adminStanely Mushava
Ignatius Mabasa has taken an early break from celebrating his National Arts Merit Awards accolade to work on a new novel by the working title “Ziso Rezongororo”.
Mabasa told The Herald Entertainment that he will continue to stream experimental devices into his work to broaden the scope of Shona literature.
The novel is tentatively slated for release this year under his Bhabhu Books stable. “My next title is Ziso Rezongororo. It is a very different novel that explores the violence of adults on children,” Mabasa said.
His three previous titles, “Mapenzi,” “Ndafa Here?” and “Imbwa Yemunhu” have all drawn considerable acclaim and prestigious accolades.
Speaking on sharing the red carpet with Charles Mungoshi in the Best Fiction category, Mabasa said he was honoured to be jointly awarded with older artist.
“Mungoshi is the most prolific and versatile Zimbabwean writer. He is an outstanding poet, children’s author, playwright, short story writer and novelist – writing successfully and effectively in both Shona and English. One cannot discuss Zimbabwean literature and not mention Mungoshi.
“He is the grandfather of Zimbabwean literature and his writing spans generations, so competing and then sharing an award with such a doyen is humbling and a great honour.
“I thank the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe through NAMA for this recognition. I take it to mean that the many years I have invested in creative writing are not wasted time. My only wish is to do more for Zimbabwean literature like Mungoshi has done,” Mabasa said.
Mabasa’s second novel “Ndafa Here?” also won NAMA’s Best Fiction accolade in 2009.
The novelist, poet and columnist attributed his success to many years of hard work and practice.
“This is what I tell most young writers that you don’t wake up a Charles Mungoshi or a Shimmer Chinodya – you must read a lot, challenge yourself and refuse to be ordinary,” he said.
Mabasa said the balance between entertaining and educating readers is difficult to achieve because readers constitute a complicated constituency.
“When inspiration gives me stories to tell, I just tell stories without really thinking that I am an educator and an entertainer. I guess those things happen subconsciously.
“But when the story is told and the characters have stopped speaking, at times I straighten or bend one or two things,” Mabasa said.
The versatile artist, who has done two poetry albums, “Tsotsi” and “Nyika Yapera Wrong Time” said he has completed three tracks for his third ‘gospoetry’ offering. Gospoetry is a unique genre which blends preaching, poetry and music.
Online Reporter