Theatre Ensemble will be presenting the Canadian premiere of “Have You Seen Zandile?”, "a much-loved story based on the childhood memories of South African playwright Gcina Mhlophe. The stellar cast includes Toronto’s multi-talented d’bi Young as the child Zandile and one of Nigeria’s most acclaimed actors Joke Silva … Continue reading South African Play Premiers in Canada
Some Grass Quotes
"The solicitous affection prescribed in my case would have surely deterred my friends from bringing me anything so dangerous as a blank paper and making it available to this mind of mine which persists in excreting syllables." This statement by Gunter Grass's character in The Tin Drum is revealing of how writing feels sometimes. In … Continue reading Some Grass Quotes
Kangira Reviews Chirere’s Tudikidiki
Dr. Jairos Kangira of Namibia Polytechnic has written a capitivating review of Memory Chirere's Tudikidiki, a collection of short stories. You can find the full text of the review in The Herald. Excerpt: New year present from Chirere!Reviewed by Dr Jairos Kangira MEMORY Chirere’s second book — Tudikidiki — is a New Year’s present. Reason: … Continue reading Kangira Reviews Chirere’s Tudikidiki
New Arts Season at Alliance Francaise de Harare
Tonderayi Chiyindiko, Cultural Affairs and Communications Officer of Alliance Francaise de Harare-ZIMBABWE just informed me that their center is starting a new season of arts workshops on January 14. See their menu below: -MBIRA-MARIMBA-MODERN DANCE-PERCUSSIONS-HIP-HOP-TRADITIONAL DANCELet's quote from Tonderayi's message: "These workshops will be conducted by experienced and talented facilitators.All workshops last for 8 weeks … Continue reading New Arts Season at Alliance Francaise de Harare
SPC Reading Update
Sacramento poets spent an evening with Oscar Bermeo and Barbara Jane Reyes of Oakland, California. Reyes read from her latest publication Poeta en San Francisco, while Bermeo shared works from his chapbook Anywhere Avenue. He also read a couple of poems by Octavio Paz. Barbara Jane Reyes, reading from Poeta en San Francisco.PROFILE (from author's … Continue reading SPC Reading Update
Moments in Literature
I have opened a new place for literary discussions called Moments in Literature. The necessity for this forum is to open space for me to share with readers the exciting moments I discover as I read different novels. I have already posted some thoughts on Valerie Tagwira's Uncertainty of Hope, and I am moving on … Continue reading Moments in Literature
Moments in Far From the Madding Crowd
In Tagwira's Uncertainty of Hope we saw people struggling to survive in the face of brutal change; we saw a narrator with a great sense of detail and soft spot for the ordinary urban Zimbabwean. Now we switch to Thomas Hardy, an author that Valerie Tagwira most likely studied in high school. The shift from … Continue reading Moments in Far From the Madding Crowd
Tom’s Worry in Uncertainty of Hope
"But, seriously, one thing does worry me. When the economy does recover...if it ever does...will we recover enough honesty to maintain economic order; or will we continue to operate as, to use Melody's phrase, 'semi-criminals'?" (Uncertainty 351). These words by the young businessman and farmer, Tom, are revealing of one of the concerns of Valerie … Continue reading Tom’s Worry in Uncertainty of Hope
Stubborn Hope in Valerie Tagwira’s Uncertainty of Hope
I finished reading one of the content-rich novels written recently by a Zimbabwean. When I first started reading The Uncertainty of Hope, I responded to the use of language, especially the transposition of Shona and English words in character dialogue, with a hint of dissatisfaction. Well, I read on, and my attention switched to the grim story … Continue reading Stubborn Hope in Valerie Tagwira’s Uncertainty of Hope
Key moments in literature
As the new year begins, I am introducing a new dimension to my blogging. Each time I read a novel, there are moments when the story comes to a key point which is always worth sharing with the next person, but usually there is just no set of ears available to listen to the passage. … Continue reading Key moments in literature
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