Images of Poetry: Bits of Nostalgia

Let's kick off poetry month by revisiting the great days of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair, when writers held workshop and did excursions to places like Domboshava, Chitungwiza and Norton. Here are two poets in action during some two of these visits. CHARLES CHIGWADA, BWAZ MEMBER, PERFOMING POET, 1995. He was performing poetry for students at the University of Zimbabwe. Charles Chigwada, 1995. 

 FREEDOM T.V. NYAMUBAYA, reading poetry atop Domboshava, 1995. Freedom Nyamubaya, Zimbabwean poet. 

The defunct TSOTSO magazine was the starting point for most of the famous contemporary Zimbabwean poets and writers. In this image the two gentlemen (left to center) and I (right) were "manning" the TSOTSO stand during the 1994 Zimbabwe International Book Fair. The managing editor of Tsotso, Tim McLoughlin, was my professor at the UZ and he had just allowed me to guest edit an issue that featured works by Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe (BWAZ) members. At the stand we answered questions, gave out sample copies and sold current ones. Tsotso Magazine. 

There was a time when Ignatius Mabasa, Memory Chirere, Eresina Hwede, Zvisinei Sandi, and I travelled to schools in Harare, Norton, Chitungwiza, and Mazowe to perform poetry. At the UZ we were a group of young writers working with Chenjerai Hove, who was then the writer-in-residence. In the photo below, poet Ignatius Mabasa is pointing the remote at a TV screen (of course) while I, in a tan t-shirt, and two media students look on. Ignatius Mabasa is coming to Northen California in July to read Shona poetry in San Francisco. Plans are under way to have him come perform at the SPC.