The Gonjon Pin to be launched in Harare

The Gonjon Pin and other stories, the 2014 Caine Prize anthology, is to be launched in Harare at the Book Cafe, 139 Samora Machel, at 5.30pm on Thursday 14 August. All Welcome, Free Admission.

The book features short stories from the winner of the 2104 prize, Kenya's Okwiri Oduor, from the other four shortlisted writers and from the twelve writers from across Africa who participated in the 2014 Caine Prize Workshop, which was held this year in Zimbabwe.

There are seven Zimbabwean writers in the anthology: Tendai Huchu,  Lawrence Hoba, Violet Masilo, Isabella Matambanadzo, Barbara Mhangami-Ruwende, Philani A. Nyoni and Bryony Rheam. It is anticipated that four of the Zimbabwean writers will be at the Harare launch, which will include readings from the anthology and a discussion about Zimbabwean writing, the short story form and the Caine Prize. There will also be an opportunity to have your copy of the book signed and to chat with the writers over a glass of wine.

Siqondephi Manje?, the translation into Ndebele of Where to Now?, published

Siqondephi Manje? Indatshana zaseZimbabwe is the translation, by Dr Thabisani Ndlovu of Witwatersrand University, into Ndebele of Where to Now? Short Stories from Zimbabwe.

The collection features stories by sixteen 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, Sandisile Tshuma.

The translation was supported by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, and the original publication by the Beit Trust.

Siqondephi Manje? is available in South Africa through Mega Books (http://megabooks.co.za/product/siqondephi-manje-indatshana-zasezimbabwe/) and outside of Africa through the African Books Collective (http://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/siqondephi-manje-indatshana-zasezimbabwe).

It will be launched in Zimbabwe at the end of March 2014, and will be available as an ebook in the near future.

Indatshana eziqoqwe lapha ziyasinda, zizwisa usizi lobuhlungu, kanti zibuye zihlekise. Zonke zithathela kusimo esibi esake saba khona eZimbabwe esaziwa ngokuthi “iminyaka elitshumi eyalahlekayo.” Kwakuyisikhathi sokuphela kwemali amandla lokuqonga kwentengo okungakaze kubonakale; isikhathi sodlame lobudlwangudlwangu; esokutshabalala kwenotho yelizwe kanye lokuphuma kwabantu ngobunengi besiya phephela kwamanye amazwe. Ngemva kwalokho bonke abantu beZimbabwe sebezibuza – Siqondephi Manje? Bonke abalendatshana lapha yizizalwane zeZimbabwe. Noma nje abanye babo beloba bephandle kwelizwe, ugqozi lwabo luphuma khona eZimbabwe, lendatshana zabo zikhuluma ngalo leli lizwe.

Emakhasini alolugwalo uzahlangana lolondindwa onyomuka emjibileni wabanewakhe okumendisa engafuni; umama owendileyo ophunyuka ecaleni lokulala lenye indoda; iqhawe eligqxumukela embizeni enkulu yamasese lifele lapho; imbongi engatholi sikhathi sokuhaya inkondlo yayo. Azipheleli lapho. Zikhona ezinye ezinengi.

Reviews of Where to Now? can be found elsewhere on amabooksbyo.blogspot.com.

Caine Prize returns to Zimbabwe in its fifteenth year

The Caine Prize for African Writing will return to Zimbabwe in its fifteenth year to hold its annual workshop this month. The inaugural Caine Prize was awarded to Leila Aboulela in 2000, at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair in Harare.

Thirteen writers from seven African countries will convene at the Leopard Rock Hotel for twelve days (21 March - 2 April) to write, read and discuss work in progress and to learn from two experienced writers, Nii Parkes and Henrietta Rose-Innes who will act as tutors and animateurs.

This year’s participants include four 2013 shortlisted writers; Abubakar Ibrahim (Nigeria), Elnathan John (Nigeria), Chinelo Okparanta (Nigeria) and Pede Hollist (Sierra Leone) and nine other promising writers; Martin Egblewogbe (Ghana), Abdul Adan (Somalia), Clifton Gachagua (Kenya), Nkiacha Atemnkeng (Cameroon) and Barbara Mhangami-Ruwende, Philani Nyoni, Bella Matambanadzo, Lawrence Hoba and Bryony Rheam from Zimbabwe.

During the workshop, the writers will be expected to write a short story for inclusion in the 2014 Caine Prize anthology, which will be published by New Internationalist on 1 July 2014 and subsequently by seven co-publishers in Africa. Each year the stories conceived at the workshops are automatically entered for the following year’s Prize.

The primary supporter of this year's workshop is the Beit Trust. Supplementary funding is provided by the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, Exotix, Cambria and the British Council.

Dr Lizzy Attree commented on the significance of holding the workshop in Zimbabwe this year: “The Caine Prize is delighted to be back in Zimbabwe for its twelfth workshop. The success of NoViolet Bulawayo has inspired so many writers and we are keen to nurture talent both at the workshop and by visiting local schools.”

The programme will include a visit to local senior schools, giving students the opportunity to interact with the writers.

The workshop will also incorporate two public events in Harare; the first in collaboration with the British Council will be held at Harare City Library on 1st April. It will include a discussion about contemporary African literature after which there will be opportunities to meet the writers and purchase signed copies of the anthology from AmaBooks, over a complimentary glass of wine.

The second event, sponsored by Meikles Mega Market and Meikles Foundation, will be held the following day at 10am at Tambira hub in the new Meikles Mega Market. The open forum entitled “Caine Prize Writers in the Supermarket” will be chaired by Tinashe Mushakavanhu, and is free for the public to attend. The writers will also be treated to a surprise tour of Meikles Hotel.