Reviewed by Beaven Tapureta The Testament of Black Jesus (2024), an epic by the award-winning protest poet Philani Amadeus Nyoni, presents a black saviour who, according to the poet’s words, ‘rises to speak great and dangerous words’. The saviour has a responsibility thrust upon her by past events, to spread the legacy, good or bad,…
HARARE, ZIMBABWE: While international honour and tributes for the African literary legend Professor Ama Ata Aidoo who died aged 81 on May 31, 2023 are still pouring, Zimbabwe will also bear everlasting memories of her inspiring character. In Zimbabwe, she consolidated her writer’s voice, becoming a full-time writer. Not only that, but when Prof…
Outstanding Reading Spirit by Bookshelf The story of a book lover Costa Shizha (60), a resident of Epworth, Harare, is testimony that ordinary Zimbabweans have not yet lost appetite for reading literature for leisure. Book purchasing habits may have undeniably diminished due to economic factors but the craving for books still exists. Neighbours, friends and…
Poetry has an indescribable power to do different things to different people. To the Zimbabwean poet and writer Ethel Kabwato, poetry is therapeutic and allows her to be happy, sad, or inspirational. In a wide-ranging interview with Beaven Tapureta, poet Ethel Kabwato revealed how poetry launched her onto a career which she finds self-healing and…
Although author and film maker Farayi Mungoshi comes from an artistically gifted family, he has found his own niche. He recently published Behind The Wall Everywhere and Other Stories (2016, Mungoshi Press) which is an amazing collection of English short stories, and he is finalizing work on the film Makunun’unu Maodzamoyo, based on his father…
Munyori Literary Journal has just reviewed Manyika’s second novel, Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream To The Sun, which was published this year by Cassava Republic Press Abuja-London and was officially launched in Harare. The following is an exciting conversation which writer/literary journalist Beaven Tapureta (BT), recently held with Sarah Ladipo Manyika (SLM) about herself,…
Sarah Ladipo Manyika was raised in Nigeria and has lived in Kenya, France, and England. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and teaches literature at San Francisco State University. Her first novel, In Dependence, was published by Legend Press in London, Cassava Republic Press in Abuja and Weaver Press in Harare.…
HARARE, ZIMBABWE: Weaver Press has launched a new short story anthology entitled Writing Mystery and Mayhem. This is a genre collection which features mystery stories by twelve writers, one of whom is late poet Freedom Nyamubaya’s son, Naishe Hassim. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Writing Mystery and Mayhem held at the Zimbabwe-German Society…
