WIN-ZIMBABWE/GLOBAL ARTS TRUST PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES 2011 PROGRAM
Harare, Zimbabwe: A number of literary activities will take place under the Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust partnership at different venues in Harare, starting June this year. Unveiling the 2011 (seven-month) program at the Book Café, Harare, on May 14, the two organizations told new and established writers/poets and representatives of different writers’ associations that the main thrust this year would be to involve schools in the drive towards developing indigenous literature.
Global Arts Trust Director Walter Muparutsa said the old poets such as Modekai Hamutyinei, JC Kumbirai, Wilson Chivaura, and Edison Zvobgo,did a commendable job to keep the Shona language alive. The same job remains unfinished today, he said. Muparutsa took his time to narrate the history of the Literature Bureau where he had a long stint and said it is from the same perspective that the Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust initiative would work but this time, with the Zimbabwean child in mind.
The veteran actor and director also called for the establishment of a new Shona dictionary to capture Shona slang and the fast developing aspects of our language.
In her speech, Board Chairperson Josephine Muganiwa said Win-Zimbabwe has embraced Zimbabwean writers in the Diaspora to create a synergy that will support local new writing talent. She also encouraged the use of indigenous languages in all spheres of life. “Let us love our own language and be proud to speak them,” she said.
Jerry Zondo, who once lectured at the University of Zimbabwe in the African Languages department, said it was sad to note that parents still insist that children speak or learn in English language.
“When there is interest in local languages, then we can hope to raise interest in writing and publishing in local languages,” said Zondo,presenting his paper titled "Publishing in Local Languages and the Setbacks".
The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Programme Officer Chipo Muvezwa presented a paper titled "Funding Literary Publications". Muvezwa said her organisation has been very active in the promotion of local writers and their works. She said so far, the Fund has assisted publications of writers such as Christopher Mlalazi, Pathisa Nyathi, Raisedon Baya,and Primrose Dzenga.
She said the Culture Fund is also involved in holding copyright workshops countrywide aimed at equipping writers with knowledge about their own rights.
Unveiling the 2011 Events Calendar Win-Zimbabwe Director Beaven Tapureta said it had been difficult to operate without an office and thanked the Global Arts Trust for housing his organisation. He told the audience the difficult circumstances in which Win-Zimbabwe operated before the partnership. However, he said the partnership with
Muparutsa would definitely bear fruits.
Tapureta said in June, Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust would celebrate Day of the African Child through public readings and discussions at a local school. This is specifically an event for students, he said. In July, the partnership will take part in exhibitions at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. Afterwards, there would be a short writing course in August, writing competition in September, Shona poetry
anthology compilation in October, and a writers’ workshop in November before the annual End of Year Writers Get Together in December. Tapureta also said prizes for the winners in the September writing competition would be presented at the End of Year Writers Get Together.
In the background of the above said activities, Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust will be running the manuscript assessment program at the office and launching school writers’ clubs in and outside Harare.
During this May 14 event, which merged with Culture Week celebration, different poets and storytellers took turns to entertain the audience. Epworth-based Hatineti Mbira Crew enriched the mood at the event with their traditional mbira melodies. Poetry Bulawayo’s Mgcini Nyoni recited his interesting poem ‘Plastic Women’ while a sober Mbizo Chirasha thrilled the audience with the poem ‘Zinyoka Mugumbeze’
(originally written by M. Hamutyinei) and other poems. Tilda Gozho, a Form three student from Glen View 2 High, did a wonderful poem on Culture. Glen View 2 High sent eight students and a teacher for the event. Other performers at this event included Awake Zimbabwe drama group, Tinashe ‘Mutumwapavi’ Muchuri who showed he is a storyteller par excellence , Cynthia ‘Flowchyld’ Marangwanda who did a poem on
what it means to be a writer, and Tendai Maduwa who also did a poem.
--By Win-Zimbabwe
Global Arts Trust Director Walter Muparutsa said the old poets such as Modekai Hamutyinei, JC Kumbirai, Wilson Chivaura, and Edison Zvobgo,did a commendable job to keep the Shona language alive. The same job remains unfinished today, he said. Muparutsa took his time to narrate the history of the Literature Bureau where he had a long stint and said it is from the same perspective that the Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust initiative would work but this time, with the Zimbabwean child in mind.
The veteran actor and director also called for the establishment of a new Shona dictionary to capture Shona slang and the fast developing aspects of our language.
In her speech, Board Chairperson Josephine Muganiwa said Win-Zimbabwe has embraced Zimbabwean writers in the Diaspora to create a synergy that will support local new writing talent. She also encouraged the use of indigenous languages in all spheres of life. “Let us love our own language and be proud to speak them,” she said.
Jerry Zondo, who once lectured at the University of Zimbabwe in the African Languages department, said it was sad to note that parents still insist that children speak or learn in English language.
“When there is interest in local languages, then we can hope to raise interest in writing and publishing in local languages,” said Zondo,presenting his paper titled "Publishing in Local Languages and the Setbacks".
The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Programme Officer Chipo Muvezwa presented a paper titled "Funding Literary Publications". Muvezwa said her organisation has been very active in the promotion of local writers and their works. She said so far, the Fund has assisted publications of writers such as Christopher Mlalazi, Pathisa Nyathi, Raisedon Baya,and Primrose Dzenga.
She said the Culture Fund is also involved in holding copyright workshops countrywide aimed at equipping writers with knowledge about their own rights.
Unveiling the 2011 Events Calendar Win-Zimbabwe Director Beaven Tapureta said it had been difficult to operate without an office and thanked the Global Arts Trust for housing his organisation. He told the audience the difficult circumstances in which Win-Zimbabwe operated before the partnership. However, he said the partnership with
Muparutsa would definitely bear fruits.
Tapureta said in June, Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust would celebrate Day of the African Child through public readings and discussions at a local school. This is specifically an event for students, he said. In July, the partnership will take part in exhibitions at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair. Afterwards, there would be a short writing course in August, writing competition in September, Shona poetry
anthology compilation in October, and a writers’ workshop in November before the annual End of Year Writers Get Together in December. Tapureta also said prizes for the winners in the September writing competition would be presented at the End of Year Writers Get Together.
In the background of the above said activities, Win-Zimbabwe/Global Arts Trust will be running the manuscript assessment program at the office and launching school writers’ clubs in and outside Harare.
During this May 14 event, which merged with Culture Week celebration, different poets and storytellers took turns to entertain the audience. Epworth-based Hatineti Mbira Crew enriched the mood at the event with their traditional mbira melodies. Poetry Bulawayo’s Mgcini Nyoni recited his interesting poem ‘Plastic Women’ while a sober Mbizo Chirasha thrilled the audience with the poem ‘Zinyoka Mugumbeze’
(originally written by M. Hamutyinei) and other poems. Tilda Gozho, a Form three student from Glen View 2 High, did a wonderful poem on Culture. Glen View 2 High sent eight students and a teacher for the event. Other performers at this event included Awake Zimbabwe drama group, Tinashe ‘Mutumwapavi’ Muchuri who showed he is a storyteller par excellence , Cynthia ‘Flowchyld’ Marangwanda who did a poem on
what it means to be a writer, and Tendai Maduwa who also did a poem.
--By Win-Zimbabwe
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