adminSifelani Tsiko Senior Writer
The family of Zimbabwe’s literary icon and publisher Charles Mungoshi has released a new book that adds to the ranks of stellar works the writer published before his long standing writing career was derailed when he suffered a stroke in 2010. The famously reclusive author was said to have started writing the book entitled: “Branching Streams Flow in the Dark” in 1991 long before he was incapacitated by a stroke.
This book is certainly one of the most highly anticipated releases in literary history as it is a first family effort to publish a novel of a writer grappling with illness.
“As a family we publish this book to honour him and to further his long standing writing career,” said Jesesi Mungoshi, the author’s wife in an interview with The Herald.
“We, the Mungoshi family, are truly grateful for the support we got from the Culture Fund, Ezekiel Matope of Printsky and Paul Chenjerai of Paza Buster.”
Charles Mungoshi suffered a stroke in April 2010 and at present cannot speak, read or write. His wife who was accompanied by her sons — Farayi and Charles (Jnr) said the family was grateful for the unwavering support they got from academics, friends and other literary enthusiasts both in and outside the country.
“We have striven to be present and involved in every aspect of Baba Mungoshi’s life,” Jesesi said. “We are grateful for the support which has enabled us to publish the book however, the numerous hardships we continue to endure.”
The book begins with a captivating and intriguing statement Charles Mungoshi made in 2006: “Put the lead on the handle, but don’t let the handle rot in your hand.”
In the book, Branching Streams Flow in the Dark, Mungoshi paints a picture of the grim realities that families encountered throughout the early years when the deadly HIV and Aids pandemic ravaged families before the discovery of ARVs.
The book explores the complicated interplay between various social and cultural factors, such as poverty, lack of empowerment of women and stigma associated with the pandemic.
With suspense, intrigue and dreadful episodes, the 165-page book has all the markings of a best seller as it brings alive the scale of the HIV and Aids crisis as it wrecked havoc on the African family nuclei which had no clue on how to deal with much more grave immediate problems before the advent of ARVs and other counseling and support systems.
“It’s about hope and survival in the wake of the deadly HIV and Aids pandemic,” said Jesesi who also an accomplished actress. “When Charles writes he becomes so many characters and this is reflected in the book.
Adds Farayi: “It’s a very fascinating book. It’s about how people manifest with death while at the same time summoning inner strength to face life, danger and piercing pain.”
He said the book also explores how families relate to each other when illness or disaster strikes.
“It’s quite intriguing and sends one’s mind racing in all directions. It’s an ingenious piece of work — sounds simple on the surface but penetrates deeper into social issues facing people,” he said.
“It’s difficult to get inside his mind (Charles Mungoshi) but with this book you can jog along some his thoughts.”
Said Charles Jnr: “My father’s shoes are too big to fill. This is one of the best books my father ever wrote. I’m learning to write like him and this book is a great ‘university’ to my chosen career path.”
The book is being sold at Innov8 Book Shops, Book Café and at the National Gallery. The family is mulling to launch the book at the forthcoming Zimbabwe International Book Fair.
“In writing this story, Mungoshi walks alongside Serina, inside her heart and her mind, and does so with the storyteller verve and passion that he is known for,” noted Dr Lizzy Attree, a literary critic.
Charles Mungoshi is an accomplished writer and Zimbabwe’s literary icon who has seven books which made into Zimbabwe’s Best 75 Books of the century and one book in the Africa’s 100 Best Books of the 20th Century.
With the book, Branching Streams Flow in the Dark, readers will feel a special connection to the story in which they can recognise places, scenes and bits of people and the past when the deadly HIV pandemic first struck the country.
Mungoshi was born in Chivhu in 1947 and it is said that his writing talent was discovered by his teachers at All Saints and Daramombe Primary School.
His works won international recognition and acclaim, including special mention for the NOMA Award of Publishing in Africa for his book “Some Kinds of Wounds” in 1980, Commonwealth Writers Prize Africa Region for “The Setting Sun and the Rolling World” in 1988, and the National Arts Merit Awards Silver Jubilee.
Some of his best known works include Coming of The Dry Season, Waiting for The Rain, Kunyarara Hakusi Kutaura, Inongova Njake Njake, One Day Long Ago, the Milkman Doesn’t Only deliver Milk and Walking Still among others.
And even though Charles Mungoshi’s health is failing, his books, just like one writer once remarked, ‘are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.”
The book is a befitting tribute and honour to one of Zimbabwe’s living literary legend. To get your copy call 0774054341 or 0772634918.
Online Reporter