Andrew
Society Reporter
ONALD Gwiriri is on the cusp of greatness.
Being only 10 years old, he is already the youngest nominee for the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) since its inception in 2002.
His book, “The Cursing Tortoise”, published by Essential Books Publishing Company, has been nominated in the Outstanding Children’s Book category.
If he walks away with the gong during the 20th edition of the awards ceremony in the capital, it will be another feather in the cap for the budding writer.
The youngster, however, will be battling it out with seasoned writers.
“I feel so happy about it,” he said about the nomination.
“I saw my father writing books and I was inspired. I started by writing the story in a rough book, then my father told me that it was a good story. He then helped me publish it. I have already written two more books which will be published in future.”
He says his book is about how crocodile and elephant bullied tortoise and were cursed with scaled skin.
Onald wrote the manuscript when he was eight years old.
His mother Feni Gwiriri said it is his second time to appear in the public domain after he broke a record for climbing the 2 592 metres high Mount Nyangani at the age of six. The budding writer was born on February 4, 2011.
He lives in Damview Park, Macheke, and is a learner at Macheke Government Primary School.
The school head, Mr Peter Kadzviti, said he was grateful and equally impressed by Onald’s achievement.
“This will encourage other learners to do likewise or even better. We will encourage the boy to aim higher — the sky is the limit. We are also grateful to the parents for identifying and promoting his talent,” he said.
Onald’s parents are equally elated.
“I am very grateful and wish him success,” said his mother.
His father, Oscar, is a famous writer and believes arts run in his family’s DNA.
But, how did he encourage the boy to write books when boys of his age are presently occupied with kids’ stuff?
“Onald narrated his imaginative story while we were going for shopping. It was sound to me. When we went back home, I encouraged him to write the story down,” said Mr Gwiriri.
“He is creative and fond of telling funny stories. As a way of managing him from disturbing my writing schedule, I sometimes told him to ‘speak less and write more’. I emulated parents who nurtured their children to stardom, the likes of the Jacksons, Williams, our own biker Tanya Muzinda and so forth.”
Onald’s sister, Natasha (21), is also an internationally acclaimed published poet, while the elder brother, Onashe (19), is into music.
“It’s not easy for an adult writer to de-role and put oneself in the shoes of children. ‘The Cursing Tortoise’ is a book written by a child for other children. It will be much appreciated by children than those written by adults. Child writers have the appropriate vocabulary, tone, attitude and setting for stories, as they know what those of their level like most,” added Mr Gwiriri.
Onald wishes to see his book distributed in all primary schools in Zimbabwe and beyond borders. However, the publishers, Essential Books Publishing Company, said they do not have the financial wherewithal to fulfil the boy’s dream.
The editor and publisher, Mr Aleck Kaposa, appealed for funding to print and distribute large volumes of the book.
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