Weaver Press launches two great compilations
Thursday 2nd October- yes that was the date. The venue was The Book Café. The crowd was really writer studded: Shimmer Chinodya, Blessing Musariri, Fungai Machirori, Sabina Mutangadura, Rumbi Katedza, Chief K Masimba Biriwasha, Ethel Kabwato, Vivienne Ndlovu, Outspoken and Comrade Fatso were some of the faces I recognised.
I spotted two University of Zimbabwe Arts Faculty lecturers, Memory Chirere and Ruby Magosvongwe (I will keep my promise).
The reason that we were all here drinking free wine and meeting old buddies and fellow artists was the launch of Weaver Press’s two newest books- Laughing Now and Women Writing.
^ Award winning film maker and writer Rumbi Katedza with Weaver Press editor Irene Staunton at the launch on Thursday.
^ “Time up!” Comrade Fatso tells Shimmer Chinodya who read something from “Laughing Now”
Some of the writers who contributed to the two books took part in a short story slam where they read excerpts from the book. Each was given either 60 or 90 seconds in which to introduce the story and then the same amount of time respectively to read a part of it.
Murray McCartney of Weaver Press and Comrade Fatso (who celebrated his birthday with a huge party on Friday) were the slam adjudicators and compères for the evening.
^ Blessing Musariri, whose story “Tichafataona Sleeps” appears in “Women Writing” reacts to a comment from the audience during the slam
Women Writing features stories from:
Pat Brickhill (Senzeni’s Nativity),
Diana Charsley (Death Wish),
Petina Gappah (In the Heart of the Golden Triangle),
Annie Holmes (Delivery),
Rumbi Katedza (Snowflakes in Winter),
Sarah Ladipo Manyika (Mr Wonder),
Wadzanai Mhute (Dream Over. Dream Again),
Blessing Musariri (Tichafataona Sleeps),
Chiedza Musengezi (The Carer),
Sabina Mutangadura (Chemusana),
Gugu Ndlovu (Everything is Nice, Zimbulele),
Vivienne Ndlovu (Bare Bones),
Bryony Rheam (The Big Trip),
Zvisinei Sandi (In Memory of the Nose Brigade) and
Valerie Tagwira (Mainini Grace’s Promise).
^ Vivienne Ndlovu reads from “Women Writing”
^ I think Sabina Mutangadura was asking for more time to read her story here
Laughing Now has contributions from:
Julius Chingono,
Alexandra Fuller,
Shimmer Chinodya (Last Laugh),
Petina Gappah,
Diana Charseley,
Daniel Mandishona,
John Eppel (Ashes),
Rory Kilalea,
Edward Chinhanhu (The Chances and Challenges of Chiadzwa),
Erasmus Chinyani (Land of Starving Millionaires),
Albert Gumbo,
Lawrence Hoba,
Brian Jones and
Bryony Rheam.
(Ok, I know the list above is incomplete, but I kinda misplaced the other information and will add it as soon as I can find it)
^ So much writing talent in one place! I could almost feel the building vibrate. Fungai Machirori, Rumbi Katedza, Chief K Masimba Biriwasha
^ And the winner of the slam was: Sabina Mutangadura!
When next I meet Irene I have a question for her: “When will we see Men Writing?”
:: You can read a great review of Women Writing on Emmanuel Sigauke’s blog,
:: And! Petina Gappah has done an interesting review of Laughing Now on her blog.
Written by fungaijames on October 6th, 2008 with
no comments.
Read more articles on Literature.
- [+] Digg: Feature this article
- [+] Del.icio.us: Bookmark this article
- [+] Furl: Bookmark this article
Unofungei? Unoitei? I capture the stories that often escape the lenses of big media. I record the life of a pregnant nation. This is a door into the country that I love. These are my thoughts. These are my memories... 
