adminNkosilesisa Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
THIS past weekend, the Zimbabwe Academic and Non-fiction Authors Association (Zana) in Bulawayo took time to celebrate one of their own, the late Bernard Dima Ndlovu at his Nyamandlovu homestead.
Members of Zana were joined in the celebrations by the late author’s wife, Kwanele Ncube and her children.
According to Harriet Ncube, who is Zana’s documentalist, Ndlovu’s death came not only as a shock but a loss in the literary spheres.
She described Ndlovu as an icon who died mysteriously and well before the world was ready to lose him.
“Zana Bulawayo Chapter lost a literary icon Mr Bernard Dima Ndlovu on 26 September 2014 night in his home at Magwegwe North, after a day which had been full of activities when the chapter had honoured the first pioneer woman writer, Lassie Ndondo in Bulawayo.
“This was during the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo 2014. The news of his death came as a shock to all chapter members who had spent the whole day with him, especially that during the day he had launched a book Uphunyuka Bemphethe written by Prince Sibanda which he published,” Ncube said.
The Ndlovu family joined the Zana delegation in song and dance as part of celebrating the legacy left by Ndlovu and later, in an emotional procedure, the delegation visited the grave of the late Ndlovu to pay their respects.
The late Ndlovu was awarded a certificate of honour for outstanding contribution to Ndebele Literature and Language which his children Senamiso and Andiswa received on his behalf.
Ndlovu’s most common works of literature include Laphuma Elinye Lingakatshoni, which was used as an O-level set book, and Amaqhawe 1, which is used as an A-level poetry setbook.
The celebration of Ndlovu’s life comes as part of the commemorations of the Day of the African Writer which was celebrated on 7 November.
The significance of the day every year is to bring writers together to deliberate on issues on publishing and writing, taking stock of their activities to see where they have fallen short, so that they can make amends together towards a common goal.
“The purpose of the International Day of the African Writer is not only to celebrate African writings, but also to celebrate recently published writers and to celebrate writing in general. The day is used to remember and honour the legacy of writers who have passed on,” Ncube said.
Every year, Zana Bulawayo Chapter makes it an annual trend to recognise or honour an author for outstanding work or contribution towards writing and promotion of culture and the languages.
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