The Zimbabwean reports Where to Now? at the Jozi Book Fair

Zim authors in spotlight

’amaBooks put Zimbabwean authors in the spotlight at the Jozi Book Fair this week, where they launched their latest short story collection - Where to Now? Short Stories from Zimbabwe.

It features 16 Zimbabwean writers - Raisedon Baya, NoViolet Bulawayo, Diana Charsley, Mapfumo Clement Chihota, Murenga Joseph Chikowero, John Eppel, Fungai Rufaro Machirori, Barbara Mhangami-Ruwende, Christopher Mlalazi, Mzana Mthimkhulu, Blessing Musariri, Nyevero Muza, Thabisani Ndlovu, Bryony Rheam, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma and Sandisile Tshuma.

“The writing in this collection, at times dark, at times laced with comedy, is set against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s ‘lost decade’ of rampant inflation, violence, economic collapse and the flight of many of its citizens. Its people are left to ponder – where to now?,” say the publishers.

“In the pages of Where to Now? you will meet the prostitute who gets the better of her brothers when they try to marry her off, the wife who is absolved of the charge of adultery, the hero who drowns in a bowser of cheap beer and the poetry slammer who does not get to perform his final poem. And many more.”

The collection is the fifth book in the award-winning ’amaBooks Short Writings series, the most recent being Long Time Coming: Short Writings from Zimbabwe, chosen by New Internationalist as one of their two ‘Best Books of 2009’.

Where to Now? is being co-published with Parthian Books of Wales and the book will be available in the United Kingdom in March 2012. Parthian will launch the book together with Bryony Rheam’s debut novel This September Sun, published by ’amaBooks in 2009.

Jozi Book Fair takes place from 6-8 August at Museum Africa in Newtown. “As with the previous ’amaBooks collections, Where to Now? contains stories from both well-known and new writers. This time we are particularly pleased to have a story from 2011 Caine Prize winner NoViolet Bulawayo,” said Brian Jones of ’amaBooks.