Zimbabwe: Cry for Innovative Shona Poetry Continues

22 February 2017
analysis

The year is 1994. New Shona poetry anthologies such as "Tipeiwo Dariro" (Ed Chirikure Chirikure, College Press), "Ngatisimukei", and a revised edition of "Mutakunanzva Wenhetembo" (BookLove Publishers) are published. The year marks a certain 'fresh opening of the airwaves' for the new voices that had been lying dormant for so long, and had only been finding occasional relief in local literary magazines such as Tsotso and the Writers Scroll (published by BWAZ).Before 1994, Tsotso Magazine, through the generous literary agency of T O Mcloughlin, F R Mhonyera, M Mahiri, S Nondo and H Lewis, had groomed and published Shona, English and Ndebele poetry (and short stories) in its about ten issues since its birth in 1989. The issues were small, coming in about 30-50 pages. Interestingly, some of these new poets made it into the major anthologies, such as "Tipeiwo Dariro" which carried the stamp of the then College Press editor Chirikure Chirikure. Chirikure, as a published poet, had brought an important element of innovativeness to Shona poetry with his unmatched satire. Innovation naturally became his yardstick when he scouted for new talent that would make up the anthology "Tipeiwo Dariro".

According to Wikipedia, experimental literature refers to written work -- usually fiction or poetry -- that emphasises innovation, most especially in technique.

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