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By Chimeno Azriel
Zvishavane-based author Emmanuel Hove Mhike is set to launch his anthology – 100 Shona poems book which seeks to address some contemporary issues of preservation, education, and sustainability.
The ‘Nzungu Dzembeu’ book is set to be launched virtually on 13 September 2022 on social media platforms starting at 2000hrs. The launch is set to be addressed by the Guest of Honour Professor, Emmanuel Sigauke who is the founding Director of Chisiya Writers Club that helped Emmanuel to be who he is today.
Mhike’s anthology amplified by the award-winning journalist, editor, and author Tinashe Muchuri and published by Pentolacut Publishers is a must-have copy as the poems in the book watch over one’s challenges as it seeks to break the chains of slavery of the current and future generations through reading the book.
Emmanuel said his pieces of poems are elegant thoughts and observations and his body of work comes from different places as he seeks to have his creative and intellectual thinking do different work in the world.
According to Emmanuel, he discovered his talent at the age of 28 after attending a workshop at Chesiya Writers Workshop held at Gwavachema Secondary School in Mazvihwa.
“I discovered my writing talent at the age of 28 after attending the Chisiya Writers Workshop organized by United States of America (USA)-based Lecturer of Creative writing Professor Emmanuel Sigauke and Muonde Trust in 2015. The workshop was a unique rural writing model workshop”, said Emmanuel.
Various renowned writers in David Mungoshi (novels), Memory Chirere (poems), and Emmanuel Sigauke (short stories) were in attendance and Mhike fell in love with poetry. His very first poem was to be published by the reputable Munyori Journal.
Nzungu Dzembeu is a collection of poems that is an interesting eye-opener that will mesmerise any reader that will take them to any place and as well as how to tackle their lives. Some of the poems to look after are: “Vamwe”, “Chisiya”, “Anotida” and “Nzungu Dzembeu” among other poems in the collection whose aim is to see to it that readers learn how they must look and learn social life.
Speaking on how he managed to write and come up with 100 poems, Emmanuel said he is always having a pen and paper wherever he is and he does not have scheduled time for his writing.
“My writing was never scheduled for I always work, travel, relax and sleep with pen and paper around,” said Emmanuel.
Mhike grew up reading Shona novels from other renowned novelists like Giles Kuimba, Ignatious Mabasa and poets including Hamutyinei and Nicholas Mwanaka among other writers.
He said they shaped and sharpened his Shona skills.
“I used to read Shona novels and poems from other renowned writers and also used to perform unwritten poems because I was very creative. That sharpened my skills as well,” said Mhike who gave credit to Memory Chirere for guiding himr to write poems that look simple and exciting to him.
“The first stage in my writing is the inspiration which gives me a theme to write on. My first stanza introduces a reader to what inspired me to pen down the piece, the body tackles interesting questions, discussions, and beliefs while the last stanza answers all the questions or concerns raised in the body,” he added.
The author gave credit to his editors and publishers but was quick to encourage other upcoming writers to be patient and give time to their works as well as have enough resources to produce quality work.
“Writing, like any other talent, needs to be given space and enough resources. Unlike other talents, writing is a calling that will stress or even kill you if you do not execute it. Therefore, I encourage other upcoming writers to take their time so that they come up with quality work that will be accepted by the readers,” said Mhike.
“Look, I started writing my book in 2015 and employed two editors to edit the work over a period of five years and now I am launching it now,” added Mhike.