Story by Beaven Tapureta

Some writers go on retreats with a specific structure which subtly or openly calls for participants to have a refined product at the end. There are benefits, of course, drawn from these retreats which involve working with experienced facilitators who closely follow your development for weeks or months.

In terms of structure, it was not so with the writers’ retreat at the marvellous Blue Haze cottages in Nyanga, Manicaland province, Zimbabwe, last week from February 23 to March 2.

Four writers, namely Blessing Musariri, Dr Jonathan Brakash, Stanley Mushava, and this writer, were invited by UK-based writer Tendai Huchu, in consultation with other writers and publishers on the Zimbabwean scene who suggested suitable candidates.

Huchu, best known in Zimbabwe for his books The Hairdresser of Harare and The Maestro, the Magistrate and the Mathematician, said he organized and funded the retreat or residency to let writers create as their spirits wished,  far from their usual place.  His vision was to give writers a space to work and any other benefits were unintended.    

He said, “The idea behind this retreat was to bring four writers to Blue Haze Cottages in Nyanga and give them the time and space to create in a beautiful, serene environment. I believe such opportunities are important for artists. Indeed the best part of this was the interesting conversations in which ideas were exchanged between the writers at dinner time. We thank the Musavaya family and the excellent staff at Blue Haze Cottages for their help and support in giving us this space.”

The ten-day retreat in Nyanga was transformative as there were moments of individually harnessing the unconscious, rejuvenating it. I felt the major unsaid task was to ‘explore’ within oneself as a writer in a solitary place.

The Blue Haze of Liverpool cottages are surrounded by a natural world that includes balanced rocks, spectacular umbrella-shaped musasa trees, birds, monkeys, sacred mountains such as the Susurumba and Sanyatwe Mountains.  Spreading outwards from the Haze are the breath-taking sceneries that merge with the sky in the far horizons. In the evening, far beyond the sleeping forests, one could see a pool of simmering lights of the famous Montclair Hotel. There are different places of natural wonder that come to mind at the mention of Nyanga – the Mutarazi Falls, highest falls in Zimbabwe, lies in the centre of the Nyanga National Park, the high Nyanga Mountain, also lying in the south of the park.

The writers would take a walk to neighbouring places like the nearby Humphrey cottages which had amazing natural architecture blended in their living rooms. On one of the free days they had lunch at the Froggy Farm Café which warmly welcomes you with its simplicity. On the same day the writers drove to the popular Montclair Hotel and Casino, and then spent a few minutes in a small sculpture park near Claremont Kiosk.

Dr Jonathan Brakarsh, a child psychologist and writer, said it was a blessed opportunity to see his own literary efforts develop and bloom.

“Put five writers together for ten days in Nyanga and what happens? Delightfully long discussions on the craft of writing, free time in beautiful nature where you have all the hours of the day to write, an opportunity to spend time with dedicated writers to hear more about their work and their life, and a blessed opportunity to see your own literary efforts develop and bloom,” he said. Dr Brakarsh has written children’s workshop books like Singing to the Lions, Say and Play, and The Journey of Life series which is now used in fourteen countries in Africa. He has a humanitarian and professional interest in developing community-based mental health services which can respond to the psychological and social needs of large numbers of vulnerable children.

Blessing Musariri, a published and award-winning children’s author, said she had more time to be alone, and that alone enhanced her productivity. Her previous books include Rufaro’s Day, Going Home, A Tree’s Story and The Mystery of Rokodzi Mountain.

“It was a pleasure to be in solitude but still in communion with fellow writers in Inyanga where the landscape is breathtaking and inspiring. Having dedicated writing time really upped the rate of productivity because apart from walks and meals there were no distractions. The weather was perfect for the most part, while others were roasting elsewhere we were cosy with fires in our cottages at night and at ease during the day. Even the three day cold wet front could do nothing to diminish the ambiance. I hope this retreat continues and flourishes,” said Musariri.

Stanley Mushava, a journalist and poet, the youngest in the group, could not be reached for comment but one could tell the experience had an influence on his genius, for he liked to be free, alone sitting on his favourite rock a short distance from his cottage, reading and reading.

If the experiences of these writers are taken as recommendations, the young Zimbabwean writing talent will not go to waste in the bustling city streets. They will realize there is something more beautiful in them through a different experience in the countryside. In a writer’s life, there are huge distractions and blocks that usually endanger their creativity, mental wellbeing, hence a retreat far from their usual territories helps to refresh their minds. Perhaps, as we appreciate Tendai and all those that he consulted, someone will take it from here and make it an annual, sponsored event.