adminZIMBABWE’S literary scene and book sector, which has been struggling to recapture the glory of the late 90s and early 2000s is set for a revival with the establishment of the Zambezi Book Expo, a regional book and educational fair set for 10-12 September, 2015 at the Rainbow Towers Hotel.
The Zambezi Book Expo comes at a time when calls to restore the glamour and significance of the literary arts are growing louder.
Literature was among the most popular forms of art in the years gone by – writers were celebrated the same way musicians are celebrated today. That is the reason why writers like Patrick Chakaipa, Giles Kuimba, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Thompsom Tsodzo, Mordecai Hamutyinei, Aaron Chiundura Moyo, Yvonne Vera, Chenjerai Hove and Dambudzo Marechera became revered names.
Zimbabwean literary events ranked among the best in Africa, however, over the years they have become mere shadows of their former selves. This sad reality coupled with the impact of technological developments on the book industry over the last two decades, motivated new players to find solutions to leverage book publishing and reading amidst these challenges.
The result is the Zambezi Book Expo, a re-imagined book and educational fair. Organisers say the expo is positioned as one of the largest book and education fairs in Africa, and is bound to become one of the largest book fairs in the world.
“Our positioning is very clear, we are named after the fourth largest river in Africa, the Zambezi River, which runs through six African countries. We are not coming in as a competitor of ZIBF (Zimbabwe International Book Fair) but complementing their efforts to put Zimbabwe and Africa at the pinnacle of world literature,” said Joy Mandewu, coordinator of the Zambezi Book Expo.
The Zambezi Book Expo will launch two literary awards for Women Writers in Africa next month – Great Zimbabwe Book Award and Mosi-oa-Tunya Literature Award.
“For some years now there have been no awards specific to the book sector in Zimbabwe. The only solace is the National Arts Merit Award, which have a few literature categories yet literary awards are critical for the development of the book sector.
“Besides rewarding writing excellence and highlighting exceptional books, literary awards get people talking about books, buying and reading them. They also put emerging writers on the spotlight, which is good for the growth of the literary arts,” said Mandewu.
Mandewu also said the Great Zimbabwe Book Award will be open to all Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora whilst the Mosi-oa-Tunya Literature Award for women writers in Africa is open to all African women writers. “Besides the book exhibitions and awards we have also lined up a number of activities, which include performance by an international musician and comedian, authors and readers interactive sessions, workshops, performances, panel discussions, competitions, book market, education fair, and film shows.
“We are working hard to change the wrong perception or should I call it a myth in Zimbabwe and Africa at large that book fairs are a thing of the past. In fact, Book Fairs are still a force to reckon with the world over.
“The Guadalajara Book Fair in Mexico had over 700 000 visitors in 2013, the Turin Book Fair in Italy attracts over 300 000 visitors and 1 400 exhibitors whilst German’s Frankfurt Book Fair attracts over 300 000 visitors from over 130 countries each year.”
Online Reporter