Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday Life Correspondent
DRAWING inspiration from Ndabezihle Sigogo, novelist Mihla Sitsha Tsheza has bagged an excellence award in recognition of his work at the recently held Pan African Cultural Festival (PANAFES) awards held in Cameroon.
Tsheza was awarded with the Youth Pan Africanist Award.
The Pan African Cultural Festival (PANAFES) was founded by United Africa for Economic Empowerment and is an initiative that seeks to bring together Africans of all cultural background with an economic motive, so that it could push for total economic emergence of the continent, through interactive open market and by promoting purely made in Africa brands.
United Africa for Economic Empowerment also fosters socio-economic and cultural issues of the African people and seeks to increase the awareness of whom Africans are in the liberation of their minds.
Tsheza who has seen most of his literary works being used as set books in some universities locally spoke about how he started writing.
“I started writing in 1994 when I was in Form 3 at Ihlathi High School. I got inspiration after reading Sigogo’s poem and told the teacher Mrs Banana that I can write a poem maybe better than the one we were studying. Mrs Banana encouraged me to write. I went to write and she told me that I was a poet.
“My first novel is Wangenza Mntanami which has been studied at University of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University and at Ordinary Level. Some of my books that were used as set-books include Esilojeni (University of Zimbabwe), Imisebe Yelanga (poetry anthology used in O’ level, Hillside Teachers College and United College of Education), Igugu likaZulu and Esizibeni Sezinyosi,” said Tsheza.
The continental award might not have come as a surprise in the literature corridors as some of his books have won awards locally in outstanding Ndebele literary work. Ngubani Owabulala uDube, Untokolotshi and Akuqili Lazikhotha Indololwane are 2021, 2020 and 2018 Bulawayo Arts Awards winners respectively.
Speaking on the recent award, Tsheza said he felt elevated and motivated to work extra hard in his literary works.
“I am very delighted and motivated to work extra hard. I feel I have risen to a particular level as this is a continental award. I have won several awards locally but this gives me extra motivation. I would like to thank my followers who voted for me and promise to continue delivering,” said Tsheza.
Tsheza who is also the National Secretary for Zimbabwean Academic and Nonfiction Authors Association has expanded his art to music where he has formed a music group called Mihla Melodies. Its aim is to promote upcoming musicians. — @nyeve14
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